AS IRAQIS HEAD CLOSER TO POLLS, UN FINANCES THOUSANDS OF ELECTION TRAINING SESSIONS

AS IRAQIS HEAD CLOSER TO POLLS, UN FINANCES THOUSANDS OF ELECTION TRAINING SESSIONS
New York, Dec 13 2008 2:10PM
A United Nations development agency announced today that over 150,000 Iraqi civilians, some in the remotest areas of the country, have been trained in the electoral process in programmes it has financed ahead of upcoming elections.

The UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS) awarded micro-grants to 75 Iraqi non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to run activities educating relevant sections of the population about imminent provincial polls and national ballots.

The Electoral Education Campaign (EEC) - designed by UNOPS with the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) and in close cooperation with the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) ¬-- aims to bring together the IHEC, Iraqi civil society and opinion leaders, at both the national and governorate levels, to improve the awareness of the electoral process.

The Independent High Electoral Commission is an Iraqi in
stitution responsible for preparing and conducting elections with a series of electoral events, starting with provincial elections, slated for the end of January 2009 and culminating with parliamentary elections in 2009-2010.

UNOPS funding has allowed NGOs to conduct around 2000 training events a month, from the beginning of July to the end of November, reaching target populations in all of Iraq's governorates, including minorities, women, youth, internally displaced persons (IDPs), disabled people and first time voters.

"It is already clear that the Electoral Education Campaign has reinforced the impact of the Iraqi national public outreach strategy," said Deputy Director of UNOPS Operations Centre in Iraq, Niels Guenther.

"UNOPS is proud that its support to both IHEC and Iraqi civil society has allowed a larger number of Iraqi citizens to better understand the importance of these elections," he added.

In the run up to election-day UNOPS with IHEC plan to organize more than 100
so-called "Opinion Leader" sessions across Iraq, providing information about elections in the governorates.

Each of the sessions will gather 50 tribal and religious leaders, 50 civil servants and professional associations, 50 academics and 50 leaders of youth associations and 50 leaders of women associations, covering more than 6,000 Iraqi leaders by the time polling starts.

Dec 13 2008 2:10PM
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DR CONGO: UN-MANDATED GROUP FINDS EVIDENCE RWANDA, ARMY AIDING RIVAL REBELS

DR CONGO: UN-MANDATED GROUP FINDS EVIDENCE RWANDA, ARMY AIDING RIVAL REBELS
New York, Dec 12 2008 8:10PM
A group of experts monitoring a United Nations arms embargo on the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) reported today that it had found evidence that the Rwandan authorities and the Congolese army have aided opposing rebel groups in the war-ravaged east of the country.

In its final <"http://www.un.org/Docs/journal/asp/ws.asp?m=s/2008/773">report to the Security Council the Group of Experts, set up in 2004, said that while there is little documentation available to prove Rwandan material support to the rebel National Congress in Defence of the People (CNDP), it had found evidence that Rwandan authorities have been complicit in recruiting soldiers, including children, facilitated the supply of military equipment, and sent their own officers and units to the DRC to support the CNDP.

It based its research on dozens of interviews with eyewitnesses, including former combatants and officers of the mainly Tutsi CNDP, members of the business community, regional intelligence officials and local eyewitnesses, all of them "consistent and credible in describing the involvement" of the Government of Rwanda.

"Given the nature, however, of the conflict in eastern Congo, much of the financial and military support is informal and does not leave a paper trail," the Group's Coordinator Jason Stearns told a later news conference.

The Group recommended that the Security Council Sanctions Committee "remind the Government of Rwanda of its obligations" under which it pledged last year to prevent any support to CNDP, entry into and exit from its territory of CNDP members, use of Rwandan telephone networks and banking systems, and holding fund-raising meetings in Rwanda.

With regard to the DRC authorities the Group said it had obtained strong evidence that the Government army, known by its French acronym FARDC, collaborated with the mainly Hutu Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), including through the provision of military equipment and in joint operations against CNDP.

FDLR collaborated extensively with FARDC during the December 2007 clashes with CNDP in Masisi and Rutshuru territories and has continued to collaborate with FARDC during fighting that began this August, it added.

An upsurge of fighting since August between the two rebel movements, the army, and various other militias in North Kivu province in eastern DRC has driven 250,000 more civilians from their homes, in addition to the hundreds of thousands uprooted in earlier clashes.

The Group interviewed over 30 FDLR ex-combatants, of whom 15 provided first-hand, concrete testimony of FARDC-FDLR collaboration. It also interviewed several former and active FARDC soldiers who corroborated this information.

"The Group has identified at least three Congolese army commanders who are guilty of providing support to the FDLR," Mr. Stearns said. "While this collaboration is widespread and regular, the Group has not been able to prove to what extent the top leadership of the army is involved in this practise but it's cleat that they know and have done nothing to bring it to an end."

The Group has put forward several FARDC commanders for sanctions for supporting FDLR and another group called PARECO, and recommended that the Sanctions Committee request the DRC authorities "to issue clear directives to its troops that collaboration and cohabitation with FDLR and PARECO are prohibited." Appropriate disciplinary measures should be taken against FARDC soldiers collaborating with these armed groups.

The report noted that the FDLR obtains millions of dollars a year from the minerals trade, mostly through taxation of mines and traders, and that many traders are complicit since they know the gold, cassiterite, coltran and wolframite come from FDLR-controlled zones.

"We believe that the burden should be on the Congolese buying houses as well as on international mineral traders to conduct due diligence into the source of the product," Mr. Stearns said of one of the planks in enforcing the embargo.

The Group also pointed out that CNDP and FDLR leaders reside or travel through countries in Africa, Europe and North America where they rally support and funds. "The Group believes that such political support is essential for their fund-raising and constitutes a violation of the arms embargo," Mr. Stearns said.
Dec 12 2008 8:10PM
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TOP UN OFFICIAL WELCOMES EUROPEAN UNION CLIMATE CHANGE DEAL

TOP UN OFFICIAL WELCOMES EUROPEAN UNION CLIMATE CHANGE DEAL
New York, Dec 12 2008 7:10PM
The top United Nations climate change official has welcomed a plan agreed by European Union leaders to fight global warming, which was announced today as international negotiations led by the world body toward a new agreement on reducing greenhouse gas emissions wrapped up in Poznan, Poland.

"This is a sign of developed countries' resolve and courage that the world has been waiting for in Poznan," said Yvo de Boer, the Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (<"http://unfccc.int/2860.php">UNFCCC).

The Poznan conference marks the half-way point in efforts to reach agreement on a successor pact to the Kyoto Protocol, the legally binding regime for reducing emissions whose first commitment period ends in 2012.

The EU plan, reached in Brussels, reportedly elaborates how the group's 27 member countries will cut carbon emissions by 20 per cent by 2020.

The deal "shows the world that ambitious emission reduction goals by 2020 are in line with moving economic recovery in a green direction," Mr. de Boer said, adding that "this will contribute to propelling the world towards a strong, ambitious and ratifiable outcome in Copenhagen in 2009."

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon addressed the Poznan gathering yesterday, calling for renewed global solidarity to tackle the twin challenges of climate change and the financial crisis. He told the high level officials from nearly all UN Member States that the world cannot afford to let economic woes hinder progress on "the defining challenge of our era."
Dec 12 2008 7:10PM
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COOPERATION FROM STATES VITAL FOR UN TRIBUNALS TO FINISH WORK ON TIME, SAY OFFICIALS

COOPERATION FROM STATES VITAL FOR UN TRIBUNALS TO FINISH WORK ON TIME, SAY OFFICIALS
New York, Dec 12 2008 7:10PM
Top officials from the United Nations tribunals set up to try those responsible for atrocities committed during the Balkan conflicts of the 1990s and the 1994 Rwandan genocide today stressed that cooperation from States, especially in arresting fugitives and accessing evidence, will enable the courts to meet the deadline set for completing their work.

Serge Brammertz, Prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), told an open meeting of the Security Council that the major development in the last six months was the arrest of two of the four fugitives – Radovan Karadžic and Stojan Zjuplanin.

"Today the arrest of the two remaining fugitives is the highest priority of the Office," he said, referring to Ratko Mladic and Goran Hadžicrs.

He said that, in order to succeed in completing the trial and appeals programme, there would be heavy reliance on cooperation from the States of the former Yugoslavia and the support of the international community. Cooperation remained critical in the areas of access to archives, access to and protection of witnesses, and the arrest and transfer of the remaining fugitives.

Speaking to reporters later, he noted that there are currently seven ongoing trials in relation to 27 accused. Five trials still have to start next year, which means that the completion strategy deadlines will not be met and the Tribunal will have trial activities ongoing in 2009 and 2010.

Patrick Robinson, President of the ICTY, which is based in The Hague, told the Council that the international community should focus its efforts on securing the immediate arrest of the remaining fugitives as a matter of urgency.

He added that there was cause for deep concern that, as its work drew towards its final stages, the Tribunal should remain sufficiently resourced to discharge its mandate. He appealed to the Council and the international community to give the Tribunal the support it needs to enable it to discharge its "historic role."

In response to this request, the Security Council today authorized the Secretary-General to appoint, as a temporary measure and within existing resources, additional ad litem, or temporary, judges to the Tribunal, in order to complete existing trials or conduct additional ones.

