TOP UN ENVOY TRAVELS TO BEIJING FOR PARALYMPICS

TOP UN ENVOY TRAVELS TO BEIJING FOR PARALYMPICS New York, Sep 6 2008 6:10PM Wilfried Lemke, the Secretary-General's Special Adviser on Sport for Development and Peace, attended the opening ceremony of the Paralympics today in Beijing, China, acting as the Secretary-General's Special Envoy at the event.

Over 4,000 athletes from some 150 countries are taking part in the games, which wraps up on 17 September.

"The Paralympics are a powerful example of what can be achieved when everyone is given the opportunity to participate and perform to their full potential," said Anthea Webb, ad interim UN Resident Coordinator in China.

There are more than 82 million people living with disabilities in the East Asian nation, with 20,000 of them having recently become disabled due to the devastating Sichuan earthquake in May.

"Long after the Paralympics have finished, citizens and visitors with disabilities will find it easier to get around Beijing thanks to the new sloped curbs and ramps for wheelchair users, braille blocks on sidewalks and special access on public transport," Ms. Webb said.

China was one of the first nations to sign the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which came into force this May.

On 30 August, a Memorial Wall dedicated to that pact was unveiled in the Beijing Paralympics Village, with the support of the UN Department for Economic and Social Affairs (DESA).

The UN International Labour Organization (ILO) has helped China to develop legislation regarding equal opportunity for people with disabilities in the workplace. "People living with disabilities are like everyone else, they want to succeed and live independently and we want to help them achieve that," said Constance Thomas, the agency's Director in China.

2008-09-06 00:00:00.000

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UN HEALTH AGENCY SCALES UP ASSISTANCE TO FLOOD VICTIMS IN INDIA, NEPAL

UN HEALTH AGENCY SCALES UP ASSISTANCE TO FLOOD VICTIMS IN INDIA, NEPAL New York, Sep 6 2008 4:10PM The United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) is working to curb the risk of disease outbreaks and help millions affected by deadly floods in India and Nepal.

The flooding began last month when heavy monsoon rains caused a dam to break, breaching the eastern embankment of the Kosi River, which straddles the border between the two countries.

The Sunsari district of Nepal and 16 districts in India's Bihar state, one of the country's poorest, have been the areas hit hardest. The Kosi River appears to have altered its course, flooding areas of Bihar not prone to inundation and damaging nearly a quarter million houses.

Working with the Indian and Nepali Governments, WHO has provided emergency medical supplies and equipment for almost 200,000 people. It is also keeping an eye on the possibility of the spread of communicable diseases, supporting child immunization campaigns and ensuring that there is safe drinking water.

In India, 3.4 million people have been affected in close to 2,000 villages, and 285 relief camps and 249 health centres have been set up for the uprooted.

WHO is sending emergency medicines and equipment to treat 60,000 people for one month. "The supplies will be able to treat people suffering common diseases and malaria," said Eric Laroche, Assistant Director-General of the agency.

More than 70 WHO staff from the National Polio Surveillance programme are monitoring the health situation in the camps, and the agency is also helping to immunize children between the ages for measles and provide them with oral vitamin A drops.

The agency has also supplied 100 chloroscopes to ensure water quality in the camps, and has also given $12,000 to the Indian Red Cross to help deliver relief supplies, including water, tents, bednets and clothing.

Across the border in Nepal, flooding has displaced over 70,000 people, and health teams were dispatched to each emergency shelter rapidly.

WHO, with essential stocks standing by in the event of a disaster, was able to respond promptly, sending drugs and emergency medicines to treat 5,000 severe cases, enough health kits for 120,000 people for one month, malaria kits for 10,000 people for three months and diarrhoeal medications to help over 5,500 patients.

The agency is helping Nepalese authorities monitor the health status of the uprooted, and is also helping the Ministry of Health and Population in preparing a massive measles and polio vaccination campaign for children, slated to begin next week.

"WHO is monitoring the situation very closely with the Epidemiology and Diseases Control Division of the Ministry of Health, to ensure the health of the affected people," said Alex Andjaparidze, WHO Representative to Nepal.

Yesterday, the UN Children's Fund expressed grave concern over the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Bihar, where at least 60 killed in the worst flooding to hit north-east India in five decades.

UNICEF is continuing its relief operation amid what it describes as a "grim humanitarian situation" with tens of thousands of people, including many children, still stranded in remote areas. Many of them are living in the open, staying on highlands along river tributaries or on the side of the road, and many have moved more than once to escape rising flood waters.

"The displacement of people has been massive as people continue to flee or are evacuated from marooned areas. Many have settled in relief camps, but some of these have also been flooded," the agency said in a press release.

2008-09-06 00:00:00.000

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UN HEALTH AGENCY SCALES UP ASSISTANCE TO FLOOD VICTIMS IN INDIA, NEPAL

UN HEALTH AGENCY SCALES UP ASSISTANCE TO FLOOD VICTIMS IN INDIA, NEPAL New York, Sep 6 2008 3:10PM The United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) is working to curb the risk of disease outbreaks and help millions affected by deadly floods in India and Nepal.

The flooding began last month when heavy monsoon rains caused a dam to break, breaching the eastern embankment of the Kosi River, which straddles the border between the two countries.

The Sunsari district of Nepal and 16 districts in India's Bihar state, one of the country's poorest, have been the areas hit hardest. The Kosi River appears to have altered its course, flooding areas of Bihar not prone to inundation and damaging nearly a quarter million houses.

Working with the Indian and Nepali Governments, WHO has provided emergency medical supplies and equipment for almost 200,000 people. It is also keeping an eye on the possibility of the spread of communicable diseases, supporting child immunization campaigns and ensuring that there is safe drinking water.

In India, 3.4 million people have been affected in close to 2,000 villages, and 285 relief camps and 249 health centres have been set up for the uprooted.

WHO is sending emergency medicines and equipment to treat 60,000 people for one month. "The supplies will be able to treat people suffering common diseases and malaria," said Eric Laroche, Assistant Director-General of the agency.

More than 70 WHO staff from the National Polio Surveillance programme are monitoring the health situation in the camps, and the agency is also helping to immunize children between the ages for measles and provide them with oral vitamin A drops.

The agency has also supplied 100 chloroscopes to ensure water quality in the camps, and has also given $12,000 to the Indian Red Cross to help deliver relief supplies, including water, tents, bednets and clothing.

Across the border in Nepal, flooding has displaced over 70,000 people, and health teams were dispatched to each emergency shelter rapidly.

WHO, with essential stocks standing by in the event of a disaster, was able to respond promptly, sending drugs and emergency medicines to treat 5,000 severe cases, enough health kits for 120,000 people for one month, malaria kits for 10,000 people for three months and diarrhoeal medications to help over 5,500 patients.

The agency is helping Nepalese authorities monitor the health status of the uprooted, and is also helping the Ministry of Health and Population in preparing a massive measles and polio vaccination campaign for children, slated to begin next week.

"WHO is monitoring the situation very closely with the Epidemiology and Diseases Control Division of the Ministry of Health, to ensure the health of the affected people," said Alex Andjaparidze, WHO Representative to Nepal.

Yesterday, the UN Children's Fund expressed grave concern over the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Bihar, where at least 60 killed in the worst flooding to hit north-east India in five decades.

UNICEF is continuing its relief operation amid what it describes as a "grim humanitarian situation" with tens of thousands of people, including many children, still stranded in remote areas. Many of them are living in the open, staying on highlands along river tributaries or on the side of the road, and many have moved more than once to escape rising flood waters.

"The displacement of people has been massive as people continue to flee or are evacuated from marooned areas. Many have settled in relief camps, but some of these have also been flooded," the agency said in a press release.

2008-09-06 00:00:00.000

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UN MEMBER STATES TAKING LEAD IN COMBATING TERRORISM - ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT

UN MEMBER STATES TAKING LEAD IN COMBATING TERRORISM – ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT New York, Sep 5 2008 6:10PM Member States of the United Nations have taken the lead in the fight against terrorism, forging ahead with implementing the first global and common strategy to tackle the scourge, General Assembly President Srgjan Kerim said today.

The President convened a meeting which kicked off yesterday to review the landmark 2006 Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, with over 100 Member States taking part.

The meeting concluded today with the Assembly's adoption of a resolution reaffirming support for the Strategy; reiterating Member States' strong condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations; and confirming that Member States have the primary responsibility to implement the document.

The Assembly also decided to review the implementation of the Strategy again in two years time and "to consider updating it to respond to changes," according to the resolution.

"The active participation of States… is a clear indication that the Strategy is politically important for Member States and relevant for their counter-terrorism efforts," Mr. Kerim told reporters in New York.

The Strategy was adopted by the Assembly in September 2006 after a year of sometimes fractious negotiations as countries worked to overcome their differences.

"To put it bluntly, it was able to rise above political differences and endless debates to agree on what needs to be done and what is doable," the President said.

The Strategy focuses on four main pillars of action: tackling the conditions conducive to the spread of terrorism; preventing and combating terrorism; building State capacity and bolstering the role of the UN; and ensuring respect for human rights and the rule of law against the backdrop of the fight against terrorism.

Member States' statements to the meeting have shown that national, bilateral, regional and global initiatives are underway, "which is exactly what the General Assembly has called for in the Strategy," said Mr. Kerim, who has made implementing the document one of his top priorities.

