United Nations News
Nov 6
NEARLY $14 MILLION NEEDED TO AID FLOOD VICTIMS IN DOMINICAN REPUBLIC – UN New York, Nov 6 2007 6:00PM The United Nations and the Government of the Dominican Republic today appealed for almost $14 million to aid those affected by Tropical Storm Noel and the ensuing floods which affected 80 per cent of the Central American nation’s territory. A state of emergency was declared on 31 October, two days after Noel hit the Dominican Republic, causing major flooding, landslides and the destruction of infrastructure. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports that 85 people are confirmed dead and at least 48 are still missing. As many as 28 out of the 32 provinces, including the capital region, have been affected. Of the more than 66,600 people who were displaced, over 23,000 are in official temporary shelters, while the remainder are staying with relatives or friends. Almost 16,700 homes have been partially destroyed and 46 bridges and highways have been affected. “I hope donors will respond with generous humanitarian aid to help the survivors of this devastating storm, which has affected such a broad swathe of the country and its population,” said UN Emergency Relief Coordinator John Holmes. “As the longer-term economic impact is also bound to be grave, their assistance will prove crucial in the recovery effort that follows,” he added. Priority needs include water and basic sanitation, especially hygiene, as well as food aid and assistance in restoring livelihoods. In addition, assistance in other areas, including housing and shelter, health, agriculture, protection, and education, is also needed. A portion of the requested amount will be met by a grant from the UN’s own Central Emergency Response Fund which was set up to close the resource gap that can hamper emergency relief efforts in their early stages. Meanwhile, OCHA is sending a Disaster Assessment and Coordination team to the Mexican state of Tabasco, roughly 80 per cent of which was under water in recent days. Authorities there said that 350,000 people are trapped in their homes and estimate that flooding has affected half the state’s 2.1 million residents and inundated about 700,000 homes. Electricity is out for 90 per cent of the residents of the capital, Villahermosa. In addition, crops have been destroyed, livestock have been killed and most of the state’s businesses have been affected. Rains have also caused landslides that damaged the road network. The flooding in Mexico is the worst in more than 50 years, according to the UN Children’s Fund which estimates that some one third of those affected are children. The agency has appealed for $3.26 million to respond to the immediate needs of children, adolescents and women affected by flooding in Mexico, as well as in Central America and the Caribbean. 2007-11-06 00:00:00.000
CANADIAN UNIVERSITY AND UN AGENCY SET UP ONLINE URBAN ARCHIVE New York, Nov 6 2007 4:00PM The United Nations agency tasked with promoting socially and environmentally sustainable housing has announced a partnership with a Canadian university to establish the world’s most complete online information archive on urban issues. The UN Human Settlements Programme issued a statement yesterday saying that the University of British Columbia, which is based in Vancouver, had taken the initiative to host more than 30 years of print and electronic material. The UBC/UN-HABITAT Archive, which will be web-based, will contain material stretching from the UN agency’s first conference in 1976 up to and including the 2006 World Urban Forum III. Eventually it is expected to include more than 2,000 videos on urban issues accumulated by UN-HABITAT during the past three decades, as well as numerous books, magazines, pamphlets, websites and other materials. The online portal is aimed at giving governments, urban planners, developers, academics and others access to information – especially sustainable solutions – to various aspects of urban life, including housing, transport, infrastructure, resources management, land tenure, governance and climate change. UN-HABITAT Executive Director Anna Tibaijuka said the archive would serve as an invaluable resource for learning, teaching and practice on towns and cities. Professor Emeritus Peter Oberlander, the inaugural director of the university’s Centre for Human Settlements, said “these materials can show us how to improve the liveability and economic viability of the world’s communities… For example, a municipal clerk in Kumasi, Ghana, instructed to introduce water metering can now access the UN’s best practices on this subject to help ensure accessible and equitable water distribution.” 2007-11-06 00:00:00.000
UN SEEKS $64 MILLION FOR HUMANITARIAN AID TO LIBERIA New York, Nov 6 2007 3:00PM The United Nations and its partners in Liberia today appealed for $64 million to meet urgent humanitarian needs in the country for the remainder of this year and the first half of 2008. “Despite some improvements in political, security and the socio-economic conditions of Liberians, humanitarian needs do still remain,” said UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Liberia Jordan Ryan. The appeal covers water and sanitation, health and agriculture. Donors have already provided some $46 million to the 2007 Common Humanitarian Action Plan, which was launched in February of this year. The humanitarian community determined that a total of $110 million will be required to help meet the basic social services of the Liberian people, who have suffered from years of civil strife. In another development, nearly 300 young boys and girls in Charlesville – some 100 kilometres northwest of Monrovia – are benefiting from improvements to their school made by Pakistani troops serving with the UN Mission in Liberia The blue helmets provided fresh paint and a new roof, and fully furnished the classrooms. At a ceremony marking the hand-over of the school to the local authorities, Mr. Ryan expressed appreciation to the contingent for their contribution to the children’s and Liberia’s development, stressing that “education is vital for the future of Liberia.” He emphasized the crucial importance of giving equal educational opportunities to both girls and boys, and urged parents to make good use of the newly renovated facility so that their children grow up in a safe, clean and healthy environment. By “adopting” the school, the Pakistani contingent has committed itself not only to the rehabilitation and maintenance of the school’s premises, but also to additional support, including providing regular medical services for the children and distributing stationary and uniforms, UNMIL said. Meanwhile, the top United Nations envoy in Liberia today paid tribute to three crew members who died when a UN helicopter crashed last week. A probe on the cause is continuing but the mission has said there is no evidence to indicate that any foul play was involved. Pilot in Command Vitali Drozdov, Co-Pilot Sergey Kolosov and Flight Engineer Nikolai Zhorikov, all Russian nationals, lost their lives when the MI-8 cargo helicopter crashed on last Friday near Ganta in north-eastern Liberia. “We all feel touched by this tragedy because we fly with you day in day out,” UNMIL chief Alan Doss, told senior staff of UTAir at a meeting at the Mission’s headquarters in Monrovia, conveying condolences and offering the UN’s assistance in the arrangements being made for the repatriation of the three bodies to the Russian Federation. Extensive investigations into the crash are continuing under the leadership of the Liberian Civil Aviation Authority (LCAA) with the full support and cooperation of UNMIL’s Aviation Safety Unit. In addition, international aviation experts from the UN and the Russian Federation, including the Senior Management team of UTAir plus representatives of the Russian Civil Aviation Authority, are expected in Liberia tomorrow to assist with the investigations. 2007-11-06 00:00:00.000