The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR), which is aiming to finish first-instance trials by the end of 2009, is also working to address staffing needs and further develop tools for expediting proceedings, while fully respecting the right of the accused to a fair trial, said its President.

"We want to achieve our goals, and the workload ahead makes it clear that 'business as usual' is not an option," Dennis Byron told the Council.

The Prosecutor of the ICTR, which is based in Arusha, Tanzania, added that the cases of all detainees were being prepared to ensure that their trials proceeded in 2009, in accordance with the trial schedule.

The next six months would be a period of intense trial activity, Hassan B. Jallow said. "We are all committed to concluding the trials of the detainees currently at hand and to making referral a success to enable us deal with the cases of some detainees, as well as the fugitives."

Out of the close to 100 indictments that have been issued, the ICTR has finished the cases of 37 accused. It is still looking for 13 fugitives who are at large, and has 10 indictees currently in detention awaiting trial. The Tribunal plans to start those trials in January 2009 and finish them by September.

A challenge for the court has been the transfer of cases to national jurisdictions, the Prosecutor noted. "We haven't had many takers for our cases," he said, adding that Rwanda has been the court's main focus for the transferral of cases.

"But there also we've had some setback in that the judges so far have declined to refer any case to Rwanda because of fears that the defence may not be able to operate effectively given the possible reluctance of defence witnesses to travel to Rwanda to testify. And also out of concerns for the possible safety of defence witnesses in Rwanda."

As a result, no transfers have taken place so far to Rwanda, but the Office of the Prosecutor and the Rwandan authorities have agreed to work together to make sure that "we can help them put in place the measures which would satisfy the judges, which would overcome some of these constraints."

He stressed the importance of making progress in this area because it will ease the workload on the Tribunal and enable it to finish the trial phase of its work by the end of next year.

Mr. Brammertz voiced similar expectations regarding the work of his institution. "We strongly believe that the ultimate success of the ICTY as a tribunal will depend on our ability to transfer remaining case files to the region, and [are] hoping that the region will have the political support and also the logistical and operational support to conduct their own investigations."
Dec 12 2008 7:10PM
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UN LOANS $30 MILLION TO MICRO-FINANCE SCHEME FOR POOR RURAL INDIAN WOMEN

UN LOANS $30 MILLION TO MICRO-FINANCE SCHEME FOR POOR RURAL INDIAN WOMEN
New York, Dec 12 2008 7:10PM
A new United Nations loan of over $30 million seeks to boost the social and economic power of rural women in India's largest pocket of poverty.

Women from an estimated 108,000 poor rural households will be targeted by the UN International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) loan, which aims to give women in the Mid-Gangetic Plains of northern India easier access to microfinance and business development services.

The loan agreement was signed yesterday in Rome by Shri Arif Shahid Khan, the Indian Ambassador to Italy, and <"http://www.ifad.org/">IFAD President Lennart Båge.

The Women's Empowerment and Livelihoods Programme, which is expected to mobilize more than 6,000 self-help groups thus producing increased productivity and incomes by creating market-based businesses, will cost around $52 million.

The Indo-Gangetic Plain is a large and fertile area covering most of northern and eastern India and is named after the Indus and Ganges twin river systems that drain it.

Women in the Mid-Gangetic Plains experience deeper deprivation than elsewhere in India because of strong patriarchy and rigid caste divisions. As well as increasing access to financial institutions, the programme will encourage women's increased participation in local government.
Dec 12 2008 7:10PM
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UN OFFICIAL CALLS FOR CALM IN SOUTHERN SUDAN AFTER OUTBREAK OF VIOLENCE

UN OFFICIAL CALLS FOR CALM IN SOUTHERN SUDAN AFTER OUTBREAK OF VIOLENCE
New York, Dec 12 2008 6:10PM
The top United Nation official in Sudan today called for calm following yesterday's fatal incident involving Sudanese military battalions and police units in the Abyei area, which was beset by conflict earlier this year.

Ashraf Qazi, the Secretary-General's Special Representative for Sudan, asked all parties and residents of the area to offer their full support to the Abyei administration in restoring law and order after the incident, which led to one death and several injuries among the units that integrate members of the Sudanese military and the former southern rebels known as the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A).

The so-called joint integrated units (JIUs) and joint integrated police unit (JIPUs) were established under the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) that ended the country's decades-long civil war.

Deadly fighting broke out in May in Abyei, an oil-rich area in central Sudan whose status was not fully resolved under the CPA, leading to a peace agreement the following month aimed at restoring stability to the region and spurring civilians who had fled as a result of the violence to start to return.

Mr. Qazi strongly urged the parties to take all necessary measures to avoid any further outbreaks of violence, and to ensure that the incident does not impede the peaceful implementation of the Abyei road map, according to a press release from the UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS).
Dec 12 2008 6:10PM
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‘REAL PROGRESS’ MADE IN IVORIAN ELECTION PROCESS – UN PEACEKEEPING OFFICIAL

'REAL PROGRESS' MADE IN IVORIAN ELECTION PROCESS – UN PEACEKEEPING OFFICIAL
New York, Dec 12 2008 6:10PM
Genuine progress has been made in identifying the population and registering voters for the long-delayed elections in Cote d'Ivoire, a key element in resolving a political crisis that in 2002 divided the West African country into a rebel-held north and Government-controlled south, a top United Nations official said today.

Wrapping up a visit to the country, Edmund Mulet, the Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, also listed among the signs of tangible progress the disappearance of the so-called zone of confidence separating north and south.

He noted in addition that the two former warring forces are now working together on security issues along with the UN peacekeeping mission in the country (<"http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/missions/unoci/">UNOCI) and French Licorne forces, according to a UN spokesperson.

"Even so, much remains to be done," the spokesperson added, saying that Mr. Mulet requested donors to continue to provide support to the peace process and to streamline their efforts in the maintenance of peace in Cote d'Ivoire.

UNOCI is helping to pave the way for the polls, which were scheduled for 30 November but have been delayed for the third time.

Elections are one of the key benchmarks of last year's Ouagadougou Agreement, the political accord reached in neighbouring Burkina Faso that aims to reconcile Côte d'Ivoire's Government and the rebel Forces Nouvelles.
Dec 12 2008 6:10PM
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HEALTHY MEDIA CRUCIAL FOR BUILDING LASTING PEACE IN POST-CONFLICT STATES – UN OFFICIALS

HEALTHY MEDIA CRUCIAL FOR BUILDING LASTING PEACE IN POST-CONFLICT STATES – UN OFFICIALS
New York, Dec 12 2008 6:10PM
A strong press and robust broadcasting institutions are critical for achieving a sustainable peace and credible governance in post-conflict countries, senior United Nations officials told delegates attending a conference on peacebuilding today.

The need to recognize the role of media and communications as an essential part of peacebuilding efforts was the focus of a one-day conference organized by the UN Department of Public Information (DPI), in collaboration with the Peacebuilding Support Office (PBSO), at UN Headquarters in New York.

Delegates heard that media and communications operations are critical in supporting the UN Peacebuilding Commission in its efforts to provide post-conflict countries with the international support they need to get back on their feet.

The Commission, which was set up at the end of 2005, is tasked with helping struggling States avoid the slide back into war or chaos and currently has four countries on its agenda – Burundi, Sierra Leone, Guinea-Bissau and Central African Republic (CAR).

The conference brought together ministers from two of the States assisted by the Commission, Burundi and Sierra Leone, with media from the countries undergoing peacebuilding efforts, representatives of the UN system, and other international and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

Ambassador Yukio Takasu, Chairperson of the Peacebuilding Commission, told the meeting that the Commission needed the media as a partner at the local, national and international level to generate attention and mobilize support towards countries emerging from conflict.

Mr. Takasu added that the media was vital for promoting credible and transparent governance, saying that "a media environment conducive to independent and accessible media can build public will and hold governments accountable to their citizens."

Delegates focused discussions on how the media has promoted and strengthened governance and democracy in countries coming out of conflict, reviewing past efforts as well as examining current initiatives and exploring possibilities for future action.

Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information, Kiyo Akasaka, underscored the success UN radio broadcasters have had in reaching audiences in post-conflict nations.

"UNTAC radio, for example, in Cambodia in 1992, helped to change that country's political mood and mobilized an enormous voter turnout with its constant refrain 'your vote is secret,'" said Mr. Akasaka.

Assistant-Secretary-General for Peacebuilding Support Jane Holl Lute echoed the sentiment by stressing the media's outreach role in informing, motivating and mobilizing populations emerging from conflict.
Dec 12 2008 6:10PM
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RICH COUNTRIES MUST FOCUS ON QUALITY OF EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE – UN REPORT

RICH COUNTRIES MUST FOCUS ON QUALITY OF EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE – UN REPORT
New York, Dec 12 2008 6:10PM
With almost 80 per cent of three-to-six year-olds in rich countries now spending time away from their parents in some form of early childhood education and care, the quality of such services can make all the difference between great benefit and great harm for almost all aspects of a child's development, according to a new United Nations report.

"High quality early childhood education and care has a huge potential to enhance children's cognitive, linguistic, emotional and social development," the Director of the UN Children's Fund (<"http://www.unicef.org/media/media_46814.html">UNICEF) Innocenti Research Centre, Marta Santos Pais, said.