Also speaking to reporters today, Robert Orr, who chairs the UN Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force, said that many positive steps have been taken since the promulgation of the Strategy.

"Prior to the adoption of the Strategy, we had a lot of good resolutions at the United Nations, we had some concrete activities at the UN, but we did not have a comprehensive approach to counter-terrorism that was universally accepted," he said. "When this Strategy was accepted, it was a truly significant event."

Mr. Orr said that many gains had been made at the national level, but stressed that the global stage had seen much progress as well in the past two years, with 24 UN entities now working regularly with each other on counter-terrorism, a first for the Organization.

The Strategy also places emphasis on the victims of terrorism and calls for putting in place national systems of assistance that would promote the needs of victims and their families and facilitate the normalization of their lives.

To provide a forum to assist States in their commitment to promote global solidarity in support of the victims, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is convening a day-long symposium on the issue on 9 September in New York, the first event of its kind.
2008-09-05 00:00:00.000

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UN TO TRAIN AFRICAN UNION PEACEKEEPING SUPPORT STAFF

UN TO TRAIN AFRICAN UNION PEACEKEEPING SUPPORT STAFF New York, Sep 5 2008 6:10PM The United Nations peacekeeping arm launched a training programme this week for senior officials of the African Union (AU), aimed at improving the planning, deployment and management of its peacekeeping support missions.

This is the third in a series of training courses designed specifically for senior AU civilian, military and police leaders who might be appointed to positions at the level of head or deputy head of mission, force or deputy force commander or police commissioner in missions.

Some 25 AU officials from 14 countries will participate in the 12-day training programme in Botswana, planned in partnership between the UN, the AU and the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

Participants of the programme will be given a solid overview of issues involved in the peacekeeping missions, especially in relation to the African context.

The topics of study include the overall political, economic and social situation in which peacekeeping takes place using case studies such as peacekeeping in Darfur, delivered by the Force Commander of the UN-AU Mission in Darfur (<"http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/missions/unamid/">UNAMID), General Martin Luther Agwai.

The Government of Denmark is providing funding for the programme, run by the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO), with support also coming from the Government of Botswana.

The previous courses in this series were held in Kenya, in eastern Africa, and Nigeria in the west, while upcoming training organised by DPKO's AU Peacekeeping Support Team will take place in central and northern Africa.
2008-09-05 00:00:00.000

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UN RUSHING AID TO CARIBBEAN NATIONS HIT HARD BY SEVERE WEATHER

UN RUSHING AID TO CARIBBEAN NATIONS HIT HARD BY SEVERE WEATHER New York, Sep 5 2008 6:10PM The United Nations is providing assistance to a number of countries in the Caribbean that have been badly affected by recent severe weather, particularly Haiti which has been the worst hit, the world body's top humanitarian official said today.

"We are faced with a combination, once again, of severe natural disasters in a number of places which is stretching our resources," Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs John Holmes told reporters in New York today.

A series of tropical storms and hurricanes have been hitting, and are continuing to hit, parts of the Caribbean. The Bahamas, the Cayman Islands, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, Puerto Rico and the United States itself have all been badly affected, said Mr. Holmes, who is also UN Emergency Relief Coordinator.

Up to 600,000 people may need assistance in Haiti, which has been struck badly by three storms in three weeks – Faye, Gustav and Hanna, Mr. Holmes stated, adding that the damage caused by the storms has made it difficult to get around and assess the extent of the situation.

"But it's clear that the death toll is significant," he said, noting that could be between 100 and 200 people. Nine of the 10 districts in Haiti have been seriously affected.

The UN estimates there are some 250,000 people badly affected in the city of Gonaïves alone, with around 70,000 people still in waiting for help in shelters.

UN agencies, including the World Food Programme (<"http://www.wfp.org/english/?ModuleID=137&Key=2924">WFP) and the United Nations Children's Fund (<"http://www.unicef.org/">UNICEF), have been responding and strengthening their presence on the ground.

In addition, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (<"http://ochaonline.un.org/">OCHA) has deployed a UN disaster and coordination team (<"http://ochaonline.un.org/Coordination/FieldCoordinationSupportSection/UNDACSystem/tabid/1414/language/en-US/Default.aspx">UNDAC) to the country on 3 September.

"This is very much the beginning of the operation and we're still trying to establish how bad it is and build up our capacity," said Mr. Holmes, adding the UN will announce a flash appeal for Haiti, possibly as early as tomorrow. In addition, he was ready to assist with assistance from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (<"http://ochaonline.un.org/Default.aspx?alias=ochaonline.un.org/cerf">CERF).

Mr. Holmes added that the UN is using its peacekeeping force in Haiti, known as <"http://www.un.org/depts/dpko/missions/minustah/">MINUSTAH, in the aid efforts, including for evacuation and for the distribution of relief items.

"It was really, really difficult even for our troops to assist the population due to the level of the water," MINUSTAH spokesperson Sophie Boutaud de la Combe told the UN News Centre.

"The situation in Gonaïves is really critical and everyone is doing the best they can to support the national authorities," she added.

So far, MINUSTAH troops have helped to evacuate more than 500 people to emergency shelters, Ms. Boutaud de la Combe said. In addition, hundreds of people have been treated by the Mission's doctors and its helicopters have been transporting food and other emergency relief supplies from the capital, Port-au-Prince, to Gonaïves.

On the way back, the same helicopters have been transporting people who require urgent medical attention to the capital because the hospital in Gonaïves is not able to treat them, she added.

Cuba has also been badly affected, particularly by Hurricane Gustav, possibly the worst storm to hit the island nation in 50 years, according to the Red Cross. "We're trying to establish the exact extent of the damage and a joint assessment will be undertaken by the Government and the United Nations today," stated Mr. Holmes.

"Cuban preparations have, as in the past, functioned well in the sense that they managed avoid any casualties, as far as we know. But obviously the damage is very significant," he added.

Elsewhere, he said, the damage is significant but a bit less severe. Jamaica had a lot of flooding following Hurricane Gustav, and the UN has already allocated a cash grant of $30,000 and is in touch with the Government about further needs.

There has been some damage in the Dominican Republic, but the biggest concern there is the potential for landslides and flooding if another storm hits the already saturated areas. "We are monitoring the situation there but the Government does not seem to need any special support." The same is true, he added, of the Cayman Islands and the Bahamas.
2008-09-05 00:00:00.000

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UN ORGANIZES CAMPAIGN TO HELP GEORGIA'S CHILDREN RETURN TO SCHOOL

UN ORGANIZES CAMPAIGN TO HELP GEORGIA'S CHILDREN RETURN TO SCHOOL New York, Sep 5 2008 4:11PM The United Nations Children's Fund (<"http://www.unicef.org/">UNICEF) is organizing a campaign to ensure that all children in Georgia can start the new school year this month, following the recent conflict in the Caucasus country.

"We are concerned along with the rest of the humanitarian community that not all children will be able to return to classes on time," UNICEF's Robert Cohen told reporters in Geneva today.

That is why the agency is teaming up with the Government and other partners to launch a back-to-school campaign, ahead of the start of the new school year, set to begin on 15 September.

Mr. Cohen said that given the recent conflict, the big challenge is to ensure that the children among the internally displaced persons (IDPs) can return to school.

More than 158,000 people were displaced during the conflict that began in Georgia on 8 August – about 128,000 within Georgia and some 30,000 who fled to Russia.

"UNICEF views the return to school in September as a golden opportunity to help children begin to recover from the trauma of war and restore their hope in the future," said Mr. Cohen.

Noting that many of the schools and kindergartens had been occupied by IDPs, he said that ensuring that the schools are ready and that the IDPs can be sheltered in appropriate conditions is a major problem.

The agency has organized child-friendly spaces and psycho-social activities, including recreation, informal learning and sports for children in the shelters.

It has also distributed over 1,000 "school in a box" kits that will provide learning materials for some 80,000 children, 700 recreation kits for 63,000 children, and materials to raise awareness of the risk of mines and unexploded ordnance.
2008-09-05 00:00:00.000

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POLICY COHERENCE CRUCIAL TO ENSURE EQUAL GLOBALIZATION GAINS - UN LABOUR CHIEF

POLICY COHERENCE CRUCIAL TO ENSURE EQUAL GLOBALIZATION GAINS – UN LABOUR CHIEF New York, Sep 5 2008 4:10PM Unions, businesses and politicians must promote policies in concert so to prevent a backlash against "unbalanced, unfair and unsustainable" globalization, the head of the United Nations International Labour Organization (ILO) said today.

Underscoring how globalization's failures are reflected in the current levels of global poverty, <"http://www.ilo.org/global/About_the_ILO/Media_and_public_information/Press_releases/lang--en/WCMS_098124/index.htm">ILO Director-General Juan Somavia said that "we need more coherence policies nationally and internationally among economic, social and environmental goals."

Addressing the "Decent Work – A Key to Social Justice for a Fair Globalization" conference in Oslo, Norway, he told participants that a balanced and sustainable development approach to globalization is needed based on boosting opportunities for decent work.

Mr. Somavia stressed five key areas of focus regarding the challenge to ensure policy coherence: respect for human rights; sustainable enterprises as necessary for competition and productivity; a social floor to promote poverty eradication; the impact of trade and financial policies on decent work; and "green" jobs to respond to climate change.