UN RIGHTS EXPERT TO VISIT MYANMAR NEXT WEEK New York, Nov 6 2007 10:00AM An independent United Nations human rights expert on Myanmar today welcomed an invitation by the country's authorities to visit from 11 to 15 November. In a statement released in Geneva, Special Rapporteur Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro said the invitation “sends a positive indication of the desire of the authorities to cooperate with his mandate and the Human Rights Council.” On 24 October, Mr. Pinheiro, anticipating the visit, said he would use it visit verify allegations of abuses during the recent Government crackdown on peaceful demonstrators, determine the numbers and whereabouts of those detained or killed, and collect testimony about what happened. Meanwhile Secretary-General's Ban Ki-moon's Special Adviser Ibrahim Gambari is continuing diplomatic efforts in Myanmar, where he met yesterday with Foreign Minister U Nyan Win, their second meeting in as many days. 2007-11-06 00:00:00.000
DISPLACED SOMALIS SUFFERING UNDER 'EXTREMELY HARSH CONDITIONS' -- UN New York, Nov 6 2007 9:00AM Displaced Somalis who have fled fighting in Mogadishu are living in "extremely harsh conditions" with reports of malnutrition and rape, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), which recently joined other agencies in assessing their plight. The evaluation mission on Saturday found that facilities in Afgooye, a small town west of the Somali capital, is struggling to absorb swelling populations with scant resources. "Entire families are now crammed into tiny huts," said UNHCR spokesman William Spindler in Geneva. Hygiene remains poor in the crowded settlements raising fears of an outbreak of cholera, he said, voicing concerns about the nutritional status of young children. The UN team visited a therapeutic feeding centre, where they found "some 50 malnourished children, some of them too weak to cry." Leaders in some of the settlements also reported several cases of rape and called for improved security and protection of the IDPs, Mr. Spindler said. The team "found thousands of newly displaced Somalis living in extremely harsh conditions," he said, noting that during the last week, 15 new makeshift settlements have mushroomed along the road between Mogadishu and Afgooye, bringing to 50 the total number of spontaneous camps lining the route. The flare-up in fighting between insurgents and Ethiopian forces in Mogadishu nearly a week ago has displaced an estimated 90,000 people -- more than half of them to Afgooye, according to UNHCR, which said another 17,000 people moved to safer neighbourhoods within the capital. "The UN inter-agency team found that in one settlement near Afgooye, the 13,000 people living there for the last few months had been joined last week by another 7,000 displaced Somalis," said Mr. Spindler. More people continued arrive in the already fragile site. Another site with 10,000 internally displaced people (IDPs) received 2,000 more over the past week, he added taxing the resources of neighbouring villages, which are also experiencing difficulties." The agency is warning that some of the basic infrastructure set up in settlements in and around Afgooye can no longer meet the needs of the large numbers of new IDPs. Mr. Spindler said that water distribution systems need to be expanded and health centres need to be strengthened to cope with the spike in the population in and around Afgooye. Despite a lull in fighting since last week, sporadic gun battles have been reported. There are also reports of Ethiopian troop reinforcements being deployed in Mogadishu, according to the agency, which has already distributed aid to 78,000 people in Afgooye this year, and is currently preparing other distributions along with other agencies. 2007-11-06 00:00:00.000
SPECIAL ENVOY TACKLES RELATIONS BETWEEN MYANMAR AND UN COUNTRY TEAM New York, Nov 5 2007 5:00PM The Secretary-General’s Special Adviser, Ibrahim Gambari, continued his visit to Myanmar today with discussions on future cooperation between the Government and the United Nations Country Team, after authorities last week declared they did not want the world body’s top official in the South-East Asian nation to continue his service. Myanmar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a letter to the world body last week that it does not want UN Resident Coordinator Charles Petrie to continue working in Myanmar. It cited a statement released by the UN Country Team – headed by Mr. Petrie – on 24 October which referred to socio-economic issues in Myanmar. Mr. Gambari took up the issue today when he met with Foreign Minister U Nyan Win, their second meeting in as many days. During their meeting yesterday, they discussed the Government’s response so far to the expectations of the international community following the recent crisis. Upon his arrival in Myanmar on Saturday, Mr. Gambari met with Mr. Petrie and conveyed Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s support for the Country Team and the Resident Coordinator, and the important work they continue to do to improve the socio-economic and humanitarian situation. On Sunday, he met with U Aung Kyi, Minister for Labour and Minister for Relations, who was recently appointed by Myanmar authorities as a liaison officer to start dialogue between the Government and the opposition. They had an extensive and detailed exchange about the Minister’s discussions with detained pro-democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi on an agreed framework for meaningful dialogue. Mr. Gambari is scheduled to meet Ms. Suu Kyi and other relevant interlocutors, as well as the Prime Minister and other senior government officials, during his current visit, which is a follow-up to his last mission in October aimed at promoting democratization, the protection of human rights and national reconciliation. 2007-11-05 00:00:00.000
Nov 5