"It can help boost educational achievement, limit the early establishment of disadvantage, promote inclusion, be an investment in good citizenship, and advance progress for women."

But poor quality may result in weak foundations and shaky scaffolding for future learning, and what is true of cognitive and linguistic skills is also true of psychological and emotional development, the Centre stressed, calling for doubling spending on early childhood services in some countries.

The Centre's latest Report Card – The Childcare Transition – showed that for the under threes, the proportion of those in some form of early childhood education and care is 25 per cent, rising to more than 50 per cent in individual members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) group of 30 top industrialized countries.

In part, these changes reflect new opportunities for women's employment outside the home. But they also reflect new necessities. And the poorer the family, the greater is the pressure to return to work as soon as possible after a birth – often to unskilled, low-paid jobs.

At the same time as this change is advancing across the economically developed world, progress in the scientific understanding of early brain development is confirming that the quality of care and interaction in the earliest months and years of a child's life are critical for almost all aspects of a child's development.

"Taken together, says the report, these two developments mean that the child care transition carries with it the potential both for great benefit and great harm," UNICEF said.

Some OECD members have engaged closely with the childcare issue, pursuing policies designed to realize the potential benefits, but in others out-of-home child care is proceeding in an ad hoc way with less assurance of quality.

The Centre proposes 10 benchmarks to monitor progress in early childhood education and care across the OECD. "The proposed benchmarks should be regarded as a first step towards establishing a set of minimum standards to facilitate good early childhood outcomes," Ms. Santos Pais said.

At present, only Sweden meets all 10 benchmarks, followed by Iceland with nine, and Denmark, Finland, France, and Norway with eight each. These are the same six countries that top the table of government expenditures on early childhood services. Many other OECD countries will need to at least double current levels of expenditure on early childhood services, concludes the report, if minimum acceptable standards are to be met.
Dec 12 2008 6:10PM
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HAITIANS CONTINUE DESPERATE STRUGGLE THREE MONTHS AFTER SUCCESSIVE STORMS – UN REPORT

HAITIANS CONTINUE DESPERATE STRUGGLE THREE MONTHS AFTER SUCCESSIVE STORMS – UN REPORT
New York, Dec 12 2008 4:10PM
Almost half of the families uprooted by what the United Nations emergency relief chief had called the "worst disaster in the last 100 years" to strike Haiti are still unable to return to their homes, a UN spokesperson told reporters today.

Haiti remains in desperate need of support three months after four back-to-back tropical storms – Fay, Gustav, Hanna and Ike – battered the country, killing nearly 800 people and affecting an estimated 1 million people.

In Gonaïves alone ¬– one of the worst hit areas in the impoverished Caribbean nation – over 2,000 families are still living in temporary or collective shelters, which include tents. Those living in the makeshift accommodations continue to receive assistance, including some 5,000 kits which enable families to build transitional shelter.

But until now, only 48 per cent of the $105 million flash appeal launched in September, aimed at assisting the emergency relief effort, has been pledged, according to a situation report published by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

For its part, the UN peacekeeping operation in Haiti, known as MINUSTAH, is dispatching a humanitarian fact-finding mission to the western region of Cazale, where conditions are said to be dismal.
Dec 12 2008 4:10PM
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ZIMBABWE’S CHOLERA EPIDEMIC IS NOT OVER, STRESSES SECRETARY-GENERAL

ZIMBABWE'S CHOLERA EPIDEMIC IS NOT OVER, STRESSES SECRETARY-GENERAL
New York, Dec 12 2008 4:10PM
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon stressed today that the worst cholera outbreak in Zimbabwe's history, contrary to remarks by the country's President, is far from over, as United Nations agencies appealed for more funds to tackle the crisis and the effects of collapsing social services.

Media reports have quoted Robert Mugabe as saying that the outbreak, which the UN World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed has led to nearly 800 deaths, is under control.

"I cannot agree that the cholera epidemic is over," Mr. Ban told a news conference in Geneva.

"The reports I have been receiving ... are alarming," he said. "There are still many people who are suffering from this epidemic."

WHO said today that the current cholera outbreak – an acute intestinal infection caused by contaminated food or water – is the most serious ever registered in Zimbabwe, with some 16,700 cases so far.

"I don't believe the cholera outbreak is under control as of now," WHO's Fadéla Chaib told reporters in Geneva.

The agency is seeking $6 million to control the outbreak, which has also spread to neighbouring South Africa and, to a lesser extent, to Botswana and Mozambique. There are about 750 cases and 11 deaths so far in South Africa.

In addition, the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) today appealed for $17.5 million to enable it to scale up its cholera response, provide incentives for teachers to return to work, procure essential medicines for hospitals and help get social services back on track.

"The situation in Zimbabwe is dire and our response has to match the severity," said UNICEF Acting Representative Roeland Monasch, "Assistance needs to be taken to scale and it has to happen urgently.

"For this to happen we need resources. The deepening crisis in Zimbabwe comes amidst growing food insecurity, the HIV/AIDS epidemic and poses the worst threat to child survival and development in 20 years."

UNICEF has been providing intravenous fluids, drips, tents and beds for cholera treatment centres, as well as trucking 470,000 litres of water per day, drilling boreholes, and distributing water purification tools to more than 3.5 million Zimbabweans.
Dec 12 2008 4:10PM
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BAN TO HOST MEETING OF DIPLOMATIC QUARTET ON ISRAEL-PALESTINIAN PEACE NEXT WEEK

BAN TO HOST MEETING OF DIPLOMATIC QUARTET ON ISRAEL-PALESTINIAN PEACE NEXT WEEK
New York, Dec 12 2008 4:10PM
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will host a meeting in New York on Monday of his top diplomatic partners engaged in the search for a solution to the Middle East conflict based on the principle of two States, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace.

United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, and European Union (EU) High Representative Javier Solana and European Commissioner for External Relations Bettina Ferrero-Waldner will join Mr. Ban at UN Headquarters, while French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner representing the EU Presidency and Quartet envoy Tony Blair are scheduled to participate by video-link.

The Quartet – UN, EU, Russia and US – has been trying to help the parties attain the two-State peace settlement for several years. The process received new impetus from a meeting of the principal actors last year in the US city of Annapolis, with the projected aim of achieving an agreement by the end of this year.

Mr. Ban has voiced regret that this goal no longer seems possible but has said he is encouraged by the fact that the two sides have succeeded in creating trust and a framework for negotiations where none had existed two years ago.

Meanwhile, 54 truckloads of goods, including 11 containing humanitarian supplies, were allowed into Gaza from Israel today, but the fuel pipelines remained closed, the Office of the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process (UNSCO) reported.

UN officials, including Mr. Ban, have repeatedly called on Israel to urgently permit the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza's 1.5 million civilians. At the same time, Mr. Ban has reiterated his condemnation of rocket attacks by Palestinian militants in Gaza against Israeli civilian targets, which Israel has cited as a reason for the closures.
Dec 12 2008 4:10PM
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BAN HOPES DIFFERENCES ON KOREAN DENUCLEARIZATION WILL BE RESOLVED SOON

BAN HOPES DIFFERENCES ON KOREAN DENUCLEARIZATION WILL BE RESOLVED SOON
New York, Dec 12 2008 3:10PM
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today expressed hope that critical differences on the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula will be overcome after they were left unresolved by Six-Party Talks that ended yesterday, despite what he called "serious discussions."

"The Secretary-General strongly supports the goal of verifiable denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula in a peaceful manner," his spokesperson said in a statement issued after the latest round of talks between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and China, the Republic of Korea, the United States, the Russian Federation and Japan.

"In this regard, he appreciates that the Parties have reaffirmed this goal and unanimously agreed to advance the Six-Party Talks," the spokesperson added on the results of the meeting, which began on 8 December.
Verification of nuclear activities was among the issues over which the parties remained at odds in the talks, according to the statement.
Dec 12 2008 3:10PM
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BAN LOWERS NUMBER OF PROPOSED UN CHAD FORCE BY 1,000

BAN LOWERS NUMBER OF PROPOSED UN CHAD FORCE BY 1,000
New York, Dec 12 2008 3:10PM
A highly mobile peacekeeping force of at least 4,900, about 1,000 less than previously proposed, backed by 18 helicopters, will be needed to replace European troops next year in strife-torn areas of Chad and Central African Republic (CAR), where hundreds of thousands of refugees and displaced people are seeking shelter, according to a United Nations <"http://www.un.org/Docs/journal/asp/ws.asp?m=s/2008/760">report released today.

"Eastern Chad continues to face an acute humanitarian challenge," Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon writes in his latest report on the nascent UN Mission in CAR and Chad (<"http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/missions/minurcat/index.html">MINURCAT).

"Over 290,000 Sudanese refugees, more than 180,000 internally displaced persons and a further 700,000 individuals among the host communities are in need of food, water and health care. At present, an estimated 500,000 persons are receiving assistance," he adds of the region that has suffered from a spill-over from the war in Sudan's Darfur region, rebel activity and banditry.