"No doubt, we as heads of agencies can do a lot and we can do more than we are doing now," he said at the day-long gathering. "But more convergent, more coherent, less parallel government policies will make our job much easier."
2008-09-05 00:00:00.000

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SITUATION WORSENING FOR HORN OF AFRICA'S CHILDREN, WARNS UN AGENCY

SITUATION WORSENING FOR HORN OF AFRICA'S CHILDREN, WARNS UN AGENCY New York, Sep 5 2008 2:10PM Almost three million children across the Horn of Africa are at risk of death, disease and malnutrition due to a combination of drought, rising food prices and conflict, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) warned today.

The children are among the more than 14 million people in Ethiopia, Somalia, Eritrea, Kenya, Uganda and Djibouti that are critically affected, and the numbers are on an "alarming upward trajectory," according to <"http://www.unicef.org/media/media_45506.html">UNICEF.

The agency said some experts are predicting that millions more children and families could be engulfed across the Horn of Africa if steps are not taken immediately.

"Strong national leadership is needed at this critical juncture, and more international funding must be quickly mobilized," UNICEF's regional director for East and Southern Africa, Per Engebak, said in a statement. "The risks to children and their families are immense and we are running out of time to reverse them."

Relief efforts in the troubled region have been hampered by weak governance as well as attacks on aid workers by armed groups. "Security is a major complication in responding to the needs of affected people in many parts of the Horn at this time," said Mr. Engebak.

He also underscored the difficulties of lack of access, along with the soaring cost of food grains and cereals worldwide. Food prices have risen by as much as 200 per cent over the past eight months in some of the worst drought-affected countries, making it nearly impossible for many families to purchase much-need items.

The high prices are also making it difficult for relief organizations to purchase the amount of grains and cereals needed to respond to the emergency. Also, the rising price of fuel – up between 300 and 1,000 per cent in Somalia, for example – threatens food and water deliveries.

"If concerted actions and funding are not forthcoming this crisis could have irreversible effects on the people of the Horn and push any prospect of progress towards the MDGs [Millennium Development Goals] far beyond reach of their countries," Mr. Engebak said, referring to the eight anti-poverty targets world leaders have pledged to try to achieve by 2015.

The number of those requiring assistance in Ethiopia is expected to rise from the current 4.6 million, according to UNICEF, adding that there are now 75,000 children there in need of therapeutic feeding.

Supplies of Plumpy Nut – the very effective nutritional supplement for managing acute malnutrition in children – manufactured in Ethiopia are not enough to meet the needs. UNICEF is helping procure supplies internationally, but additional funds are required until the end of the year for those imports.

Meanwhile, the number of people needing emergency aid in Somalia has spiralled upwards by 77 per cent since January, and now totals 3.2 million people. Insecurity in the port city of Mogadishu – through which 80 per cent of all supplies for the country pass – is a major obstacle in relief efforts, and the UN needs an estimated $10 million to ensure enough security in Somalia.

UNICEF plans to carry out a child health campaign in the country in October, aiming to reach 1.5 million children under the age of five with measles vaccinations, vitamin A supplements and other health measures.

Spikes in acute malnutrition are being seen among children in parts of Eritrea, the agency said. In addition, 7,500 children in Uganda's Karamoja region are severely malnourished, while over 700,000 people there are estimated to lack sufficient food.

In Kenya, UNICEF said an estimated 1.3 million are affected by food insecurity, about 840,000 of those in the arid and semi-arid pastoralist areas and the others displaced during the violent political crisis early in the year.

Over 95,000 children under the age of five and pregnant and breastfeeding women in the drought-ravaged areas of northern and eastern Kenya are malnourished, the agency added. There are also increasing reports of children dropping out of school and girls entering prostitution to earn money for their families.
2008-09-05 00:00:00.000

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UNICEF CONCERNED AT 'GRIM' SITUATION IN NORTH-EAST INDIA FOLLOWING FLOODS

UNICEF CONCERNED AT 'GRIM' SITUATION IN NORTH-EAST INDIA FOLLOWING FLOODS New York, Sep 5 2008 2:10PM The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) expressed grave concern today over the worsening humanitarian situation in Bihar, where more than 3 million people have been uprooted and at least 60 killed in the worst flooding to hit north-east India in 50 years.

UNICEF is continuing its relief operation amid what it describes as a "grim humanitarian situation" with tens of thousands of people, including many children, still stranded in remote areas.

Many of them are living in the open, staying on highlands along river tributaries or on the side of the road, and many have moved more than once to escape rising flood waters.

"The displacement of people has been massive as people continue to flee or are evacuated from marooned areas. Many have settled in relief camps, but some of these have also been flooded," <"http://www.unicef.org/media/media_45497.html">UNICEF said in a press release.

The relief and rehabilitation operation in Bihar could be needed for several months, according to UNICEF aid workers on the ground in the flood-afflicted area.

The agency is concentrating their efforts on delivering life-saving supplies such as clean water, medicines and shelter equipment, much of which was already stored in the region before the floods struck Bihar.

"Last year, flooding had affected other areas in Bihar and since then UNICEF had stockpiled emergency material there," the agency's spokesperson Veronique Taveau told reporters in Geneva.

"Therefore, it was able to immediately help affected people with plastic sheets, hygiene kits and other aid," she added.
2008-09-05 00:00:00.000

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PALESTINIANS STRANDED ON IRAQ-SYRIA BORDER TO DEPART FOR ICELAND - UN

PALESTINIANS STRANDED ON IRAQ-SYRIA BORDER TO DEPART FOR ICELAND – UN New York, Sep 5 2008 1:10PM Nearly 30 Palestinian refugees stranded for the past two years in makeshift camps on the border between Iraq and Syria will start new lives when they head to Iceland next week, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) announced today.

The group leaving for the Scandinavian nation next Monday includes some of the most vulnerable refugees, including children and women who lost their husbands during the conflict in Iraq.

"Given their vulnerability, <"http://www.unhcr.org/news/NEWS/48c0fefe2.html">UNHCR considers resettlement their only option and we appreciate Iceland's decision to accept them," agency spokesperson Ron Redmond told reporters in Geneva.

Some 2,300 Palestinians are living in desperate conditions in two camps in the desert: one in Al Waleed on the Iraq side and Al Tanf in the no-man's land between the two borders.

The summers are excruciatingly hot, while temperatures often drop below freezing in the winter. Lacking many basic services, many refugees in the two camps are facing health challenges. The closest proper medical centre is over 400 kilometres away, and health workers in Al Waleed camp said that refugees suffer from a host of conditions, including diabetes, kidney problems and cancer.

"UNHCR has repeatedly called for international support for the Palestinians, but with few results," Mr. Redmond said. "Few Palestinians in the border camps have been accepted for resettlement or offered shelter in third countries."

To date, only 300 of them have moved on to non-traditional resettlement countries such as Brazil and Chile, and over 150 of them will soon be resettled in Sweden.

"Some urgent medical cases were taken by a few European countries, but this is a very small proportion of the 2,300 Palestinians stranded in the desert," the UNHCR spokesperson stated.

He added that the agency continues to press for alternative solutions to allow all of the refugees to leave behind the harsh living conditions in the two camps. "Their relocation would in no way jeopardize their right to return at any stage, if and when such a possibility arises."
2008-09-05 00:00:00.000

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STATES MUST DELIVER ON PROMISES MADE AT ACCRA AID FORUM - UN OFFICIAL

STATES MUST DELIVER ON PROMISES MADE AT ACCRA AID FORUM – UN OFFICIAL New York, Sep 5 2008 1:10PM The head of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has urged countries to make good on the promises they made this week at a high-level conference in Ghana devoted to making international aid more effective.

In 2005, over 100 countries, international organizations and civil society groups came together at the Second High-Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness to examine how to improve aid delivery and effectiveness.

They agreed on the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness, which includes 56 partnership commitments to strengthen ownership, harmonization, managing for results, and mutual accountability.

The Third High-Level Forum, held this week in Accra, focused on taking stock of progress since the Paris commitments. The meeting concluded yesterday with the adoption of the Accra Agenda for Action which aims to deepen implementation of the Paris Declaration and respond to emerging aid effectiveness issues.

"We are happy that the discussions in Accra went beyond aid quality and addressed the development context and the catalytic role of aid," said Kemal Dervis, <"http://www.undp.org/">UNDP Administrator and Chair of the UN Development Group, which unites 28 UN entities to deliver more effective support to developing countries.

"The Accra Agenda for Action calls for an urgent response: we must follow through on these commitments. We cannot wait," he added in a statement issued yesterday.

Mr. Dervis stressed the need to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (<"http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/">MDGs) – the set of anti-poverty targets world leaders have pledged to achieve by 2015 – and "make a difference in the lives of poor people."

The Administrator added that the commitment and urgency with which the promises made in Accra have been made must be carried forward to the high-level event on the MDGs to be convened on 25 September in New York, as well as the Doha Financing for Development Review Conference at the end of November.

"These opportunities do not come every day, or indeed every year," he stated. "This is the year not only of commitments, but of action through better quality aid, more development resources and visible results."

According to a new UN report released yesterday, trade and aid are still major barriers to achieving the MDGs, despite significant progress in debt relief for the poorest States.