SECURITY COUNCIL MEMBERS STRESS NEED FOR FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS IN LEBANON New York, Nov 5 2007 4:00PM The Security Council today reaffirmed the need to hold free and fair presidential elections in Lebanon, in conformity with the country’s Constitution and without any foreign interference and influence, the 15-member body’s president said. “Members of the Security Council reaffirmed their strong support for the territorial integrity, sovereignty, unity and political independence of Lebanon within its internationally recognized borders and under the sole and exclusive authority of the Government of Lebanon,” said Ambassador R.M. Marty M. Natalegawa of Indonesia, which holds the Council’s rotating presidency. “They recalled the need to hold free and fair presidential elections in conformity with the Lebanese Constitution and without any foreign interference and influence,” he said in a press statement following a closed-door briefing by Terje Roed-Larsen, the Special Envoy for the Implementation of Security Council Resolution 1559, which was adopted in 2004. Council members “reaffirmed the need for all parties to resolve all political issues on the basis of reconciliation and national dialogue,” said the Council president, voicing support for the Secretary-General and his Special Envoy in their efforts to facilitate and assist the implementation of the resolution. The Council’s deliberations were based on a recent report of the Secretary-General, who said security conditions and political stalemate are combining to create a “climate of ongoing crisis” in Lebanon and called for the holding of free and fair presidential elections next month without any foreign interference. “There must not be a constitutional void at the level of the presidency, nor two rival governments,” Mr. Ban warned in his latest report on resolution 1559, adding that political dialogue must enable the election of a new president before the constitutional deadline of 24 November. His Envoy, Mr. Roed-Larsen, told reporters after today’s closed-door meeting that “it is the duty of everybody here to call for presidential elections within the defined time frame which expires on 24 November” consistent with Security Council resolutions, including 1559. He emphasized the need for Member States to raise the issue with all relevant parties. “If there are no elections or if we indeed – worst case – end up with having in principle two presidents or maybe two governments, that would be not good news for Lebanon and not good news for the region,” he warned. 2007-11-05 00:00:00.000
MIGIRO CALLS FOR INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION TO BOOST AFRICA’S DEVELOPMENT New York, Nov 5 2007 3:00PM United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro today urged all countries to come together in support of development initiatives for Africa. “What is needed most now is to translate the current consensus on meeting the special needs of Africa into concrete and actionable sets of measures which would help transform people’s lives in the short and long term,” she said in an address to the 8th Regional Consultation Meeting of UN Agencies and Organizations working in Africa in support of the African Union and NEPAD, the New Partnership for Africa’s Development, a strategic framework for the continent’s renewal adopted in 2001. Appealing for a “positive spirit of inter-agency collaboration and partnership in support of the African Union and NEPAD,” she said all possible resources must be galvanized to support Africa’s development. “When our many assets are brought into an integrated and more effective whole, the United Nations can better support post-conflict reconstruction efforts as well as the efforts of African States to achieve durable peace, sustainable development and human rights for all their people,” Ms. Migiro said. She hailed the meeting’s theme – “Post-conflict reconstruction: UN coordination efforts in Southern Sudan, Burundi and Sierra Leone” – pointing out that rebuilding is key to stability. “To prevent a relapse into conflict, it is crucial that the affected populations experience a real ‘peace dividend,’ that people’s living conditions be improved, that national capacities be strengthened at all levels,” she said. Many African States have made good progress towards the Millennium Development Goals she said, while cautioning that the continent is not on track to reach the anti-poverty targets, which were adopted at a 2000 summit with a completion date of 2015. “Achieving the Goals requires a strengthened global partnership. It demands shared responsibility, including on the part of the United Nations system,” she said, calling for developed and developing countries alike to make good on their commitments. 2007-11-05 00:00:00.000
BAN KI-MOON URGES STATES TO ELIMINATE CHEMICAL AND UNEXPLODED WEAPONRY New York, Nov 5 2007 2:00PM Underscoring the horrific impacts of both chemical and unexploded weaponry on civilians and future generations, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today urged States to ratify and adhere to global treaties banning these arms. Mr. Ban made his remarks in messages to two separate meetings: in The Hague on the Chemical Weapons Convention, and in Geneva on the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons’ Protocol V, covering Explosive Remnants of War. A decade has passed since the Chemical Weapons Convention entered into force, and “today, it stands as a monument to the world’s determination to eliminate one of the most inhumane weapons ever conceived,” he said in a message delivered by Sergio Duarte, the High Representative for Disarmament Affairs. The Convention has 182 parties – almost universal membership and representing 98 per cent of the global population – but several key countries are not a part of the , he pointed out. “Their adherence to the Convention is critical to the success of this multilateral disarmament treaty,” Mr. Ban noted. He lauded Albania for its “landmark achievement” in its destruction of its entire stockpile of chemical weapons in July this year, and called on all States in possession of them to destroy them within already-established deadlines. Regarding the agreement on explosive remnants of war – munitions that have not functioned as intended or have been abandoned – the Secretary-General stressed that these weapons “continue to endanger lives long after hostilities have ended, and hinder the socio-economic reconstruction of societies struggling to emerge from the ravages of war.” To date, 35 States have acceded to Protocol V, which went into force in November 2006. The existence of these munitions is “of no military benefit,” Mr. Ban said in a <"http://secint12/apps/sg/sgstats.asp?nid=2837">message delivered by Timothy Caughley, Deputy Secretary-General for the Conference on Disarmament. “It is in the interests of all to ensure that their pernicious hazards to people and the environment are minimized and, where possible, eliminated.” The Secretary-General appealed to those countries which have not ratified and implemented the Protocol to do so immediately and, pending their adherence to the agreement, to apply its provisions voluntarily. 2007-11-05 00:00:00.000