In his last report in September, Mr. Ban had proposed that the Council consider sending 6,000 UN troops to replace the 3,300-strong European Union force (EUFOR) when its mandate expires on 15 March. However, he now says that refinements to the plan would provide for some 4,900 troops covering a larger operational area and additional responsibilities than EUFOR.

In addition to air transports for troop-carrying, military engineering and communications resources would be required. Unlike EUFOR, it is anticipated that the UN force would continue over the next year and beyond, thus requiring enduring logistical support, in particular accommodation, sanitation and water.

Despite the complex causes of insecurity in the area, Mr. Ban cites attacks by heavily armed bandits as posing the most immediate and constant threat to the civilian population and humanitarian operations on a day-to-day basis.

"The threat is criminal in nature," he writes, noting that bandit attacks on humanitarian workers continued to seriously undermine their capacity to reach people in need. "It manifests itself, predominately, through the use of military firepower, including heavy weapons. Countering this threat requires more than policing and calls for military deterrence. In cases where this does not succeed, military intervention is required."

The extreme challenges posed by geography, climate and the fluid security situation demand a highly mobile and responsive force that projects deterrence through visibility and presence both on land and in the air, entailing 24 security patrols daily, supported by a battalion-size mobile reserve force able to provide a surge capacity in response to an emerging threat, he adds.

"Reports of ongoing recruitment of child soldiers and the existence of arms and armed men in refugee camps and internally displaced person sites in the region are particularly disturbing," he says.

For CAR, he lays out three options: a small military liaison team of some 15 officers based in Chad that will liaise with local authorities and key actors in the Birao airfield area; a 500-strong detachment to protect one consolidated site, project limited longer range patrols, maintain a quick reaction force and undertake airfield maintenance; and 1,000 troops for deterrent and reconnaissance patrols.

In light of the technical assessment of prevailing risks, reinforced by EUFOR's current tasks, he recommends the first option, but if a sustained presence is required or the threat changes the second option is seen as providing the best balance of operational presence, situational awareness and resource allocation.

To date 16 countries have indicated a willingness to positively consider contributing to MINURCAT and one indicated the possibility of contributing to the helicopter requirement. A number of other potential contributors have indicated that, while they could provide troops, specific commitments would depend on prior confirmation that the key enablers have been secured.
Dec 12 2008 3:10PM
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DR CONGO: CONCERN FOR DISPLACED GROWS AS GIRLS SHOT, WOMAN RAPED NEAR UN CAMP

DR CONGO: CONCERN FOR DISPLACED GROWS AS GIRLS SHOT, WOMAN RAPED NEAR UN CAMP
New York, Dec 12 2008 2:10PM
Armed militia this morning shot two young girls who were sheltered at a United Nations camp in the conflict-ridden eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), from which the Organization's refugee agency has been relocating thousands of displaced people due to concerns for their safety.

The five-year-old girl died instantly and the seven-year-old was left critically injured and is fighting for her life in a local hospital.

A woman was also raped by armed men close to the camp in Kibati, north of Goma, the day before the shooting, according to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

Expressing extreme concern for the safety of the Congolese civilians in their two camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Kibati, <"http://www.unhcr.org/home.html">UNHCR have started to voluntarily transfer IDPs to a new camp west of Goma, the capital of North Kivu.

Fighting between Government forces (FARDC) and rebel troops (CNDP) – led by renegade general Laurent Nkunda – in North Kivu intensified at the end of 2006, forcing more than 800,000 people to flee the violence.

In August the conflict flared up again displacing some 250,000 civilians, many of whom were already uprooted from their homes. Other armed groups, including the Mayi Mayi, have also been involved in deadly clashes, some of which have been along ethnic lines.

"We have so far moved 616 families, or 1,780 IDPs, to sites in the Mugunga area," UNHCR spokesperson Ron Redmond <"http://www.unhcr.org/news/NEWS/494241482.html">told reporters in Geneva today.

"The number of persons at Kibati willing to relocate to the new Mugunga III appears to be increasing as the first two convoys scheduled for this morning will take over 400 displaced persons," he added.

Despite the obvious risks, many of the IDPs in Kibati camps are reluctant to move because they mostly come from villages north of Goma and the former makeshift Kibumba site, which had sheltered some 25,000 people. The relative calm of recent weeks has also convinced many to stay as close to the area as possible.

UNHCR reported that transfers to the newly expanded Mugunga III camp, which can now accommodate some 60,000 people, have involved families in the most urgent need of assistance who had previously been packed into six portable warehouses that each held 1,500 individuals.

On arrival in Mugunga III, the families are handed their luggage, plastic sheeting, sticks for constructing huts and are allocated a plot of land to build shelter. According to the agency, two 24-hour water reservoirs have been completed in time to meet the needs of the initial 6,000 people arriving at the site.

A health centre and police post been set up in the Mugunga III camp, and a total of 250 latrines have also been built, while 750 more will have been constructed by the end of the week.

"Meanwhile, we continue to bring in additional aid for the displaced population in North Kivu province," Mr. Redmond said, adding "some 2,500 kitchen sets, 23,100 blankets and 1,364 rolls of plastic sheeting arrived from the UNHCR emergency stockpile in Ngara, Tanzania, this week."
Dec 12 2008 2:10PM
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UN OBSERVER FORCE IN GOLAN HEIGHTS EXTENDED FOR ANOTHER SIX MONTHS

UN OBSERVER FORCE IN GOLAN HEIGHTS EXTENDED FOR ANOTHER SIX MONTHS
New York, Dec 12 2008 2:10PM
The Security Council today <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2008/sc9533.doc.htm">extended the United Nations force observing the ceasefire between Israel and Syria on the Golan Heights for a further six months, until 30 June 2009.

The 15-member body voted unanimously to renew the mandate of the UN Disengagement Observer Force (<"http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/missions/undof/">UNDOF), which was established in May 1974, as recommended by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in his latest report on the mission.

"The situation in the Israel-Syria sector has remained generally quiet," he wrote. "Nevertheless, the situation in the Middle East is tense and is likely to remain so, unless and until a comprehensive settlement covering all aspects of the Middle East problem can be reached."

Under the prevailing circumstances, he considered the continued presence of UNDOF in the area to be "essential."

The Secretary-General also drew attention to $23.7 million shortfall in the funding of the Force, as at 30 September. In addition, as at 31 October, $2.4 million was owed to the troop contributors to UNDOF.

"The outstanding contributions impede the ability of the Secretariat to support the operations of the Force and to reimburse Member States contributing troops to the Force," noted Mr. Ban.
Dec 12 2008 2:10PM
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UN CHIEF DEPLORES LATEST TERRORIST ATTACK IN IRAQ

UN CHIEF DEPLORES LATEST TERRORIST ATTACK IN IRAQ
New York, Dec 12 2008 2:10PM
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today strongly condemned the "heinous bomb attack" in northern Iraq which killed scores of people and wounded more than 90 civilians in a crowed restaurant yesterday.

The suicide bomber struck a popular restaurant in an the ethnically mixed area 25 miles from the city of Kirkuk while hundreds of families were celebrating the last day of the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha.

"No cause can justify such inhumane and indiscriminate violence," according to a statement issued by Mr. Ban's spokesperson.

According to media reports, the blast killed 55 people while the restaurant was packed with lunchtime diners, including children, and local Kurdish and Arab leaders who were trying to settle their differences concerning the oil-rich area.

"This terrorist attack was particularly troubling because it targeted a meeting to promote dialogue and reconciliation between different communities in the region," the statement added.

Mr. Ban called on the Iraqi people and their leaders "not to be deterred by such acts of provocation and to continue to work together in a spirit of national reconciliation in order to ensure a peaceful atmosphere for the holding of next month's provincial elections."
Dec 12 2008 2:10PM
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PHILIPPINE REBELS AGREE TO STOP FIELDING CHILD SOLDIERS, UN OFFICIAL SAYS

PHILIPPINE REBELS AGREE TO STOP FIELDING CHILD SOLDIERS, UN OFFICIAL SAYS
New York, Dec 12 2008 2:10PM
An Islamic rebel group in the Philippines will stop recruiting child soldiers and return to civilian life those already in their ranks, according to an action plan announced by a United Nations official who wrapped up a five-day mission in the country today.

"Children are affected in multiple ways by the conflict in the Philippines," Radhika Coomaraswamy, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, <"http://www.un.org/children/conflict/pr/2008-12-12200.html">told a news conference in the capital, Manila, in which she welcomed the agreement with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

During her visit, which was requested by the Security Council, Ms. Coomaraswamy sought the release of children recruited by both the MILF and the Maoist New People's Army (NPA), raised concern over the alleged abuse of children by members of the Government forces and paramilitary groups, and called for stronger protections for children caught up in the civil conflict.

She also visited camps for displaced persons in the country, where ongoing clashes between Muslim rebels and Government troops in southern areas have forced about 130,000 people to flee their homes.

"All the parties to the conflict, civil society, religious leaders and the Government must consider [children's] protection as a priority," she said. Welcoming the decision of the MILF to comply with the Security Council recommendations, she added that: "Possible dialogue with NPA is under consideration in the context of ongoing peace processes."
During her meetings with the Government, Ms. Coomaraswamy also raised concerns regarding alleged involvement of children in the paramilitary Citizens Armed Force Geographical Units (CAFGU) and Community Volunteer Organizations (CVOs) operating in some conflict areas, according to a press release from her office.