"Delivering on the Global Partnership for Achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)" – prepared by the MDG Gap Task Force – found that donors will need to boost their development assistance by $18 billion a year between now and 2010 if they are to meet the Goals.
2008-09-05 00:00:00.000

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UN AGENCY WRAPS UP ASIA TELECOM CONFERENCE LOOKING TO THE FUTURE

UN AGENCY WRAPS UP ASIA TELECOM CONFERENCE LOOKING TO THE FUTURE New York, Sep 5 2008 12:10PM The United Nations telecommunications agency <"http://www.itu.int/newsroom/press_releases/2008/28.html">closed the door today on their annual conference, attended by government ministers from the Asia-Pacific region, focusing on new business opportunities to sustain growth in the information and communication technology (ICT) industry.

'New Generation, New Values' was the theme for Telecom Asia 2008, organized by the International Telecommunications Union (<"http://www.itu.int/ASIA2008/">ITU) in Bangkok.

"This week has seen enormous energy focused on ITU Telecom Asia 2008, shedding light on the issues which confront the ICT sector – issues which we sought to explore through the notion of new generation, new values," ITU Secretary-General Hamadoun Touré said.

Dr. Touré added, "Business opportunities flourished within the exhibition and at high-level exchanges with ministers. It is evident that win-win public/private partnerships are a reality."

The Asia-Pacific region has made remarkable progress in recent years. It now has over two billion telephones, including 1.4 billion mobile phone subscribers, and over 40 per cent of the world's internet users. It also has the world's largest broadband market – some 39 per cent of the global total – as pointed out in a new report released this week.

During the conference, which began on 2 September, ministers from the region discussed the future of the enormous ICT sector, and dialogue with industry and business leaders focused on investment, the market environment, government and industry interests, as well as the future of public/private sector partnerships.

The conference also tackled issues related to the needs of the "connected" generation, including the regulatory environment for next-generation networks, security, privacy and trust in cyberspace, greening ICTs and new business models for the sustainable growth of ICTs.

"Developing countries in the Asia-Pacific region are deeply engaged in the issues highlighted at the ITU Telecom Asia 2008," Dr. Touré said.

"And they have expressed their commitment to supporting the contribution of the ICT industry towards a greener environment, strengthening emergency communications in an effort to save lives in the event of natural disasters and building the synergies to operationalize cybersecurity," he added.
2008-09-05 00:00:00.000

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TOP UN ENVOY SPEAKS OUT AGAINST PIRACY OFF SOMALI COAST

TOP UN ENVOY SPEAKS OUT AGAINST PIRACY OFF SOMALI COAST New York, Sep 5 2008 10:10AM The top United Nations envoy to Somalia today said that he is extremely alarmed by the rise in piracy off the Horn of Africa nation's coast and deplored the destabilizing effects of the attacks in the region.

"This piracy is increasingly a threat to international navigation and free trade in an already fragile environment," said Special Representative Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah. "The millions of dollars in ransom paid to the pirates and their associates inland and overseas has become a multi-million dollar business which threatens stability in Puntland and in Somalia as a whole."

Currently, as many as 10 ships are being held by pirates, and local authorities report that trade has been severely obstructed, particularly in the north of the country.

Despite a Security Council resolution passed in June speaking out against acts of piracy and armed robbery off the coast of Somalia which impede the delivery of vital relief supplies, Mr. Ould-Abdallah said that international cooperation is crucial to curbing the continuing attacks.

"We have to work quickly before the level of criminal activity increases and affects ports in neighbouring countries," he warned. "We must work together to put an end to this terrible scourge."

In a related development, the Council yesterday welcomed the recent signing of a peace and reconciliation agreement by Somalia's warring political groups and urged the two sides in the troubled nation to fully implement their commitments under the accord.

The so-called Djibouti Agreement between the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and the Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia (ARS) signed on 19 August, "should provide the basis for lasting peace, security and stability for the people of Somalia," the Council said in a presidential statement.
2008-09-05 00:00:00.000

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UN AGENCIES LAUNCH BID TO INCLUDE RESTORED IRAQI MARSHLANDS ON HERITAGE LIST

UN AGENCIES LAUNCH BID TO INCLUDE RESTORED IRAQI MARSHLANDS ON HERITAGE LIST New York, Sep 5 2008 9:10AM Two United Nations agencies unveiled a joint bid today to list Iraq's marshlands, considered by some to be the original Garden of Eden, as a World Heritage Site, capping efforts to restore the ecological viability of the fragile region.

The UN Environment Programme (<"http://www.unep.org/Documents.Multilingual/Default.asp?DocumentID=545&ArticleID=5910&l=en">UNEP) and the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) said in a press statement that the joint bid – which is also being funded by the Italian Government – aims to further the conservation and protection of the marshlands.

Also known as the Fertile Crescent, the Marshlands of Mesopotamia have been spawning grounds for Persian Gulf fisheries and home to species such as the sacred ibis. They are also the site of a unique cultural heritage surrounding the indigenous population, known as the Marsh Arabs.

But the marshlands were almost totally drained by the former regime of Saddam Hussein during the 1990s and early this decade. By 2002, the original 9,000 square kilometres of permanent wetland had dwindled to 760 square kilometres, and UNEP warned that the marshlands would be completely lost within five years unless urgent action was taken.

Since then, the UNEP restoration project has led to the reclamation of much of the marshlands, thanks in part to measures such as the planting of reed banks and beds to serve as natural pollution and sewage filters.

The $14 million project began in 2004 with funding from the UN Iraq Trust Fund, Japan and Italy, and it has involved local communities in the efforts to restore the marshlands.

UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner said the lessons learned from the reclamation of the marshlands go beyond the borders of Iraq.

"They provide a blueprint for the restoration of the many other damaged, degraded and economically important wetland ecosystems across the world," he said.

UNEP and UNESCO, which agreed to the bid at a meeting in Kyoto, Japan, this week, are now working with Iraqi authorities to draw up a plan to make a submission to the World Heritage Committee for the site's inclusion on the World Heritage List. UNESCO said the marshlands could be listed as early as 2011.
2008-09-05 00:00:00.000

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CAMBODIAN WOMEN WITH HIV RECEIVE BOOST FROM FASHION DESIGNER AND UN AGENCY

CAMBODIAN WOMEN WITH HIV RECEIVE BOOST FROM FASHION DESIGNER AND UN AGENCY New York, Sep 4 2008 7:10PM The United Nations Development Programme (<"http://www.undp.org/">UNDP), renowned fashion designer Bibi Russell and Cambodian women living with HIV have joined forces to launch a new line of contemporary bags.

The products from the new label called "Bibi for WE" will be produced and marketed by the Modern Dress Sewing Factory (MDSF), an all-women network of HIV-positive Cambodian women.

"If you join hands with women living with HIV with affection and confidence, they can create magic with their fingers," said Ms. Russell, who also has been designated as an Artist for Peace by the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (<"http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=29008&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html">UNESCO) and founded "Fashion for Development" which seeks to help weavers and women spanning the globe.

The bags – contemporary in style and using local materials such as Cambodian silk – will be sold worldwide, and Ms. Russell is training women taking part in the initiative in material selection, design, finishing and quality control.

"We don't want sympathy, but support to live a life of respect and dignity," said Pham Srim, MDSF's Business Manager.

Severe poverty, stigma and discrimination has hindered efforts to make a living, and persistent health problems have exacerbated the problem, she said.

"This project helps us to stand on our feet, earn a living and stay unfazed by the stigma and discrimination staring on our face," Ms. Srim added.

The new brand is part of a larger UNDP-supported initiative called "Women and Wealth" in Cambodia and India which seeks to empower women living with HIV through small-scale social enterprises. In India, MDSF's counterpart is Social Light Communications focusing on communication design and print production.

Nearly one-third of HIV-positive adults in Asia are women, and they are disproportionately affected by the epidemic both economically and socially, according to UNDP.
2008-09-04 00:00:00.000

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SECURITY COUNCIL WELCOMES SOMALI PEACE AND RECONCILIATION ACCORD

SECURITY COUNCIL WELCOMES SOMALI PEACE AND RECONCILIATION ACCORD New York, Sep 4 2008 7:10PM The Security Council today welcomed the recent signing of a peace and reconciliation agreement by Somalia's warring political groups and urged the two sides in the troubled Horn of Africa nation to fully implement their commitments under the accord.

The so-called Djibouti Agreement between the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and the Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia (ARS) signed on 19 August, "should provide the basis for lasting peace, security and stability for the people of Somalia," the Council said in a presidential statement.

That peace and security included "the ultimate withdrawal of foreign forces" from Somalia," according to the statement, read out by Ambassador Michel Kafando of Burkina Faso, which holds the rotating Council presidency this month.

Mr. Kafando stressed in the statement that both the TFG and the ARS must implement their commitments under the agreement, which was brokered by the UN Political for Somalia (UNPOS) and the Secretary-General's Special Representative, Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah.

"In particular, the Council underlines the crucial importance of the parties taking all necessary measures to ensure, without delay, unhindered humanitarian access and assistance to the Somali people, and of the parties and their allies terminating all acts of armed confrontation."

The 15-member panel said it would continuously monitor the implementation of the accord and reiterated its strong support for the efforts of the African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM) to stabilize the country, which has not had a functioning national government since 1991.

It also noted that the TFG and the ARS requested in the Djibouti Agreement that the UN authorize and deploy an international stabilization force, and said it would consider establishing a UN peacekeeping force to take over from AMISOM, "subject to progress in the political process and improvement in the security situation on the ground."