ROTARY INTERNATIONAL CRUCIAL ALLY IN ADVANCING UN’S GOALS – BAN KI-MOON New York, Nov 5 2007 12:00PM Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has hailed members of Rotary International as allies in advancing the work of the United Nations through their global efforts in support of initiatives for health, literacy and poverty eradication. “You have helped people understand what the UN is, what it does, and what it can do,” Mr. Ban told those gathered for the Rotary International Day programme held at UN Headquarters in New York on 3 November. “Ever since the United Nations was founded, you have been a wonderful partner to our organization.” In a message delivered by Deputy Chef de Cabinet Kim Won-soo, the Secretary-General noted that Rotarians have been the UN’s “chief ally” in the mission to eradicate polio worldwide, helping to immunize almost two billion children around the world against the highly infectious, often paralyzing and sometimes fatal disease. Rotary International has also worked with the UN to spread literacy and eradicate poverty, as well as sought to spread peace through its exchange programmes. In those and other ways, Mr. Ban said Rotarians have advanced the work to reach the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) – the set of ambitious targets the world has set itself for slashing poverty, hunger, disease, illiteracy and other social ills by 2015. He added that in his own native Republic of Korea, the Secretary-General has seen the remarkable work Rotary International has done in supporting the country for the past 80 years. 2007-11-05 00:00:00.000
MISSING CREW MEMBER FROM UN LIBERIA COPTER CRASH CONFIRMED DEAD New York, Nov 5 2007 8:00AM The United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) today confirmed that Friday's crash of a UN helicopter which took the lives of two crew members also killed the third person on board, who had been listed as missing. The cargo helicopter which went down near Ganta, Nimba County, in northeastern Liberia killed the Pilot in Command, Vitali Drozdov (42); Co-Pilot Sergey Kolosov (53); and Flight Engineer Nikolai Zhorikov (58). All three were nationals of the Russian Federation. "The United Nations recognizes and appreciates the valuable contribution made to the work of UNMIL by these three men, who have made the ultimate sacrifice," the mission said in a statement. Meanwhile, an extensive investigation has been launched in an effort to determine the causes of the crash. 2007-11-05 00:00:00.000
UN PUBLISHES MANUAL TO HELP STATES COMPILE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY STATISTICS New York, Nov 5 2007 8:00AM A Geneva-based United Nations agency today announced the publication of a new manual offering technical assistance for compiling statistics on information and communications technology (ICT). The Manual for the Production of Statistics on the Information Economy should serve as a reference for national statistical offices and other producers of official statistics on business use of ICT, the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) said in a news release. Providing a guide to data collection and analysis, international standards and definitions, the publication also offers model questions for surveys on ICT use, and reviews issues related to compiling ICT statistics. Paul Cheung, Director of the UN Statistical Division, notes in the Manual's preface that information on access to, use, and impact of ICT "is particularly important for the developing countries, many of which are just starting their statistical work on the information society." He said that internationally, comparable ICT indicators are critical to "for monitoring the global digital divide." 2007-11-05 00:00:00.000
Nov 4
INTERNET GOVERNANCE FORUM THIS MONTH WILL BE WIDE-RANGING, SAYS UN OFFICIAL New York, Nov 2 2007 7:00PM A meeting on Internet governance in Rio de Janeiro later this month will bring together participants from around the world to discuss issues ranging from open standards to child protection and child pornography, a senior United Nations official said today. Speaking to the press in Geneva ahead of the second Internet Governance Forum meeting, to be held from 12-15 November, Markus Kummer, Executive Coordinator of the Forum Secretariat, said more than 1,500 participants had registered 10 days before the event was set to begin. This turnout was a demonstration to the “richness and wealth” of the meeting, which would gather representatives of government, the private sector, civil society and the Internet community to address a wide range of issues concerning the Internet. The issue of security had attracted most attention, Mr. Kummer said, with 19 out of 70 parallel events devoted to it, many of them focusing exclusively on child protection and the fight against child pornography. He stressed that international cooperation was the key, citing the example of a British-run watchdog programme on Internet child pornography which resulted in the establishment of a self-regulation mechanism where consumers could alert the watchdog of any illicit content. In close cooperation with the Internet industry, the watchdog in turn alerted Internet service providers and the police, and removed the content from the Internet. As a result, the United Kingdom had reduced locally-originated child pornography to zero. The Forum was neither a decision-making body nor an intergovernmental meeting, Mr. Kummer said, but a setting where all participants attended as equals. “The Forum is more than a talking shop. It is a gathering of interested people who care about the Internet and who can give direction… and prepare the decisions that will be taken into consideration by other organizations that do have the decision-making power.” 2007-11-02 00:00:00.000
FAMILIES RETURNING TO REFUGEE CAMP IN NORTHERN LEBANON, SAYS UN AGENCY New York, Nov 2 2007 4:00PM The United Nations agency tasked with assisting Palestinian refugees reports that displaced families are now returning to the camp in northern Lebanon that was the scene of months of hostilities earlier this year between the national army and Fatah el-Islam gunmen. The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East has already constructed 56 temporary shelters, including connections for water and electricity, for the returnees to Nahr el-Bared camp, UN spokesperson Michele Montas told journalists today. The agency has also helped 3,000 families with rental subsidies and temporary accommodation. The families are returning two months after the Lebanese army fully seized control of Nahr el-Bared after intense combat with Fatah el-Islam between May and the beginning of September. During the fighting most of the camp’s estimated population of 31,000 people were forced to flee to nearby camps and towns for safety. UNRWA has appealed for $55 million to fund the first year of emergency assistance to the Nahr el-Bared refugees, with the money raised to be spent on providing shelter and support to host families, temporary jobs, infrastructure such as clean water and sanitation, and basic services, including health care, education and humanitarian assistance. The appeal is designed to cover the emergency needs of the residents of the refugee camp, former and current, and to plan for the full and safe return of those displaced by the fighting. Meanwhile, Ms. Montas said that UNRWA remains concerned that fuel deliveries via the Nahel Oz pipeline into the Gaza Strip have been reduced. The agency has warned that if this move is not reversed, it could have dire consequences for the 1.4 million Palestinians inside Gaza. 2007-11-02 00:00:00.000