The Government agreed to immediately issue a directive that all local units must strictly adhere to existing national legislation that no one under 18 shall be recruited or used in security forces, Ms. Coomaraswamy said.

The Special Representative also urged the Government to take all necessary measures to investigate and take firm action against those within the Philippines Security Forces allegedly responsible for grave violations against children. She welcomed the Government's nomination of focal points within the forces to deal with these issues.

At the press conference, Ms. Coomaraswamy complimented the Government on its strong framework of laws and policies on children and armed conflict, but said she felt implementation was lagging in some areas.

She welcomed, in particular, upcoming legal changes that would exclude from prosecution children who are arrested for reasons related to armed conflict, considering them as victims instead of perpetrators, but said that the Government needed to strengthen its ability to return children associated with armed groups to civilian life.

Ms. Coomaraswamy's visit was organized by the Philippines office of the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) in collaboration with the rest of the UN Country Team.
Dec 12 2008 2:10PM
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BAN URGES UN RIGHTS COUNCIL TO RISE ABOVE ‘PARTISAN POSTURING’ AND REVIEW ALL STATES

BAN URGES UN RIGHTS COUNCIL TO RISE ABOVE 'PARTISAN POSTURING' AND REVIEW ALL STATES
New York, Dec 12 2008 1:10PM
The United Nations Human Rights Council marked the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in a special session today, with Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon calling on it to rise above "partisan posturing and regional divides" and review the record of every State.

"We have come a long way since the Declaration's adoption. But the reality is that we have not lived up to its vision – at least not yet," Mr. Ban <"http://www.un.org/apps/sg/sgstats.asp?nid=3609">told the Council in Geneva. "Abject poverty, shameful discrimination and horrific violence continue to plague millions of people. As we mark this milestone, we must also acknowledge the savage inhumanity that too many people in our world must endure. There is no time to rest.

"This Council can have a tremendous impact. But you, its members, must rise above partisan posturing and regional divides. One way to do this is with continued vigilance in carrying out the Universal Periodic Review, which assesses the human rights records of all States. The Council must address human rights abuses wherever they occur."

With children reading out articles of the Declaration in their national languages, Council President Martin Ihoeghian Uhomoibhi said 60 years on, the text continued to be a living and relevant document for all, carrying its fundamental message to people everywhere in the world.

Noting that the Declaration was born following the utter devastation of the Second World War, Mr. Ban stressed that the General Assembly was still adding to the human rights edifice with such texts as the recently adopted Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the treaty against enforced disappearances and the covenant enshrining the rights of the disabled.

"The world did not adopt such an impressive list of human rights instruments just to put them on a shelf somewhere at the United Nations," he said. "These should be living documents that can be wielded by experts who scrutinize country reports or assess individual complaints."

He praised the role of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and the media in helping to uphold human rights. "Courageous journalists have risked and lost their lives to report on threats against others. This anniversary is a milestone for them, too – a day on which to stress again the need for media to be free to do their job, and free of harassment, intimidation and worse," he added.

<"http://www.un.org/apps/sg/offthecuff.asp?nid=1235">Speaking to the press later, Mr. Ban said that it is necessary and desirable that the United States takes part as a member of the Human Rights Council. "I would expect and hope that the next Administration will seriously and positively consider my call on this matter."

He also noted his recent conversations with President-elect Barack Obama and other US officials, saying that he expects the new Administration to be much more actively engaged with the UN on climate change, the anti-poverty targets with a 2015 deadline known as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), and other issues on the world body's agenda.

In his message to the commemorative meeting, UN International Labour Organization (<"http://www.ilo.org/global/lang--en/index.htm">ILO) Director-General Juan Somavia said the Declaration placed respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms squarely in the context of the fight against poverty and the promotion of social progress.

But its goals and aspirations still remained distant and unrealized for millions of working women and men worldwide, he stressed. The current economic turmoil required all the more a focus on ensuring respect for human rights.

In another message to the session, the Commissioner-General of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (<"http://www.un.org/unrwa/english.html">UNRWA) said fatality figures for the occupied Palestinian territory had surely to make the world question its commitment to upholding the right to life, the most fundamental of all rights. More than 500 Palestinians had been killed this year as a result of the conflict and 11 Israelis had lost their lives this year, she noted.

The right to freedom of movement enshrined in the Universal Declaration also remained a distant hope for many Palestinians. With an estimated 10,000 Palestinians in Israeli prisons, the declaration that everyone had the right to liberty and security of person and that no one should be subjected to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment had a sad resonance today, she added.

In Gaza, more than half of the population now lived below the deep poverty line. This was a humanitarian crisis, but one that was deliberately imposed by political actors. Overarching all these rights was the right of self-determination, a right of which Palestinians had been deprived through 60 years of exile and dispossessions, she declared. The chasm between word and deed was a matter of puzzlement to many Palestinians.

"But this can be reversed and protection is the place to start," she said. "Let us make the protection of Palestinian rights the byword of all our interventions. Let us make the vision of the signatories of the Universal Declaration a reality; continued failure to do so is to our universal shame."
Dec 12 2008 1:10PM
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SOME 50,000 COLOMBIANS IN ECUADOR TO BE REGISTERED UNDER UN-BACKED SCHEME

SOME 50,000 COLOMBIANS IN ECUADOR TO BE REGISTERED UNDER UN-BACKED SCHEME
New York, Dec 12 2008 1:10PM
Nearly 50,000 Colombian refugees are expected to benefit from the Ecuadorian Government's nationwide registration scheme, which aims to recognize and document refugees who have been in the country for more than a year, the United Nations said today.

Ecuador is home to some 20,000 refugees, but an additional 130,000 people who may be in need of international protection have not been registered, either through lack of information or difficulty of access, according to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

"Like other countries in the region, Ecuador faces a major challenge of refugee documentation," <"http://www.unhcr.org/news/NEWS/494292754.html">UNHCR spokesperson Ron Redmond told reporters in Geneva.

The scheme began this week in two pilot locations in Ecuador's Amazonian region along the border with Colombia – the small community of Barranca Bermeja and La Bonita. Three mobile teams made up of registration officials, representatives from the Ecuadorian Government and UNHCR observers are taking part in the pilot phase.

"The objective is to speed up the registration process, so that people in need of international protection can be interviewed, assessed and issued with documentation on the same day," said Mr. Redmond.

According to UNHCR, the majority of refugees come from Colombia, where armed conflict and violence have forced millions of people to flee their homes.

UNHCR in Colombia marked the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights earlier this week by issuing a new call for solidarity with internally displaced people.

During a celebration in Bogotá on Wednesday night, 5,000 paper lanterns were lit up in support of internally displaced people and other victims of the conflict.

The celebration marked the close of the UNHCR-led Corre por la Vida (Running for Life) campaign to foster solidarity with the displaced and raise understanding of the massive human rights violations that lead to forced displacement.

The UN refugee agency has 12 offices inside Colombia, where it has been working since 1998 to support the South American nation in addressing one of the largest crises of forced internal displacement in the world.

It works from four locations in Ecuador, three of them along the northern border with Colombia. UNHCR also has offices in Venezuela, Brazil, Panama and Costa Rica, all of which have large numbers of Colombian refugees.
Dec 12 2008 1:10PM
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TIMOR-LESTE ISSUES UN-BACKED HUMAN RIGHTS GUIDE FOR ARMED FORCES

TIMOR-LESTE ISSUES UN-BACKED HUMAN RIGHTS GUIDE FOR ARMED FORCES
New York, Dec 12 2008 1:10PM
A booklet that aims to build human rights awareness among the members of the armed forces of the young nation of Timor-Leste was released today and immediately welcomed by the United Nations mission in the country, known as UNMIT.

"This initiative by the Government is a sign of its commitment to human rights as expressed by Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão," the Chief of the Human Rights and Transitional Justice Section of <"http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/missions/unmit/index.html">UNMIT, Louis Gentile, said, pointing out that the Prime Minister has repeatedly stressed the importance of human rights as a key element to strengthen the professionalism of the armed forces.

Described by UNMIT as a user-friendly, portable guide for the forces' 700 soldiers, the booklet was developed by the Ministry of Defense with the assistance of UNMIT and is available in Tetun, Portuguese and English.

It provides an introduction to basic human rights concepts and addresses such issues as the role of armed forces in a democratic state and accountability of individuals for their actions, UNMIT said.

The publication was formally presented to President José Ramos-Horta, in his capacity as Supreme Commander of the Defence Force, at the opening of the Security Sector Reform and Development Seminar held at the Presidents Palace, Lahane, Dili, today.

An UNMIT report in August said that Timor-Leste was making progress in key human rights areas, including adherence to the rule of law, strengthening the judicial system and addressing past violations.

However, the Mission expressed concern over an increase in the number of cases of ill-treatment by members of the security forces reported during the state of exception that followed the February assassination attempts against President Ramos-Horta and Prime Minister Gusmão.
Dec 12 2008 1:10PM
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CYPRUS: SECURITY COUNCIL EXTENDS MANDATE OF UN PEACEKEEPING MISSION

CYPRUS: SECURITY COUNCIL EXTENDS MANDATE OF UN PEACEKEEPING MISSION
New York, Dec 12 2008 12:10PM
The Security Council today extended the mandate of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Cyprus (UNFICYP) by six months, welcoming September's historic launch of talks between the leaders of the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities aimed at reunifying the Mediterranean island.