In addition, the presidential statement asked Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to elaborate on his contingency planning for a UN integrated peacekeeping mission in Somalia, including its mandate, size and geographical scope, as well as the countries that might contribute the necessary personnel, equipment or financing for such a mission.
2008-09-04 00:00:00.000

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ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT URGES STRONGER GLOBAL COOPERATION TO COMBAT TERRORISM

ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT URGES STRONGER GLOBAL COOPERATION TO COMBAT TERRORISM New York, Sep 4 2008 6:10PM The United Nations and the international community must each step up their efforts to deliver concrete results in the fight against international terrorism, the President of the General Assembly said today in New York.

Addressing the opening of an Assembly <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2008/ga10735.doc.htm">meeting to review the 2006 Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy – the first global and common approach to tackle the scourge – Srgjan Kerim stressed the need for "a new way of thinking about our shared fate in a way that reflects the complexities of contemporary human and economic relations, with the well-being of the individual and communities at its centre."

Participants shared their national experiences in countering terrorism, and the President, who has made implementing the Strategy one of his top priorities, voiced hope that this exchange will help to identify areas for collaboration.

"By finding gaps and identifying where further assistance is needed we can build closer cooperation between Member States and the United Nations system," he said.

The Strategy was adopted by the Assembly in September 2006 after a year of sometimes fractious negotiations as countries worked to overcome their differences.

It focuses on four main pillars of action: tackling the conditions conducive to the spread of terrorism; preventing and combating terrorism; building State capacity and bolstering the role of the UN; and ensuring respect for human rights and the rule of law against the backdrop of the fight against terrorism.

"Let us all demonstrate that the Strategy has brought us closer together to counter this scourge," Mr. Kerim said. "Only with a strong resolve we can achieve a safer world for all."

Also speaking at the meeting, which heard from over 60 speakers, was Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2008/sgsm11776.doc.htm">spoke of how deeply he was affected by seeing first-hand the devastation wrought by last December's terrorist attack in Algiers, Algeria, that claimed the lives of 17 UN staff members. "I was overwhelmed and overcome by emotion," he told attendees.

That incident, along with the 2003 bombing of the UN headquarters in Baghdad killing 22 people, "serve as emblems of our determination to reinvigorate our efforts to counter the scourge of terrorism," Mr. Ban said.

He praised the positive steps taken since the Strategy's adoption, but underlined that more needs to be done. "We must intensify our efforts to implement the strategy across the board. This is not a choice; it is a fundamental duty."

Calling for a "realistic, proactive and calculated" approach to addressing terrorism, the Secretary-General called on Member States to take the lead, but given the uneven capacities of nations, emphasized the importance of multilateral cooperation.

The meeting is expected to conclude with the adoption of a resolution which reiterates support for the Strategy and reaffirms Member States' condemnation of terrorism.
2008-09-04 00:00:00.000

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EMERGENCY AID EXPECTED TO REACH STRANDED HAITIANS, SAYS UN AGENCY

EMERGENCY AID EXPECTED TO REACH STRANDED HAITIANS, SAYS UN AGENCY New York, Sep 4 2008 6:10PM The United Nations food agency expects to be able to send emergency assistance today to Haitians stranded in the flooded northern city of Gonaïves, which was battered by Tropical Storm Hanna on Monday night.

After days of waiting for the vicious rainstorm to subside, the UN World Food Programme (<"http://www.wfp.org/english/?ModuleID=137&Key=2921">WFP) can now sail a boat out of the capital, Port-au-Prince, carrying food and personnel to the previously inaccessible port town.

Haiti, already the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, has been devastated by three deadly storms, Fay, Gustav and Hanna, in less than a month, and two others, Ike and Josephine, are fast approaching.

Hurricane Gustav left at least 76 dead and thousands displaced, destroying homes, livestock and crops primarily in the south and west of the impoverished Caribbean country and forcing some 7,000 people into shelters.

WFP, the world's biggest aid organization, was distributing food to Gustav victims and evaluating the humanitarian impact of the hurricane when Hanna struck Gonaïves in the north and the number of casualties is feared to be high.

"Right when humanitarian assistance was reaching affected communities in the south, tropical storm Hanna arrived and again blocked roads and created lots of problems," said WFP Representative in Haiti, Myrta Kaulard, in an interview with UN Radio.

The UN peacekeeping mission in Haiti, known as <"http://www.un.org/depts/dpko/missions/minustah/">MINUSTAH, and other UN agencies were eventually able to reach Gonaïves using speed boats to deliver some humanitarian aid, but a ship loaded with WFP and <"http://www.unicef.org/media/media_45496.html">UNICEF supplies has been sitting idle for two days because of the weather.

"All roads able to access Gonaïves are cut, either by bridges that have collapsed, by trees that have fallen down, or by waters that have washed way parts of the streets," said Ms. Kaulard.

MINUSTAH also hope that their helicopters are able to transport UN personnel today to start distributing aid and providing humanitarian assistance to the marooned population in Gonaïves. Some residents have been stranded on the rooftops of their homes.

"We are bringing in 50 metric tons of water, 19 metric tons of biscuits. We are bringing water purification tablets. We are bringing trucks, cars and boats to help with the evacuation of the people and the transport of this food and water to the population," added Ms. Kaulard.

The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) reported that preliminary information indicates that damage caused by Hanna is more extensive than that of Hurricane Jeanne in 2004, which decimated the city and left around 2,500 dead or missing.

"The hurricane season is far from over, several storms have already hit the country, each of them aggravating the damage left by the previous one," said UNICEF Representative in Haiti, Annamaria Laurini.

UNICEF said in a press release yesterday that it is stepping up its assistance to an initial 15,000 Haitians affected by the three successive storms, but as the emergency teams begin to reach currently inaccessible areas, this number is bound to increase.
2008-09-04 00:00:00.000

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ECONOMIC SLOWDOWN IN RICH COUNTRIES COULD HURT POORER STATES, UN REPORTS

ECONOMIC SLOWDOWN IN RICH COUNTRIES COULD HURT POORER STATES, UN REPORTS New York, Sep 4 2008 5:10PM While developing countries' economies are forecasted to expand by 6 per cent this year, that growth could potentially be checked by the slowdown in wealthier nations, according to a new report by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

Financial turmoil, soaring oil prices and likely tighter monetary policy in several nations augur poorly for the global economy both in 2008 and 2009, with the reach of the sub-prime mortgage crisis extending well beyond the United States which has contracted liquidity and credit worldwide.

UNCTAD's Trade and Development report for 2008 noted that output around the world is expected to grow by 3 per cent this year, down nearly one percentage point from last year. In developed countries, gross domestic product growth could shrink to half this rate.

"By contrast, growth in developing countries as a group can be expected to remain quite robust, at more than 6 per cent, as a result of the relatively stable dynamics of domestic demand in a number of large developing economies," the publication said.

"However, possible restrictive monetary policy responses to increasing pressure on the overall price index from higher commodity prices could well lead to a further deceleration of growth in developed and developing countries alike."

To allow poorer nations to sustain their economic expansion, greater investment in "productive capacity" – the ability to diversify manufacturing – is needed to augment their reliance on primary commodities, <"http://www.unctad.org/Templates/webflyer.asp?docid=10446&intItemID=1528&lang=1">UNCTAD said.

Challenging theories that call for investment in developing countries to be drawn from mainly household savings and foreign capital, the report urges changes in domestic monetary policy and local financial systems to allow private companies to access cheaper financing.

It also criticized the current system of global financial governance, noting that market discipline alone cannot curtail periodic episodes of "irrational exuberance," where firms try to reap double-digit gains out of economies growing at a much slower pace, leading to situations requiring government bailouts.

"The current international framework for monetary and exchange-rate policies offers opportunities for speculative activities that are highly profitable for a limited period of time, but ultimately destabilize the entire system," the study said, calling for a review of divergent policies of central banks with a view to end global economic turbulence.
2008-09-04 00:00:00.000

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REMAINS OF 17 DEAD FOUND AT DR CONGO PLANE CRASH SITE, UN SAYS

REMAINS OF 17 DEAD FOUND AT DR CONGO PLANE CRASH SITE, UN SAYS New York, Sep 4 2008 5:10PM The United Nations has confirmed that the remains of the 17 passengers on board an aid flight that went down in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) on Monday have been located in the vicinity of the crash site.

Seven UN staff were among those on the plane – operated by the United States-based company Air Serv – that crashed as it started its descent towards Bukavu, in the eastern Congolese province of South Kivu.

Search and rescue teams located the site of the accident, some 16 kilometres northwest of Bukavu airport.

"The process of positive identification of the remains will now be undertaken," UN spokesperson Michele Montas told reporters in New York.

The victims include one Canadian and four Congolese employees of the UN Development Programme (<"http://www.undp.org/">UNDP), as well as one French citizen and one UN volunteer from India, both of whom worked for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (<"http://ochaonline.un.org/">OCHA).

Also on the plane were three members of the non-governmental organization (NGO) Handicap International Belgium and one employee of MSF-Holland. Four Congolese parliamentary administration members and two pilots were also on board.

Alan Doss, the Secretary-General's Special Representative in the DRC, has voiced his deep sadness at the tragedy which claimed the lives of those working to ease the suffering of the Congolese population and to support the rebuilding of the country.