DIVERSITY SHOULD BE CELEBRATED, SECRETARY-GENERAL TELLS SCHOLARS’ GATHERING New York, Nov 2 2007 1:00PM In the face of increasing intercultural and inter-religious tensions, it is necessary to remember that diversity is not a threat, but a virtue, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told a gathering of scholars in Beijing today. “It is time to explain that different religions, belief systems and cultural backgrounds are essential to the richness of the human experience,” he said in a message at the opening of the three-day Beijing Forum delivered by his Special Adviser Joseph Verner Reed. “And it is time to stress that our common humanity is greater – far greater – than our outward differences.” In his travels as Secretary-General, Mr. Ban said that he has encountered a common longing for peace and desire for prosperity. “But, all too often, I have discovered that people who aspire to the same things also suffer from the same prejudices,” he said. “They fear that which is different from them: the other ethnicity, the other skin colour, the other cultural or linguistic tradition, and above all, the other religion.” Meeting such as the Beijing Forum can serve as a fountain of new ideas to overcome such prejudices and foster tolerance and understanding, he noted. Mr. Ban pointed to the UN’s own efforts to bridge the divide through the UN’s Alliance of Civilization, an initiative bringing leaders, institutions and civil society to try to reduce fear and suspicion and overcome prejudices and polarizations that have emerged between Islam and the West, especially in recent years. “Together, we must seek to further the basic ideals of all the world’s major religions,” he told participants at the Forum. “We must build societies that respect individual beliefs and practices. And we must nurture communities where people of all faiths and nationalities coexist in peace.” 2007-11-02 00:00:00.000
GREECE AND FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA MEET FOR UN-LED TALKS New York, Nov 1 2007 5:00PM Representatives of Greece and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia met today in another round of United Nations-led talks over the question of the official name of the latter country and related issues. Representatives of the two countries met in New York at the initiative of the Secretary-General’s Personal Representative Matthew Nimetz. Greece was represented by Ambassador Adamantios Vassilakis and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia was represented by Ambassador Nikola Dimitrov. Mr. Nimetz “urged the Parties to consider all possibilities so that a solution to this dispute can be found within a reasonable time frame,” according to a statement issued following the talks. “I believe a solution to an issue that divides two neighbouring countries is very much in the interests of both Parties and would also greatly contribute to regional peace and security.” He said he put forward “a draft framework for their consideration as a basis for an honourable and fair resolution” and urged Ambassadors Dimitrov and Vassilakis to bring these suggestions to their Governments for study. “These discussions under the Secretary-General’s auspices will continue in an effort to reach a resolution. I have indicated a willingness to go to Athens and Skopje in the near future to consult with the two Governments more intensively. Both Ambassador Dimitrov and Ambassador Vassilakis will discuss such a mission with their Governments.” Article 5 of the Interim Accord of 13 September 1995, brokered by the UN, details the difference between the two countries regarding the official name of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. It also obliges the two sides to continue negotiations under the auspices of the UN Secretary-General to try to reach agreement on their dispute. 2007-11-01 00:00:00.000
HAITI: UN AND GOVERNMENT JOIN FORCES TO PROVIDE RELIEF AFTER TROPICAL STORM NOËL New York, Nov 1 2007 8:00AM Responding to the damage caused when Tropical Storm Noël swept over Haiti on 29 and 30 October, blue helmets from the United Nations Stabilization Mission (MINUSTAH) helped to evacuate thousands of people, distribute meals and provide medical assistance to those affected. Persistent heavy rainfall and strong gusts of wind caused 18 deaths, 14 injured, two missing and rendered over 3,300 people homeless while destroying and damaging scores of homes, MINUSTAH said in a news release, citing official figures. The Government of Haiti immediately began organizing the relief effort, with support from the mission, which helped evacuate thousands of people in Cité Soleil and elsewhere in the country who were threatened by rising waters. Overall MINUSTAH helped evacuate 8,000 people, distributed 4,500 meals, and provided medical assistance to 280 patients, mostly in Port-au-Prince, Léogâne, Jacmel and Les Cayes. "In these difficult circumstances MINUSTAH and the United Nations system reaffirm their total solidarity with the storm victims and remain ready to continue assisting the Haitian authorities with all the resources they have available," the mission said. 2007-11-01 00:00:00.000
NEW UN OFFICE UTILIZING SPACE INFORMATION TO MITIGATE DISASTERS OPENS IN BONN New York, Oct 31 2007 5:00PM A new United Nations Outer Space Affairs office tasked with utilizing space technologies to respond to all stages of disasters globally has opened in Bonn, Germany. The new office – expected to be the first of several – aims to carry out the UN Platform for Space-based Information for Disaster Management and Emergency Response (UN-SPIDER). Unlike other recent initiatives where space-based information is used for humanitarian and emergency response, UN-SPIDER is the first to employ the technologies to cover all stages of disaster, including the risk reduction phase which could significantly cut the loss of lives and property. UN-SPIDER will provide universal access to all countries and interested organizations to space-based information and services on disaster management “and will have a considerable impact on the way space-based information is used in dealing with disasters around the world,” said Franz Baumann, Deputy Director-General of the UN Office at Vienna. The programme, established by the UN General Assembly last December, hopes to assist countries and organizations by acting as a gateway to space-based information for disaster management support and facilitate developing countries in their capacity-building and institutional strengthening efforts. UN-SPIDER offices are also scheduled to open in Beijing and Geneva. 2007-10-31 00:00:00.000