The Council voted unanimously to keep the mission, which has been in operation since 1964 after the eruption of intercommunal violence between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities, in place through 15 June 2009.

The negotiations have created "the prospect of a comprehensive and durable settlement," the resolution said, urging the sides to take full advantage of the opportunity by stepping up the pace of talks and maintaining the existing atmosphere of trust and goodwill.

The 15-member body also called on the sides to continue to consult with UNFICYP on the demarcation of the buffer zone.

In his latest report on Cyprus to the Council, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he was "encouraged" that Greek Cypriot leader Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat had decided to resume formal negotiations towards achieving a bizonal, bicommunal federation.

"It reflected political courage, vision and commitment, which both leaders clearly share," he wrote.

The latest round of talks took place between the leaders of the two communities last week in the UN Protected Area in Nicosia.
Dec 12 2008 12:10PM
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NEW HUMAN RIGHTS INSTRUMENT CLOSES VITAL PROTECTION GAP, SAYS TOP UN OFFICIAL

NEW HUMAN RIGHTS INSTRUMENT CLOSES VITAL PROTECTION GAP, SAYS TOP UN OFFICIAL
New York, Dec 12 2008 10:10AM
The United Nations human rights chief has welcomed the General Assembly's adoption of an important new instrument to strengthen the protection of economic, social and cultural rights, stressing that it gives a voice to victims of violations.

"The approval of the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights is of singular importance by closing a historic gap," stated UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay.

The Protocol, adopted during the Assembly's 10 December meeting commemorating the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights, will enable victims to complain about violations of the rights enshrined in the Covenant at the international level for the first time.

Ms. Pillay stressed that the Protocol provides a voice to victims of human rights violations. It also "makes them better equipped to enlist the international community's help to address their plight."

The High Commissioner noted that the Universal Declaration chose not to rank rights. "On the contrary, it recognized the equal status of political and civil rights with economic, social and cultural rights, and underlined that all rights are inextricably linked," she said. "Violations of a set of rights reverberate on other rights and enfeeble them all."

The Optional Protocol will now be opened for signature during 2009 and enter into force once it has been ratified by ten States.
Dec 12 2008 10:10AM
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NEW UN-JAPAN PACT SEEKS TO BOOST USE OF SPACE DATA TO REDUCE DISASTER RISK

NEW UN-JAPAN PACT SEEKS TO BOOST USE OF SPACE DATA TO REDUCE DISASTER RISK
New York, Dec 12 2008 10:10AM
A new agreement between the United Nations and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) will enable them to boost their cooperation to use space-based information and services to help reduce the risk of disasters in the Asia-Pacific region.<p.

Under the agreement, JAXA and the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) will promote the use of technology, such as satellite imagery, remote sensing and satellite-based communications, for disaster risk reduction and disaster management.<p.

"Although some of ESCAP's member countries are advanced in the integration of such satellite information and services into their disaster response systems, other countries – in particular least developed countries – are not equipped to analyse and use the data even if it is available and government officials are aware of the benefits," Shigeru Mochida, ESCAP's Deputy Executive Secretary, <"http://www.unescap.org/unis/press/2008/dec/g64.asp">said today at the signing, which took place in Viet Nam during the Asia-Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum.<p.

The agreement will enable JAXA and ESCAP to increase assistance to ESCAP's member countries, including by providing the region's disaster management authorities and the public with important information that will help them deal with disasters more effectively and plan responses in a timely manner. <p.

The new pact is the latest venture by JAXA and ESCAP, which have been working closely for several years to promote the use of space-based information and services in the region. They have assisted a number of countries through the provision of satellite images to disaster-affected areas and with the monitoring of floods, among other things. <p.

According to the UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR), Asia and the Pacific is, by far, the region most affected by disasters in terms of human and economic impacts. <p.
Dec 12 2008 10:10AM
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EMERGENCY RELIEF CONTINUES TO FILTER INTO GAZA, UN REPORTS

EMERGENCY RELIEF CONTINUES TO FILTER INTO GAZA, UN REPORTS
New York, Dec 11 2008 5:10PM
A slow trickle of humanitarian aid has continued to flow into the Gaza Strip, where 1.5 million residents are forcibly confined, the Office of the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process (UNSCO) reported today.

Close to 100 trucks were able to transport supplies into the impoverished region on the western flank of Israel, of which 21 were delivering provisions for humanitarian agencies.

Although the fleet represented a slight increase from yesterday, the average number of trucks crossing into Gaza in October was 123 per day and in May 2007 the average was some 475 trucks a day.

UNSCO also reported that some industrial fuel made it to the Gaza power station, but most of the territory is still experiencing power cuts of four to eight hours a day despite the plant's increased output.

For its part, the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (<"http://www.un.org/unrwa/english.html">UNRWA) reported that seven of its trucks were able to ship food into Gaza today, including sugar, canned meat and whole milk powder.

Following the 1948 Arab-Israeli conflict, UNRWA was established by the General Assembly to carry out direct relief and works programmes for Palestine refugees.

At its annual pledging drive at UN Headquarters in New York yesterday, UNRWA announced that its cash reserves had plummeted from $60 million in 2006 to just $1 million, enough for less than one day's average expenditure.

Israel closed border crossings into Gaza at the beginning of November citing rocket and other attacks by militants in the area against civilian targets in Israel as the reason.
Dec 11 2008 5:10PM
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GUINEA-BISSAU CONTINUES TO NEED STRONG INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT, SAYS SECURITY COUNCIL

GUINEA-BISSAU CONTINUES TO NEED STRONG INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT, SAYS SECURITY COUNCIL
New York, Dec 11 2008 5:10PM
The United Nations Security Council today underscored the need for continued international support for Guinea-Bissau, while voicing their concern over security in the West African country which faced an unsuccessful coup attempt last month by elements of the military.

Renegade military elements launched an armed attack on the residence of President João Bernardo Vieira in the capital, Bissau, on 23 November. Mr. Vieira survived the attack, which occurred just one week after legislative elections were staged in a peaceful and orderly manner.

"The members of the Security Council reiterated their deep concern over the security situation in Guinea-Bissau," Ambassador Neven Jurica of Croatia, which holds the rotating Council Presidency for December, said in a <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2008/sc9530.doc.htm">statement read out to the press.

The 15-member body, which was briefed by the Secretary-General's Special Representative, Shola Omoregie, also expressed its support to the implementation of the Security Sector Reform Programme in Guinea-Bissau.

In addition, the Council also welcomed the successful organization of the legislative elections on 16 November and called on the authorities to ensure the installation of the new Parliament and Government as soon as possible. It also welcomed the creation of the National Commission on Human Rights.

Guinea-Bissau has struggled to combat growth in drug trafficking and organized crime, and also to sustain economic growth and political stability amid a series of civil conflicts and coups d'état in recent decades.

The UN has been assisting the country in rebuilding through the efforts of the UN Peacebuilding Support Office in the country, known as UNOGBIS. Guinea-Bissau is one of a handful of States on the agenda of the UN Peacebuilding Commission, which aims to help poor countries avoid sliding back into war or chaos.

The Council also asked the Secretary-General to put forward recommendations on transforming UNOGBIS into an integrated office, and underscored the need for continued support to Guinea-Bissau.
Dec 11 2008 5:10PM
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UN ATOMIC AGENCY AIDS COUNTRIES PURSUING NUCLEAR POWER

UN ATOMIC AGENCY AIDS COUNTRIES PURSUING NUCLEAR POWER
New York, Dec 11 2008 5:10PM
The United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency (<"http://www.iaea.org/NewsCenter/News/2008/nuclear_power.html">IAEA) has advised nations aspiring to use nuclear power to adopt a comprehensive approach – getting governments, the private sector and schools on board – to guarantee safety.

"This ensures that they have a secure, effective, safeguarded programme by the time they actually get to putting out a bid for a nuclear power plant," said Anne Starz, Scientific Secretary in IAEA's Nuclear Power Engineering Section.

Bringing a nuclear power programme online entails a commitment of at least 100 years, the experts said at a three-day IAEA technical meeting in Vienna, Austria.

Ms. Starz said that a country's planning phase, before it invites vendors to compete to supply a power plant, will take between 10-15 years, with an additional 5-7 years for the plant to come online.

The IAEA helps newcomers to nuclear power by providing standards, guidance, reviews and assistance.

Over 100 participants from 40 countries in various stages of the nuclear power process are taking part in the Vienna meeting, scheduled to wrap up tomorrow.
Dec 11 2008 5:10PM
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BURUNDI FACES THREAT OF FRESH CONFLICT AS IMPASSE WITH REBELS DEEPENS, UN WARNS

BURUNDI FACES THREAT OF FRESH CONFLICT AS IMPASSE WITH REBELS DEEPENS, UN WARNS
New York, Dec 11 2008 5:10PM
Although Burundi has made commendable advances in key areas for peace consolidation, an impasse between the Government and the last major rebel holdout is deepening and the risks of renewed confrontation are intensifying, according to a United Nations report being discussed by the Security Council today.