Immediately following the crash, Mr. Doss, who is also head of the UN peacekeeping mission in the DRC (known as <"http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/missions/monuc/index.html">MONUC), dispatched his deputy, Ross Mountain, to Bukavu to support aid operations and the humanitarian community. Mr. Mountain is the UN Humanitarian Coordinator for the DRC as well as the UNDP Representative there.

Also concerning eastern DRC, the UN Mission has once again stressed the need for Congolese armed groups in the Kivu provinces to abide by a peace deal they signed with the Government in January, after clashes broke out between the two sides last week in Rutshuru in North Kivu.

"The gunfire has receded, but the situation remains critical and the truce fragile," MONUC spokesperson Sylvie van den Wildenberg told a news conference yesterday. The Mission also strongly deplored the hostile demonstrations which took place on 2 September in Rutshuru against an international facilitation delegation which was on mission on the ground, she added.
2008-09-04 00:00:00.000

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UNESCO BACKS PLAN TO BUILD UNDERWATER MUSEUM IN ALEXANDRIA, EGYPT

UNESCO BACKS PLAN TO BUILD UNDERWATER MUSEUM IN ALEXANDRIA, EGYPT New York, Sep 4 2008 4:10PM The United Nations cultural agency announced today it will help Egypt build an innovative underwater museum in the Bay of Alexandria on the site of archaeological remains thousands of years old.

The idea for a museum, located by Cleopatra's Palace and the mythical 3rd Century B.C. Alexandria Lighthouse, also known as Pharos, comes amid the growing recognition of the importance of underwater cultural heritage.

The first-of-its kind museum will be partly above water and partly submerged where visitors will be able to see archaeological artefacts on the seabed, according to a press release from the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (<"http://portal.unesco.org/ci/en/ev.php-URL_ID=1657&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html">UNESCO).

"This project will certainly enhance the appreciation of underwater cultural heritage and raise awareness of the urgent need to protect it from looting," said the Director-General of UNESCO, Koïchiro Matsuura.

"Until UNESCO's Underwater Cultural Heritage Convention enters into force, there is no specific international law that can protect it against treasure hunters," Mr. Matsuura added.

The museum represents a major advance in underwater cultural heritage exhibitions and UNESCO has established an International Scientific Advisory Committee to help with the construction of the project, expected to begin later this year.

UNESCO have also produced a documentary film focusing on its Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage and the importance of saving submerged cultural property, increasingly vulnerable to pillaging with the development of more sophisticated and affordable diving equipment.
2008-09-04 00:00:00.000

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SECURITY COUNCIL LAUDS LAUNCH OF NEGOTIATIONS IN REUNIFYING CYPRUS

SECURITY COUNCIL LAUDS LAUNCH OF NEGOTIATIONS IN REUNIFYING CYPRUS New York, Sep 4 2008 4:10PM The Security Council today warmly welcomed the launch of full-fledged negotiations between the leaders of the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities, aimed at the reunification of the island.

In a presidential statement the 15-member body praised the Greek Cypriot leader Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat for advancing discussions since their first meeting on 21 March.

"The Security Council calls on both sides to continue to work together in a constructive and positive manner in order to reach a comprehensive and durable settlement," said Ambassador Michel Kafando of Burkina Faso, which holds the rotating Council presidency this month.

"The Security Council looks forward to progress in the negotiations and reiterates its readiness to support the process," he added.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's recent appointment of Alexander Downer as his Special Adviser on Cyprus was also warmly received by the Security Council.

Today's presidential statement echoes Mr. Ban's message yesterday to the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders in which he commended them "for their seriousness of purpose, sense of compromise and commitment to seeing the peace process through to a successful conclusion."
2008-09-04 00:00:00.000

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SRI LANKAN RICE PRODUCTION WINS SUPPORT FROM UN-BACKED PROJECT

SRI LANKAN RICE PRODUCTION WINS SUPPORT FROM UN-BACKED PROJECT New York, Sep 4 2008 3:10PM The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (<"http://www.fao.org/">FAO) announced plans today to boost rice production in districts of Sri Lanka hit hard by recent floods or conflict and by the soaring cost of many basic foods.

Under the $500,000 project, families in four districts of north-central and eastern Sri Lanka – Batticaloa, Ampara, Polonnaruwa and Anuradhapura – will receive certified seed paddy and small implements so they can increase their rice production.

Some 600 metric tons of seed paddy will be distributed in a bid to bring immediate support to rice production, according to a press release issued by FAO in the capital, Colombo.

"From this initiative, about 6,000 hectares of former paddy lands will be renovated and overall rice production of these four districts will be increased," said the agency's representative in Sri Lanka, Patrick Evans.

FAO said the project is part of its global campaign to help poor people in developing countries deal with the impact of high food prices over the past year. The agency is currently engaged in supporting food production in 35 countries.

Sri Lanka also continues to be beset by violent clashes, particularly in the north, between Government forces and members of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), and UN officials have issued grave warnings about the humanitarian impact of the fighting.
2008-09-04 00:00:00.000

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FOOD RIOT AT REFUGEE CAMP IN DARFUR KILLS ONE, INJURIES SIX OTHERS - UN

FOOD RIOT AT REFUGEE CAMP IN DARFUR KILLS ONE, INJURIES SIX OTHERS – UN New York, Sep 4 2008 3:10PM One person was killed and six others were injured during a food riot inside a camp that houses Chadian refugees in the Sudanese region of Darfur, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (<"http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/news">UNHCR) reports.

The agency said the incident occurred on Tuesday morning at the camp in Um Shalaya, about 70 kilometres southeast of El Geneina, the capital of West Darfur state.

Hundreds of stick-bearing women demonstrated noisily against a temporary reduction in the availability of sorghum, which is widely consumed in both Chad and Sudan, because of logistical problems. Continued insecurity has made it difficult to safely transport food from El Geneina to the camp at Um Shalaya.

About 6,600 refugees live in Um Shalaya, with new asylum-seekers arriving each month as they flee violence in their home areas of eastern Chad, where rebels have been fighting Government forces for months.

UNHCR reports that an estimated 50,000 refugees, mostly Chadian, have settled in border areas of Darfur, which has been beset by its own deadly conflict between rebels, Government forces and allied militiamen since 2003.

This week's food riot has occurred amid mounting UN concern about repeated attacks against humanitarian convoys throughout Darfur, a vast and impoverished region on Sudan's western flank.

The joint UN-African Union peacekeeping mission to the region, known as <"http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/missions/unamid/index.html">UNAMID, reported that a World Food Programme (WFP) mobile truck was carjacked yesterday near Moraya, which is about 55 kilometres northwest of Nyala, the South Darfur state capital.

The truck's drivers were robbed of their money and mobile phones, and the whereabouts of the WFP staff members and the vehicle are unknown, although the tracking device indicated the truck was heading in the general direction of the Jebel Marra area.

Three vehicles belonging to the UN Children's Fund (<"http://www.unicef.org/">UNICEF) were also ambushed yesterday by unknown gunmen as the convoy returned from a visit to Yara in South Darfur.

A patrol from UNAMID was deployed to rescue the members of the convoy, which included a delegation from Khartoum and the head of UNICEF's office in Nyala. Two vehicles were rescued while the third reached Nyala with its passengers unharmed but looted of their property.
2008-09-04 00:00:00.000

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UN TELECOMM AGENCY PARTNERS WITH GLOBAL COALITION TO COMBAT CYBER THREATS

UN TELECOMM AGENCY PARTNERS WITH GLOBAL COALITION TO COMBAT CYBER THREATS New York, Sep 4 2008 3:10PM The United Nations telecommunications agency has teamed up with a global coalition headquartered in Kuala Lumpur to address issues related to cybersecurity, including analyzing and sharing information on threats, early warning and emergency responses.

The effort by the International Telecommunication Union (<"http://www.itu.int/newsroom/press_releases/2008/27.html">ITU) and the International Multilateral Partnership Against Cyber-Terrorism (IMPACT) is in keeping with the call made at the 2005 World Summit on the Information Society to build security and confidence in the use of information and communication technologies (ICT).

The agreement signed by the heads of the two bodies today in Bangkok, on the sidelines of a major Asia-Pacific telecom conference, will operationalize the ITU Global Cybersecurity Agenda (GCA) at IMPACT's state-of-the-art headquarters in Cyberjaya, Kuala Lumpur.

The GCA is a framework for global cooperation for governments, international law enforcement authorities, the private sector, international organizations and civil society to make cyberspace more secure in an increasingly networked information society.

The joint effort by the ITU and IMPACT – an initiative which brings together governments, industry leaders and cybersecurity experts to enhance the global community's capacity to prevent, defend and respond to cyberthreats – aims to provide real-time analysis, aggregation and dissemination of global cyber threat information.

It also seeks to enhance early warning and emergency response to global cyber threats, as well as provide training and skills development on the technical, legal and policy aspects of cybersecurity.

Although the GCA will be housed at the IMPACT Centre, ITU will have a "virtual showcase" at its headquarters in Geneva of the early warning system, crisis management and real-time analysis of global cyber threats.
2008-09-04 00:00:00.000

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GHANA: UNICEF TO PROVIDE THOUSANDS OF EXTRA BED NETS IN FIGHT AGAINST MALARIA

GHANA: UNICEF TO PROVIDE THOUSANDS OF EXTRA BED NETS IN FIGHT AGAINST MALARIA New York, Sep 4 2008 3:10PM The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has unveiled plans to spend an additional $1.7 million for insecticide-treated bed nets in Ghana as part of the fight against the spread of malaria in the West African country.