UNESCO CHIEF CONDEMNS LATEST MURDER OF IRAQI JOURNALIST New York, Oct 31 2007 9:00AM Responding to the mounting death toll of media professionals in Iraq, the Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) today condemned the killing of the latest victim: Shehab Mohammad al-Hiti, editor of a new Iraqi weekly, al-Youm. Koïchiro Matsuura also condemned the murder of the unnamed chauffeur of a female correspondent of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty whose body was found in Iraq on 22 October. The correspondent has been missing since that date. The assassinated driver and the kidnapped journalist have not been named, to protect the safety of the journalist. "Harassing, intimidating, kidnapping and killing journalists and those brave enough to work with them in extremely dangerous environments represents an attack on the human rights of entire societies," said Mr. Matsuura in a statement released at the agency's Paris headquarters. "The people of Iraq, like all of us, have a fundamental and inalienable right to inform one another about events and discuss them. Violence cannot be allowed to take the place of freedom of speech," concluded Mr Matsuura, whose agency has a mandate to defend press freedom. Mr al-Hiti, 27, was last seen alive on 28 October when he left his house to go to the office of al-Youm, which was launched earlier this month. His dead body was found later on that day in the Ur neighbourhood of Baghdad. He is the 122nd journalist killed in Iraq since March 2003, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). The CPJ also reports that 42 media support staff have been killed in the country since the start of the war. 2007-10-31 00:00:00.000
UN ENVOY LAUDS PEACEFUL END TO CRISIS WITHIN SOMALI TRANSITIONAL GOVERNMENT New York, Oct 30 2007 5:00PM The United Nations envoy to Somalia today welcomed the peaceful conclusion of the crisis within the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and called on the country’s leaders to overcome the challenges facing the war-torn nation. Mr. Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Somalia, particularly acknowledged the “conciliatory tone and spirit” of the statements issued by both President Abdullahi Yusuf and Prime Minister Ali Mohamed Gedi during the official announcement of the latter’s resignation, according to a press release issued by the UN Political Office in Somalia (UNPOS). Calling on the TFG to continue to seek peaceful solutions to its internal differences, he encouraged “all leaders within and outside the country to overcome the pressing challenges facing their country.” These include carrying out the key provisions of the Transitional Federal Charter and the conclusions of the National Reconciliation Congress, which was held in July and August in a bid to foster internal coherence in Somalia. Mr. Ould-Abdallah also expressed deep concern over the deteriorating security and humanitarian situation as a result of the continued violence in Mogadishu and the subsequent displacement of the civilian population. He urged all parties to immediately cease violence, and to facilitate unhindered access for the delivery of humanitarian aid. The security situation in Mogadishu, which the UN High Commissioner for Refugees ) has called the worst in months, has caused some 36,000 more residents to flee their homes this weekend. More people were preparing to flee Mogadishu this morning, even though the situation seemed to have calmed down after fighting between Ethiopian troops and insurgents engulfed the city, UNHCR spokesperson Jennifer Pagonis told reporters in Geneva. “But as large numbers of people packed their belongings to leave Mogadishu, some families told UNHCR staff that they felt lost not knowing whether to stay in their homes, relocate to another part of the city, or leave the city altogether,” she added. The bulk of the internally displaced are fleeing to the town of Afgooye, where some 100,000 people have found temporary shelter and continue to be assisted by UNHCR. The fighting over the past weekend is the latest upswing in violence among the TFG and other parties in the Horn of Africa nation, which has had no functioning central government since Muhammad Siad Barre’s regime was toppled in 1991. Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro has warned that the protracted crisis and State failure in Somalia presents a challenge, not only to Somalis, but to the UN and the international community at large. “The prolonged suffering of the population must push us to more effectively address the Somali crisis,” Ms. Migiro said in an address to the opening of the third annual UN Advocacy Week of the World Council of Churches, which is focusing on the Horn of Africa during its meetings this week in New York. Ms. Migiro stressed that the Council’s focus on the sub-region is “fitting and timely,” given that the Horn of Africa is where two of the UN’s biggest security and humanitarian challenges are currently unfolding – Darfur and Somalia. “In both places, conflicts continue to cause widespread suffering, abuse and displacement for millions of people – primarily women and children. And they have taken an unacceptable toll on people’s lives and livelihoods for far too long,” she stated, adding that the UN has been working to help the Somalis find a lasting political solution. 2007-10-30 00:00:00.000
BAN KI-MOON LAUDS GAINS MADE IN CENTRAL AFRICAN INTEGRATION, PEACE New York, Oct 30 2007 4:00PM Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today praised Central Africa for its efforts towards integration and peace, but warned that the region still faces several hurdles. In a message to the 13th conference of heads of State and of government of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) underway in Brazzaville, the Republic of Congo, Mr. Ban said that “the progress which has been achieved so far in the process of integration of Central Africa, as well as in the promotion of peace is encouraging.” He also noted in his message delivered by his Special Representative for the Central African Republic, François Lonsény Fall that the “collective efforts” of ECCAS countries will promote a common market comprising over 120 million consumers, while the consolidation of peace would bolster socio-economic development for the sub-region as well as the entire African continent. But at the same time, he acknowledged that Central Africa still faces obstacles in increasing prosperity and the well-being of the population, including the persistence of tension in zones such as eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), eastern Chad and north-eastern Central African Republic (CAR). The proliferation of light weapons and small arms, the illegal exploitation of natural resources and the rise of human trafficking and cross-border insecurity are also impeding Central African integration, he said. Mr. Ban welcomed the ongoing steps towards peace in Chad and CAR, adding that he hopes that “the effective implementation of the recommendations and decisions from these processes will reinforce national reconciliation, peacebuilding and reconstruction within these two countries of the sub-region of Central Africa.” 2007-10-30 00:00:00.000