"I regret that, despite internal efforts and external support, the parties have not yet been able to muster the political will to overcome their differences and look to the future for the benefit of their country," Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in his latest <"http://www.un.org/Docs/journal/asp/ws.asp?m=s/2008/745">report on the UN Integrated Office in Burundi (BINUB).

He recommended a 12-month extension of BINUB's mandate to help restore peace to a country that has been torn apart by decades of ethnic conflict between Hutus and Tutsis, with hundreds of thousands killed.

Mr. Ban welcomed the end of hostilities between the Government and the rebel holdout, Palipehutu-FNL in May and the return to Bujumbura, the small Central African country's capital, of the rebel leadership, but stressed that the parties had yet to overcome the differences blocking implementation of their 2006 Comprehensive Ceasefire Agreement.

Palipehutu-FNL's insistence on being recognized as a political party under its current name is one of the reasons for the current impasse, "with the risk for peace and stability that this may imply," he stated in the report.

Among other concerns, Mr. Ban cited the increasing number of arrests of members of the political opposition and representatives of civil society and the media. "I call on the authorities to allow peaceful assemblies, to desist from detaining persons for expressing their beliefs or opinions and to guarantee due process and fair judicial review for all detainees," he said.

Human rights violations continue to be of serious concern, but he commended the Government's recent steps towards fighting impunity, noting the conviction of suspects and the forthcoming prosecution of others involved in massacres.

He also voiced concern at the high incidence of sexual violence. "I urge the Government to spare no efforts to address this issue, including through new legislation, fighting against impunity in sexual violence cases and improving legal and social support for victims of sexual violence," he said.

While noting that the overall security situation had registered some improvement, he added that the general population still faces widespread criminality.

Burundi was one of the first two countries, along with Sierra Leone, to receive support from the UN Peacebuilding Commission, which was established in 2005 to help post-conflict countries determine the priority areas for rebuilding out of the vast array of challenges they face.

Noting that the Commission's engagement, along with the Peacebuilding Fund, had provided valuable support to the promotion of peace, Mr. Ban pledged that BINUB would continue to assist the Government to enact sector-wide security reforms and complete the disarmament, demobilization and sustainable reintegration of former combatants into national life.
Dec 11 2008 5:10PM
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DR CONGO: UN REPORTS PROGRESS IN TALKS BETWEEN GOVERNMENT, REBELS

DR CONGO: UN REPORTS PROGRESS IN TALKS BETWEEN GOVERNMENT, REBELS
New York, Dec 11 2008 3:10PM
Talks between the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and a main rebel group are continuing to make headway, according to the top United Nations envoy tasked with helping to resolve the conflict that has engulfed the east of the vast African nation.

The dialogue in Nairobi, Kenya, which began earlier this week, resumed today, but will adjourn until next week, Olusegun Obasanjo, the Secretary-General's Special Envoy and former Nigerian president, announced today.

He is mediating the talks between the Government and the National Congress in Defense of the People (CNDP), with Benjamin Mkapa, the former president of Tanzania who is representing the African Union (AU) and the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR).

"I am pleased to note that they are making steady progress towards agreement on the ground rules for substantive discussions," Mr. Obasanjo said, noting that the sides have shown "goodwill" during the talks so far.

Also today, a high-level delegation was dispatched by the two envoys to meet renegade general Laurent Nkunda, who heads the CNDP, to discuss issues that have slowed steps forward and have reported receiving a positive response.

Yesterday, the former Nigerian leader warned that an urgent resolution was needed to move the talks forward.

The CNDP is insisting on discussions on the obstacles facing the entire DRC, not just the conflict and humanitarian situation in the east, he said. "Without prejudice to the rights and wrongs of this demand," Mr. Obasanjo said that both he and Mr. Mkapa believe this goes "beyond the mandate given to us" last month by the Great Lakes Region, the AU and the UN.

Further, progress in the dialogue has been slowed down because the decision-making powers of the CNDP delegation have been curtailed by the militia's leadership, he noted.

Escalating conflict between Government forces (FARDC) and the CNDP has uprooted an estimated 250,000 people since late August, mainly in North Kivu province, which borders Rwanda and Uganda. Other armed groups, including the Mai Mai, have also been involved in deadly clashes, some of which have been along ethnic lines.
Dec 11 2008 3:10PM
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GUNMEN KILL LEADER OF DISPLACED PERSONS CAMP IN DARFUR, UN REPORTS

GUNMEN KILL LEADER OF DISPLACED PERSONS CAMP IN DARFUR, UN REPORTS
New York, Dec 11 2008 3:10PM
Unidentified gunmen have shot dead the traditional leader of a camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Sudan's war-ravaged Darfur region, the latest in a series of attacks on the 2.7 million people uprooted by over five years of fighting between the Government and rebels, the United Nations reported today.

A patrol from the joint United Nations-African Union mission in Darfur (<"http://www.un.org/depts/dpko/missions/unamid/">UNAMID), dispatched to Camp Hassa Hissa in West Darfur on receiving reports of the attack yesterday, confirmed that the sheikh had been killed but found the camp to be calm.

It was the second violent incident in an IDP camp this month. On 1 December two Janjaweed militiamen, usually allied with Government forces, armed with a rifle quarrelled with IDPs at Hissa Hissa camp in South Darfur. One of the militiamen was severely beaten and later died and an IDP suffered a minor injury. The other militiaman was arrested and taken into custody by Sudanese police.

The following day a dozen armed men set ablaze a water pump and five generators supplying energy to Hissa Hissa, lightly injuring one IDP. Then, too, UNAMID sent an armed team to calm down the tensions between the camp residents and the militiamen.

A day later, two gunmen equipped with AK-47 assault rifles and a hand grenade stopped a humanitarian convoy, beat up aid workers and stole money as it was on its way from Nyala, the South Darfur capital, to Kalma IDP camp.

Meanwhile, in North Darfur, UNAMID Deputy Police Commissioner for Operations Adeyemi Ogunjemilusi paid a one-day official visit to Kabkabiya as part of his familiarization tour of the mission's area of operations.
Dec 11 2008 3:10PM
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FOUR PAKISTANI MILITANTS ADDED TO UN TERRORISM SANCTIONS LIST

FOUR PAKISTANI MILITANTS ADDED TO UN TERRORISM SANCTIONS LIST
New York, Dec 11 2008 3:10PM
The United Nations Security Council has imposed sanctions, including a travel ban and assets freeze, on four leaders of a Pakistani militant group blamed by India for last month's deadly terrorist attack in Mumbai.

The four – Muhammad Saeed, Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, Haji Muhammad Ashraf and Mahmoud Mohammad Ahmed Bahaziq, known under various spellings and variations – were added yesterday to a list established by the so-called 1267 committee of people and firms facing sanctions for ties to Al-Qaida or the Taliban.

The committee named Mr. Saeed as leader of Lashkar-e-Tayyiba, Mr. Lakhvi as its chief of operations, Mr. Ashraf as its chief of finance, and Mr. Bahaziq as its financier.

It also listed a host of alternative names and spellings for Lashkar-e-Tayyiba, Al-Rasheed Trust and Al Akhtar Trust, which are under committee sanctions.

The list consists of four sections and currently contains 507 names: individuals associated with the Taliban (142 individuals); entities and other groups and undertakings associated with the Taliban (none); individuals associated with Al-Qaida (253 individuals); and entities and other groups and undertakings associated with Al-Qaida (112 entities).
Dec 11 2008 3:10PM
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SOMALIA: UN-BACKED MEETING WRAPS UP WITH CALL FOR GREATER ACTION TO FIGHT PIRACY

SOMALIA: UN-BACKED MEETING WRAPS UP WITH CALL FOR GREATER ACTION TO FIGHT PIRACY
New York, Dec 11 2008 2:10PM
A United Nations-backed meeting concluded today with participants calling for greater cooperation to combat the rampant piracy off the coast of Somalia, emphasizing that a durable solution to the problem requires peace and stability in the war-ravaged Horn of Africa nation.

A communiqué issued at the end of the two-day gathering in Nairobi, Kenya, stressed "the importance of enhancing coordination and cooperation in the fight against piracy," welcoming recent steps taken by nations and organizations to fight the scourge.

The European Union (EU) this week launched Operation Atalanta, an anti-piracy task force seeking to protect merchant ships from pirate attacks off the Somali coast, and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has been escorting UN World Food Programme (<"http://www.wfp.org/english/?n=31">WFP) vessels carrying life-saving aid for the Somali people.

The participants at the Nairobi event also underscored that resolving the piracy issue necessitates having a functioning government in Somalia.

"Somali leaders who impede the stabilization of their country creating conditions to breed and escalate piracy will be individually and collectively" placed under sanctions by the African Union (AU) and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), also in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions.

Technical experts discussed piracy on the meeting's first day, while today, Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah, the Secretary-General's Special Representative for Somalia, and Moses Wetangula, Kenya's Foreign Minister, chaired a ministerial-level meeting.

Last week, the Security Council called on all countries and regional organizations with the necessary capacity to deploy naval ships and military aircraft off the Somali coast to fight piracy which is impeding UN efforts to feed millions of hungry civilians in the strife-torn country.