<"http://www.unicef.org/media/media_45458.html">UNICEF Executive Director Ann M. Veneman announced the extra funding yesterday in Accra during a three-day visit to Ghana, in part to attend the High-Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness.

Ms. Veneman said the bed nets are a simple and cost-effective intervention against malaria, which kills thousands of young Ghanaian children every year.

"In Africa, malaria is the number one killer of children under age five," she said. "It is unacceptable that this preventable disease still claims the lives of so many."

Speaking at the Accra forum, Ms. Veneman stressed the importance of coordinated aid delivery by UN agencies and the wider international community so that the assistance reaches the people most in need.

She said the battle was particularly important given there are less than eight years left to achieve the internationally agreed anti-poverty targets known as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
2008-09-04 00:00:00.000

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INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT REJECTS APPEAL TO START TRIAL OF CONGOLESE MILITIAMAN

INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT REJECTS APPEAL TO START TRIAL OF CONGOLESE MILITIAMAN New York, Sep 4 2008 3:10PM The International Criminal Court (ICC) has dismissed an appeal by prosecutors against its earlier decision to suspend the trial of the Congolese rebel leader Thomas Lubanga Dyilo, accused of recruiting child soldiers to serve in his militia.

The court announced the decision in a statement today, noting that judges with the ICC's trial chamber had made the ruling yesterday.

"The proposals outlined in the application demonstrably fail to meet the prerequisites set out hitherto by the Chamber to enable it to lift the stay of proceedings, and they infringe fundamental aspects of the accused's right to a fair trial," according to the decision.

On 13 June the <"http://www.icc-cpi.int/press/pressreleases/417.html">ICC trial chamber imposed a stay on proceedings against Mr. Lubanga after finding that prosecutors had failed to disclose more than 200 documents to the defence that have the potential to prove the militia leader's innocence.

Mr. Lubanga, the founder and leader of the Union of Congolese Patriots in the Ituri region of the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), has been charged with a series of war crimes, including conscripting and enlisting child soldiers into the military wing of his group and then using them to participate in hostilities between September 2002 and August 2003.

The trial of Mr. Lubanga was due to have been the first to be held by the ICC, and it had been scheduled to begin on 23 June. He remains in the ICC's custody until the court makes a final decision on the appeal.
2008-09-04 00:00:00.000

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NEW UN TOOL ALLOWS ARMCHAIR ENVIRONMENTALISTS TO VIRTUALLY VISIT GLOBAL HOTSPOTS

NEW UN TOOL ALLOWS ARMCHAIR ENVIRONMENTALISTS TO VIRTUALLY VISIT GLOBAL HOTSPOTS New York, Sep 4 2008 2:10PM The atlas will showcase in three dimensions the impact of climate change and other human activities on the planet in places ranging from remote rainforests in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to the glaciers of Greenland and Alaska.

"If we are to change the hearts and minds of the global public we need to surprise, to excite and occasionally, perhaps, to shock," said UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner. "These images, allied to modern computer technology, do all three."

Before-and-after images, including the loss of biodiversity-rich forests and farms in Madagascar, are also part of the new tool.

"They also show humanity is equally capable of positive, intelligent and empowering change – from the reforestation of parts of Niger to a new management plan for the Itezhi-tezhi Dam in Zambia which is helping to restore natural and seasonal flooding," Mr. Steiner said.

The UNEP atlas is part of its popular series highlighting the changing environment, which also includes "One Planet Many People: Atlas of Our Changing Environment," released in concert with Google Earth.

In a related development, a scheme called the Africa Carbon Forum, which seeks to boost the number of cleaner energy projects in Africa, was launched in Dakar, Senegal, today.

Under the Kyoto Protocol's Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), industrialized countries can offset some of their own greenhouse gas emissions to earn certified emission reduction credits.

"Combating climate change will take political will, and it will take a great deal of environment," said Yvo de Boer, Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

"Mechanisms like the CDM are an important means to stimulate that investment, so it's good to see that Africa is now getting the attention it deserves from the private sector and public sector through events like the Africa Carbon Forum."

The continent still accounts for only 27 of the more than 1,150 CDM projects currently registered in nearly 50 developing nations, but that number is expected to grow.
2008-09-04 00:00:00.000

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NEW UN REPORT 'SOUNDS STRONG ALARM' ON GAPS IN ACHIEVING DEVELOPMENT GOALS

NEW UN REPORT 'SOUNDS STRONG ALARM' ON GAPS IN ACHIEVING DEVELOPMENT GOALS New York, Sep 4 2008 2:10PM Trade and aid are still major barriers to achieving the anti-poverty goals that countries committed themselves to achieving by 2015, despite significant progress in debt relief for the poorest States, according to a United Nations <"http://www.un.org/esa/policy/mdggap/mdg8report_engw.pdf">report launched today by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

The report – "Delivering on the Global Partnership for Achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)" – was prepared by the MDG Gap Task Force, created by Mr. Ban to track global commitments on aid, trade and debt, and to follow progress on access to essential medicines and technology.

Released ahead of a high-level event on the <"http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/">MDGs to be convened by Mr. Ban in New York on 25 September, the report finds that donors will need to boost their development assistance by $18 billion a year between now and 2010 if they are to meet the pledges they made in 2000 to halve poverty and other socio-economic ills.

"This report sounds a strong alarm," Mr. Ban told a <"http://www.un.org/apps/sg/offthecuff.asp?nid=1198">news conference in New York. "While there has been progress on several counts, delivery on commitments made by Member States has been deficient, and has fallen behind schedule."

The report states that though donor countries have stepped up official development assistance (ODA) since 2000, aid flows have actually declined in recent years – by 4.7 per cent in 2006 and a further 8.4 per cent in 2007.

In addition, the recent breakdown of the Doha development round of trade negotiations – aimed at establishing an open, equitable, rule-based and non-discriminatory multilateral trading and financial system – was "a major setback" for developing countries seeking to benefit from expanding global trade opportunities to reduce poverty.

According to the report, only 79 per cent of exports from least developed countries are given duty-free access to the markets of developed countries, well short of the target set in 2005 of 97 per cent. In addition, there has only been a mild reduction of tariffs on agriculture exports.

While there has been progress on debt relief, the report cites the need for further action, noting that in 2006, 52 developing countries spent more on debt service than on public health and 10 spent more on debt service than on education.

Also, while access to medicines to combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis has improved, the availability of affordable essential medicines is still far from adequate. In addition, wide variations in pricing mean that essential medicines – including antibiotics and painkillers – are often unavailable to the poor.

The report recommends eliminating national taxes and duties on essential medicines, as well as adopting generic substitution policies for essential medicines.

Regarding technology, the report says developing countries have unprecedented access to new information and communication technology (ICT), with over 77 per cent of the population able to receive a mobile cellular telephone signal, up from 46 per cent in 2001.

However, the digital divide between developed and developing countries continues to widen for technologies such as broadband internet connection, the report adds, noting that more than 30 per cent of people in the developing world are still living without electricity.

The report calls for urgent action on MDG 8, which focuses on the global partnership to support the other seven Goals – ranging from reducing illiteracy to improving maternal health and improving access to safe water and sanitation – if the anti-poverty targets are to be achieved.

With only seven years left until the 2015 deadline, the Secretary-General stressed that concerted action has never been more important. "We are already in the second half of our contest against poverty. We are running out of time," he stated.Ad Melkert, Associate Administrator of the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and chair of the Task Force, recalled recent findings by the World Bank showing that the number of people living in absolute poverty globally is estimated to be 500 million higher than previously assumed.

"This serves as a reminder that the relentless focus on the facts on the ground is key to maintaining the momentum of the Millennium Goals campaign," he stated.

He also emphasized the "indispensability" of a larger commitment by the rich world towards MDG 8, which he said is "essentially the signature to the contract for development between the rich and the poor."
2008-09-04 00:00:00.000

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AFRICAN MINISTERS AGREE TO ROLL OUT VACCINE TO FIGHT MENINGITIS - UN AGENCY

AFRICAN MINISTERS AGREE TO ROLL OUT VACCINE TO FIGHT MENINGITIS – UN AGENCY New York, Sep 4 2008 1:10PM Health ministers from sub-Saharan Africa's "meningitis belt" pledged today to introduce a new vaccine that they hope will immunize more than 250 million people against the deadly disease, at a United Nations-backed conference held in Cameroon.

The <"http://www.who.int/immunization/newsroom/yaounde_declaration.pdf">Yaoundé Declaration, agreed by the ministers attending the conference in the Cameroonian capital, is a wide-ranging meningitis control plan that also includes strategies to improve the exchange of information for epidemic response and promises funding for epidemic control activities.

The declaration is aimed at some 25 countries in the "meningitis belt," which stretches from Senegal in the west to Ethiopia in the east and has been prone to many deadly outbreaks in the past.

The new vaccine, priced at just 40 cents a dose, produces a higher immune response in both toddlers and adults than the current vaccine, according to the World Health Organization (<"http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2008/pr31/en/index.html">WHO), which is running the week-long conference.

WHO reported in a press release that the vaccine not only offers long-term protection but also defends non-vaccinated people, living in close proximity to their immunized neighbours, against the disease.