UN ONCE AGAIN CALLS FOR END TO UNITED STATES EMBARGO AGAINST CUBA New York, Oct 30 2007 4:00PM The United Nations General Assembly today once again urged an end to the commercial, economic and financial embargoes imposed on Cuba by the United States for nearly half a century. For the 16th year in a row, the Assembly adopted a resolution – with an overwhelming 184 votes in favour – reiterating its call to all States to refrain from promulgating and applying laws and measures not conforming with their obligations to reaffirm freedom of trade and navigation. Four States – Israel, Marshall Islands, Palau, US – voted against the resolution, while the Federated States of Micronesia abstained. The 192-member body also called on States to repeal or invalidate such laws and requested the Secretary-General to report on the matter at the Assembly’s 63rd session. Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Pérez Roque denounced the long-running blockade imposed on his country, calling it the main obstacle to the development and well-being of the Cuban people, and a “blatant, massive and systematic” violation of their rights. “Anyone can understand the level of socio-economic development that Cuba would have attained had it not been subjected to this unrelenting and obsessive economic war,” he told delegates. The US has not only ignored, “with both arrogance and political blindness,” the 15 resolutions adopted by the Assembly calling for the lifting of the blockade, but has over the last year adopted new measures, further tightening the sanctions, he added. Reiterating that the embargo is a bilateral issue between his country and Cuba that should not come before the Assembly, US delegate Ronald Godard said that “Cuba’s problems derive not from any decision of the United States but from the embargo on freedom that the Cuban regime has imposed on its own people.” Stating that the Cuban people are denied information, access to the outside world, the right to travel and opportunities to better their lives economically, he urged countries to oppose the Cuban government’s embargo on freedom – “the real cause of the suffering of the Cuban people.” “Now more than ever we invite the Member States considering this resolution to reject the arguments of the Cuban government and focus on effecting a transition in Cuba that would restore its people’s fundamental rights,” he stated. 2007-10-30 00:00:00.000
UNICEF SAYS CHILDREN NEARLY TAKEN OUT OF CHAD ARE IN GOOD HEALTH New York, Oct 30 2007 3:00PM Following the attempt by a French non-governmental organization (NGO) to fly them out of Chad, the 103 children held in an orphanage appear to be in good health and are doing fairly well, the United Nations Children’s Fund reported today. The agency has supplied food and games for the children, UN spokesperson Marie Okabe said in New York. UNICEF has also dispatched 10 staff members – including the Head of the Child Protection Unit – to Abeche where the children are and is training 40 staff members to care for the children. Investigators are currently trying to determine where these children are from and whether they have living relatives. UNICEF emphasizes that all process involving the movement of children should be transparent, and that proper investigations should always take place to locate their relatives and to determine available options, such as children remaining with their parents, extended family or appropriate caregivers. According to media reports, nine French aid workers with the organization Zoe’s Ark will be charged with abduction and fraud by Chadian authorities. 2007-10-30 00:00:00.000
ETHIOPIAN PASTORALISTS TO MEET IN UN-BACKED DEBATE New York, Oct 30 2007 12:00PM More than 250 Ethiopian pastoralists in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region from over 17 different ethnic groups will gather at a five-day United Nations-sponsored debate and celebration next month aimed at promoting an exchange of ideas. Participants at the event, to be held from 8-12 November in Nyangatom woreda in the South Omo zone, will discuss matters ranging from the rise of tourism, trade and economic diversification and the management and eradication of conflicts, to social change and the provision of basic services. The pastoralists will also confer on changes in land use; the opening of new transport, communication and market links; the development of education; and bolstering participation in national affairs. South Omo’s pastoralist groups drew inspiration for this upcoming meeting from other gatherings both in Ethiopia and Kenya as a means to talk about how to adapt to rapid changes. Also attending some of the events will be members of local and national administrations, development agencies, pastoralists from neighbouring groups, as well as representatives from the Government, UN, the donor community and non-governmental organizations. The Pastoralist Communication Initiative – a unique initiative aiming to promote knowledge and communication for pastoralists and pastoralism in Ethiopia and Africa – of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs ) is financially and logistically supporting the event. 2007-10-30 00:00:00.000
IRANIAN COOPERATION AND TRANSPARENCY CRUCIAL, UN NUCLEAR WATCHDOG CHIEF SAYS New York, Oct 29 2007 8:00PM "Active cooperation and transparency" on Iran's part are key in resolving outstanding issues over the country's nuclear ambitions, the head of the United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) told the General Assembly today. "If the Agency were able to provide credible assurance about the peaceful nature of Iran's past and currently nuclear programme, this would go a long way towards building confidence, and could create the conditions for a comprehensive and durable solution," IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei said at a General Assembly plenary meeting in New York. "Such a solution would assure the international community about the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear programme, while enabling Iran to make full use of nuclear technology for economic and social development." He noted that Iran's agreement -- following repeated requests by the Security Council and the IAEA' Board of Governors -- on a work plan to get to the bottom of all unresolved verification issues is "an important step in the right direction." Iran's nuclear programme has been a matter of international concern since the discovery in 2003 that it had concealed its nuclear activities for 18 years in breach of its obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Last December, the Security Council adopted a resolution banning trade with Iran in all items, materials, equipment, goods and technology which could contribute to the country's enrichment-related, reprocessing or heavy water-related activities, or to the development of nuclear weapon delivery systems. It tightened the measures in March, banning arms sales and expanding the freeze on assets. "Contrary to the decisions of the Security Council, calling on Iran to take certain confidence building measures, Iran has not suspended its enrichment related activities, and is continuing with its construction of the heavy water reactor at Arak," Mr. ElBaradei regrettable." The Director General also told the Assembly that in the face of a renewed interest in nuclear power worldwide, the role of the IAEA is "not so much to predict the future as to do its utmost to plan and prepare for it." The resurgence of interest in nuclear power is driven by the steady rise in demand for energy, increased concerns regarding energy security and the challenges posed by climate change, he said. At present, there are 439 operating nuclear power reactors in 30 countries which supply some 15 per cent of the world's electricity and the use of nuclear power has been primarily in industrialized countries. "But in terms of new construction, the pattern is different: half of the 30 reactors now being built are in developing countries," he pointed out.