In a unanimously adopted resolution, the Council asked Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to report within three months on ways to ensure long-term security off the coast of Somalia, notably for WFP deliveries, and on a possible coordination and leadership role for the UN in rallying Member States and regional organizations for such a goal.

Acting under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, authorizing the use of force, the 15-member body called for the "seizure and disposition of boats, vessels, arms and other related equipment" used or suspected of being used for piracy, which has recently reached a peak off the coast of the Horn of Africa country with the hijacking of a Ukrainian arms ship and a Saudi oil tanker.
Dec 11 2008 2:10PM
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SENIOR UN PEACEKEEPING OFFICIAL ASSESSES OPERATION IN CÔTE D’IVOIRE

SENIOR UN PEACEKEEPING OFFICIAL ASSESSES OPERATION IN CÔTE D'IVOIRE
New York, Dec 11 2008 2:10PM
Senior United Nations peacekeeping aide Edmond Mulet is in Côte d'Ivoire to meet with a range of Government officials and discuss the work of the world body's operation there, known as UNOCI, whose current mandate expires at the end of next month.

Mr. Mulet, who is Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, met in the capital, Yamoussoukro, with President Laurent Gbagbo.

He also expects to meet with Alassane Ouattara and Henri Konan Bédié, among other leaders, as part of his technical evaluation mission.

Among its tasks, <"http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/missions/unoci/">UNOCI is assisting the West African country with preparations for upcoming elections, which were to have been held on 30 November but were recently delayed again for the third time since the signing of the north-south peace pact last year.

The Ouagadougou Agreement – signed in neighbouring Burkina Faso 18 months ago between the Government, which controlled the south, and the rebel Forces Nouvelles, which held the north – called for a number of measures to resolve the crisis that first divided the country in 2002.

They included creating a new transitional government; organizing free and fair presidential elections; merging the Forces Nouvelles and the national defence and security forces; dismantling the militias and disarming ex-combatants; and replacing the so-called zone of confidence separating north and south with a green line to be monitored by UNOCI.

Meanwhile, UNOCI brought smiles to the faces of nearly 265 orphans and vulnerable children with a Christmas event held a few days ago in the city of Bouaké.

The event, involving food, dances, skits and educational games, sought to raise awareness of efforts to fight HIV and AIDS and was attended by community representatives and non-governmental organization (NGO) partners working on the issue.

The programme was organized by the mission's HIV/AIDS Unit and the Division of Public Information, and supported by the NGO Health Renaissance Bouaké.
Dec 11 2008 2:10PM
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HEAD OF UNESCO DEPLORES KILLING OF ANOTHER INDIAN JOURNALIST

HEAD OF UNESCO DEPLORES KILLING OF ANOTHER INDIAN JOURNALIST
New York, Dec 11 2008 1:10PM
The head of the United Nations agency tasked with defending press freedom has condemned the killing of Indian journalist, Vikas Ranjan, the third media professional to be murdered in the South Asian country in recent weeks.

Mr. Ranjan, 32, was shot dead by three gunmen on 26 November outside his office in the north-eastern state of Bihar, where he wrote for the Hindi-language daily newspaper, Hindustan.

According to Reporters without Borders, Mr. Ranjan had spent the previous month investigating local drug trafficking before being gunned down in the town of Rosera, in the Samastipur district.

"Mr. Ranjan has paid with his life for the fundamental human right to freedom of expression, and for our right to be informed," said 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) Director-General Koïchiro Matsuura, in condemning the murder.

"Like so many journalists, he has shown courage and determination beyond the call of duty," added Mr. Matsuura.

Calling on local authorities to "spare no effort to bring to justice those responsible," he said that he trusted them to "stem the alarming recent increase in attacks on journalists in north-eastern India."
Dec 11 2008 1:10PM
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AFRICAN, ASIAN SEAPORTS BENEFIT FROM NEW UN-BACKED TRAINING PROGRAMME

AFRICAN, ASIAN SEAPORTS BENEFIT FROM NEW UN-BACKED TRAINING PROGRAMME
New York, Dec 11 2008 1:10PM
African and Asian officials will receive training in the efficient operation of seaports as part of a United Nations programme to help developing countries acquire the skills needed to participate more effectively in the global economy under an agreement signed today.

UN Conference on Trade and Development (<"http://www.unctad.org/Templates/StartPage.asp?intItemID=2068">UNCTAD) Secretary-General Supachai Panitchpakdi signed a memorandum of understanding with the Dublin Port Company (DPC) that will provide 150,000 Euros in direct financial support and 150,000 Euros' worth of expenses assumed for training and expertise.

The partnership will set the stage for financial contributions from the DPC to UNCTAD, and for practical assistance from the port firm as UNCTAD expands its activities for seaport communities in English-speaking developing countries. The agreement will complement UNCTAD's work in this field, now supported by the Irish Development Agency (Irish Aid).

Under the new memorandum, 'train-the-trainers' workshops will be held in Dublin, and joint technical assistance missions featuring UNCTAD and Dublin Port Company staff will travel to developing countries. Additional training materials also will be worked up for UNCTAD's course on Modern Port Management.

Fact-finding missions have already been carried out by UNCTAD and the DPC to selected ports in Ghana, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Maldives, Sri Lanka, and Tanzania to determine what is needed to improve operations.

Set up in 1964 to promote the development-friendly integration of developing countries into the world economy, UNCTAD has progressively sharpened its focus on ensuring that domestic policies and international action are mutually supportive in bringing about sustainable development.
Dec 11 2008 1:10PM
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IRAQ: SENIOR UN OFFICIAL CONCERNED OVER HUMAN TRAFFICKING ALLEGATIONS

IRAQ: SENIOR UN OFFICIAL CONCERNED OVER HUMAN TRAFFICKING ALLEGATIONS
New York, Dec 11 2008 12:10PM
The top United Nations official in Iraq voiced concern today over the plight of hundreds of foreign labourers enticed to the country with the promise of work only to be left bitterly disappointed.

The case of over 1,000 workers stranded at Baghdad International Airport (BIAP) after being brought into Iraq by international contractors, which has been reported in the media, is not an isolated occurrence, said Staffan de Mistura, the Secretary-General's Special Representative for Iraq.

"The UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) takes the allegations of human trafficking by contractors in Iraq very seriously and is concerned about their predicament," said the Special Representative.

"The case in BIAP is one that has made public headlines but we are aware of other cases, some of which have reached relevant courts, and we hope will also be addressed in accordance with international labour law standards," he added.

Mr. de Mistura said that the results of an assessment of the BIAP situation conducted by UNAMI coincide with a similar International Organization for Migration (IOM) evaluation, and expected the relevant authorities and contractors to ensure that legally recognized standards of care for the workers are respected and enforced.

Welcoming indications that those directly involved in the BIAP situation are examining the issue, he said that he hoped it will soon be resolved, "so that the suffering of these people, whose hopes have been shattered and who have had to endure severe hardship and disappointment, is rapidly brought to an end."
Dec 11 2008 12:10PM
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SECRETARY-GENERAL CALLS FOR ‘GREEN NEW DEAL’ AT UN CLIMATE CHANGE TALKS

SECRETARY-GENERAL CALLS FOR 'GREEN NEW DEAL' AT UN CLIMATE CHANGE TALKS
New York, Dec 11 2008 11:10AM
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today called for renewed global solidarity to tackle the twin challenges of climate change and the financial crisis, telling ministers gathered at a United Nations conference in Poland that the world cannot afford to let economic woes hinder progress on "the defining challenge of our era."

Addressing the opening of the high-level segment of the UN Climate Change Conference in Poznan, Mr. Ban <"http://www.un.org/apps/sg/sgstats.asp?nid=3607">stressed the need to act now and avoid any backsliding on commitments to tackle these threats.

"The world is watching us. The next generation is counting on us. We must not fail," he told participants from nearly 200 nations, who have been meeting for nearly two weeks as part of UN-led negotiations aimed at reaching an ambitious global climate change deal next year.

The Poznan conference marks the half-way point in efforts to reach agreement on a successor pact to the Kyoto Protocol, the legally binding regime for reducing greenhouse gas emissions whose first commitment period ends in 2012.

The Secretary-General noted that managing the global financial crisis requires massive global stimulus, adding that a big part of that spending should be investing in a green future. "An investment that fights climate change, creates millions of green jobs and spurs green growth."

What the world needs is a "Green New Deal" – one that works for all nations, rich and poor, he stated.

"In short, our response to the economic crisis must advance climate goals, and our response to the climate crisis will advance economic and social goals," said Mr. Ban.

Looking ahead to next December's climate change conference in Copenhagen, he called on the current meeting to sketch out the critical elements of a long-term vision, with ambitious goals and emission reduction targets for industrialized countries. At the same time, he said developing countries needed to limit the growth of their emission, with robust financial and technological support.

Mr. Ban also called for a recommitment to the "urgency of our cause," and asked countries to keep climate change at the top of national agendas.

Yvo de Boer, Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), told delegates they should lay the cornerstone for strong action in Copenhagen by giving "new meaning" to the term leadership.

Stressing that "action expresses priorities," he urged participants "to send the world a clear signal from Poznan that you are ready to put in place finance structures to shift the global economy on to a low-emissions pathway."
Dec 11 2008 11:10AM
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