"The new vaccine is the result of a deliberate effort to get ahead of these epidemics, at a price affordable in Africa," said the Director-General of WHO, Margaret Chan.

Dr. Chan added, "With this vaccine, countries can move away from a reactive response to emergencies towards elimination of the epidemic threat."

Over the next six years, some 250 million people up to the age of 29 and 23 million will be inoculated with the meningococcal A conjugate vaccine under the meningitis prevention and control plan, covering 25 countries in the troubled continent.

"Vaccination with the new meningitis vaccine is money well spent," said Julian Lob-Leyvt, Executive Secretary of the GAVI Alliance, an immunization initiative, which includes WHO, The UN Children's Fund (<"http://www.unicef.org/">UNICEF) and the <"http://www.worldbank.org/">World Bank.

Dr. Lob-Leyvt added, "Our initial investment of $55 million towards a meningitis stockpile will greatly help stave off additional outbreaks of this disease."

Meningitis bacteria, which affect the lining surrounding the brain and spinal cord, are transmitted from person to person through droplets of respiratory or throat secretions. Close and prolonged contact such as kissing, sneezing and coughing, and sharing eating or drinking utensils, facilitates the spread. Symptoms include stiff neck, high fever, sensitivity to light, confusion, headaches and vomiting. The disease can result in brain damage, hearing loss or learning disability in 10 to 20 per cent of survivors.
2008-09-04 00:00:00.000

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UN ENVOY BRIEFS GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT ON MYANMAR VISIT

UN ENVOY BRIEFS GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT ON MYANMAR VISIT New York, Sep 4 2008 10:10AM United Nations Special Advisor Ibrahim Gambari has briefed the President of the General Assembly on his recent visit to Myanmar, during which he held talks with Government officials on issues such as national reconciliation and how to help the South-East Asian nation tackle its socio-economic challenges.

According to a statement issued after yesterday's meeting, Assembly President Srgjan Kerim reiterated the 192-member body's continued engagement "to promote national reconciliation, democracy and respect for human rights in Myanmar as mandated by the resolutions of the General Assembly."

The President also encouraged the Government of Myanmar "to continue to work closely with the Special Advisor to achieve concrete progress on the suggestions he put forward during his recent visit" – his fourth to the country over the past year.

Mr. Kerim stressed the need for continued engagement and strong commitment from all parties to continue the process of national reconciliation, pointing out that such engagement must be "serious and credible" with the aim of achieving concrete results.

The President reiterated his continuous support for Mr. Gambari's efforts on behalf of the Secretary-General, and also noted the important role played by neighbouring countries, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Group of Friends of Myanmar.

He "further encourages those countries to remain engaged in the political process," the statement added.
2008-09-04 00:00:00.000

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WEST AFRICA: UN AGENCIES STEP UP RELIEF EFFORTS IN WAKE OF WIDESPREAD FLOODS

WEST AFRICA: UN AGENCIES STEP UP RELIEF EFFORTS IN WAKE OF WIDESPREAD FLOODS New York, Sep 3 2008 7:10PM United Nations humanitarian agencies are expanding their relief efforts across West Africa, where rising flood waters have displaced hundreds of thousands of people in seven countries, damaged major infrastructure and sparked the threat of widespread outbreaks of infectious diseases.

UN agencies are at work in Togo, Ghana, Niger, Benin, Mali, Burkina Faso and Senegal, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (<"http://ochaonline.un.org/">OCHA) reported yesterday, amid concerns that heavy rains may continue through this month.

Six camps for populations displaced by flooding have been set up around Lomé, the capital and largest city in Togo, OCHA said, with two currently managed by the Togolese military.

The camps house around 4,000 flood victims, including 1,200 children. More than 1,500 others, including 200 children under the age of five, have been affected by heavy rains in the central region of Sokode.

Flooding has caused major infrastructural damage across Togo, including the destruction of 11 bridges. It has also forced up transport costs and resulted in a dramatic hike in the price of basic food staples.

The devastation in Togo also has a humanitarian impact on populations of landlocked countries such as Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, who rely on the port of Lomé for the supply of many goods conveyed by road, as rerouting via neighbouring Ghana or Benin is more expensive.

The UN Development Programme (<"http://www.undp.org/">UNDP) is planning to build a $400,000 temporary bridge linking the northern and southern Togo to help alleviate some of the suffering caused by the flood damage to the region.

Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (<"http://www.who.int/en/">WHO) has been supplying clean water, sanitation, mosquito nets, drugs and vaccinations to the almost 200,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) across the region, including 150,000 IDPs in Benin alone.

The campaign is aimed at reducing the intensified threat of malaria, diarrhoeal diseases and respiratory infections, especially for children.

Other UN agencies, such as the World Food Programme (<"http://www.wfp.org/">WFP), the United Nations Children's Fund (<"www.unicef.org">UNICEF) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (<"http://www.fao.org/">FAO), are assisting in the relief efforts.
2008-09-03 00:00:00.000

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PEACEBUILDING FUND HAS MADE GREAT STRIDES SINCE ITS CREATION, BAN SAYS

PEACEBUILDING FUND HAS MADE GREAT STRIDES SINCE ITS CREATION, BAN SAYS New York, Sep 3 2008 6:10PM The United Nations Peacebuilding Fund has swiftly become a unique and dynamic tool to help countries emerging from conflict avoid slipping back into war, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in a <"http://www.un.org/Docs/journal/asp/ws.asp?m=s/2008/522">report published today.

Launched in October 2006, "the Fund has been supporting countries to build sustainable peace and security while making positive strides to prevent the recurrence of violence in post-conflict countries, it has achieved this by helping countries to address some of the causes and effects of conflicts through reconciliation, institution-building, political and economic reforms," Mr. Ban wrote.

Currently, it is supporting projects in the four countries on the Peacebuilding Commission's agenda – Burundi, Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea-Bissau – and 37 emergency schemes in nine post-conflict nations.

Nearly $270 million has been contributed to the Fund by dozens of nations and groups, surpassing its $250 million funding target.

"The Peacebuilding Fund approach is based on the recognition that stable peace must be built on social, economic and political foundations that serve the needs of the population," the report noted.

It focuses on areas such as the rule of law, security sector reform, human rights, youth employment, addressing property disputes, refugee resettlement, and the promotion of inclusive national political dialogue.

The report highlighted that the Fund targets areas – such as supporting the negotiation of peace agreements and reconciliation in Burundi and the Central African Republic (CAR) – typically not covered by official development assistance (ODA) criteria because donors see such projects as too high-risk.

Additionally, it promotes countries' ownership of peacebuilding efforts, Mr. Ban said.

But he cautioned that for the Fund to be successful, greater investment and reforms are essential. "The concept of peacebuilding is not well understood by all actors and more in-country training is needed prior to setting up the Peacebuilding Fund infrastructure."

To ensure longer-term support from donors for the Fund, the Secretary-General called for an annual pledging conference.
2008-09-03 00:00:00.000

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UN WELCOMES 'HISTORIC' LAUNCH OF NEGOTIATIONS TO REUNIFY CYPRUS

UN WELCOMES 'HISTORIC' LAUNCH OF NEGOTIATIONS TO REUNIFY CYPRUS New York, Sep 3 2008 6:10PM Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has welcomed today's launch of full-fledged negotiations between the leaders of the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities that are aimed at reunifying the island of Cyprus.

In a message to the formal launch in Nicosia, Mr. Ban commended Greek Cypriot leader Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat "for their seriousness of purpose, sense of compromise and commitment to seeing the peace process through to a successful conclusion."

The Secretary-General stressed that "the United Nations supports and encourages both parties as they take this historic step together, so as to reach a negotiated settlement to reunify the island for the benefit of all the people of Cyprus."

Mr. Ban's <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2008/sgsm11773.doc.htm">message was delivered by his Special Adviser on Cyprus, Alexander Downer, who issued his own statement at the launch wishing Mr. Christofias and Mr. Talat success during the negotiations.

"You own this process and, as a result, your continuing leadership is the critical element to make it succeed," Mr. Downer said. "In that regard, bringing Cypriots to the conviction that reunification of the island will work for the greater happiness and prosperity of all Cypriots will, ultimately, be paramount."

The Special Adviser said significant progress has already been made in the lead-up to the negotiations, including in the work of technical committees that have agreed on a number of measures designed to improve the daily lives of Cypriots.

"The timely implementation of these measures will show Cypriots in practical ways that the communities can live together and will also help give you the political space to move forward."

He added that although "there have been difficult moments over the past months and there will likely be further difficulties and challenges ahead," the problem of Cyprus was not insurmountable.

"A comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus issue will be your enduring legacy and an inspiration to a troubled world," Mr. Downer told the leaders.
In May, Mr. Christofias and Mr. Talat committed themselves in a statement to working towards "a bicommunal, bizonal federation with political equality, as defined by relevant Security Council resolutions."

The partnership will comprise a Federal Government with a single international personality, along with a Turkish Cypriot Constituent State and a Greek Cypriot Constituent State, which will be of equal status.

The UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (<"http://www.unficyp.org/nqcontent.cfm?a_id=1">UNFICYP) has been in place on the island since 1964 after the outbreak of intercommunal violence. It is tasked with preventing a recurrence of fighting, contributing to a return to normal conditions and the maintenance of law and order.
2008-09-03 00:00:00.000

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