UN AND AU ENVOYS PRESS FORWARD WITH LANDMARK DARFUR PEACE TALKS New York, Oct 29 2007 7:00PM The United Nations and African Union (AU) envoys chairing historic talks aimed at resolving the crisis in Sudan’s war-ravaged Darfur region today continued their substantive preparations in Sirte, Libya, in pressing ahead with the peace process. The Secretary-General’s Special Envoy Jan Eliasson and his AU counterpart Salim Ahmed Salim today met with representatives from the Sudanese Government, civil society, international partners and rebel groups, UN spokesperson Michele Montas told reporters in New York. The topics addressed in their discussions included security and the sharing of wealth and power. Preparations are also being made for a senior-level team to travel to Sudan to hold talks with those groups who are not attending the Sirte event. Addressing the press yesterday, Mr. Eliasson stressed that despite the absence of several parties in Sirte, “I refuse to state that the peace process is interrupted. The train has left the station for the road to peace. The question is how many passengers will get on the train.” Despite all sides not being in attendance at the talks, Mr. Salim stated that these sides “have made it clear to us their commitment to the process, that they would want to take part in the process so it is a question of how we make sure that they take part in the process.” Since 2003, over 200,000 people have been killed and at least 2.2 million others forced to flee their homes in the violence-wracked Darfur region because of fighting among rebels, Government forces and allied militia known as the Janjaweed. On the humanitarian front, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs John Holmes today voiced strong concern over alleged forced relocations taking place in a camp for internally displaced persons in South Darfur. “I am alarmed about the reports of forced relocation last night from Otash camp in Nyala, South Darfur, both about the manner in which the relocations were apparently carried out and the possibility that such action could contribute to more violence,” he said. Otash camp shelters over 60,000 IDPs, and during the incident, the new IDPs from Kalma camp, the largest in Darfur, were surrounded by the police. A team comprising personnel from the UN, the AU Mission in Sudan (AMIS) and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) was denied access to the camp by the representative of the Humanitarian Aid Commission. The team managed to enter the camp, and witnessed 10 vehicles with heavy machine guns surrounding a group of IDPs while eight large commercial trucks were being loaded with the belongings of IDP women and children. The police told the team that the people were being moved to Amakassara. “While the United Nations notes the Government’s concern about the security situation in the camps, it is imperative that any relocation be wholly voluntary, in agreement with the internally displaced,” said Mr. Holmes, who also serves as Emergency Relief Coordinator. “We have had many meetings with the Government of Sudan, stressing that any relocation should be voluntary and should adhere to the guiding principles of internal displacement,” he added. “Given that security forces where threatening the displaced with sticks and rubber hoses at Otash camp, the involuntary nature of this relocation is clear, and is contrary to agreements with the Government.” Relocation is covered by the 2004 Memorandum of Understanding signed by the UN, IOM and the Sudanese Government. IOM is concerned by the reported force relocation of IDPs from Otash camp and is preparing a formal statement following an investigation, expressing particular concern that they and other members of the international community were denied access to the IDPs during the relocation. Meanwhile in Sudan, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Ashraf Qazi, met with the country’s President, Omar al-Bashir. Mr. Qazi reiterated the UN’s commitment to assist the parties in implementing the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) which ended a 21-year civil war between North and South Sudan. He emphasized that the CPA is the basis for sustainable peace and stability in the country, as well as a significant achievement for the Sudanese people. Agreeing to the significance of the CPA, President Bashir voiced hope that the relationship between his Government and the UN would continue to be characterized by dialogue and direct consultations. The Special Representative also noted that he plans to visit Juba in the coming days to meet with Salva Kiir, First-Vice President of Sudan and President of the Government of Southern Sudan. In another development, the Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Sudan told a General Assembly committee that Darfur “remains a region where gross violations of human rights are perpetrated by all parties,” including arbitrary arrest, torture, illegal taxation, extortion, forced displacement, killing and sexual violence. “The conflict in Darfur has no military solution,” Sima Samar told the Social, Humanitarian and Cultural (Third) Committee. “Political solutions are urgently needed.” Also addressing the Committee, the Secretary-General’s Representative on the human rights of IDPs, Walter Kälin, said he would visit Darfur in the Spring of 2008 at the invitation of the Government. “The situation of roughly 2 million IDPs in Darfur remains one of the most serious in the world,” he said, calling on all concerned to “take full advantage” of the peace talks, as well as the deployment of a hybrid AU-UN force, to create conditions to end violence against the displaced, to allow unimpeded humanitarian access, and to facilitate sustainable return. 2007-10-29 00:00:00.000
TOURISM PROMOTES INTERCULTURAL UNDERSTANDING, SECRETARY-GENERAL SAYS New York, Oct 29 2007 6:00PM Tourism can play a key role in advancing understanding among cultures, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today. “In a global environment marked by rising intolerance and cross-cultural tensions, often exacerbated by the economic divide between nations, tourism can foster spiritual and cultural respect among and between peoples, while creating economic opportunities to benefit disadvantaged populations,” he said in a message to the International Conference on Tourism, Religions and the Dialogue of Cultures. The three-day Conference, which is taking place in Cordoba, Spain, has been convened by the UN World Tourism Organization which became the world body’s newest specialized agency in 2003. “The universal longing for peace and mutual understanding, coupled with the legitimate aspiration for prosperity and economic development, are common values of humanity shared by all societies,” Mr. Ban said. Among those attending the event is Jorge Sampaio, the UN High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations, which brings together leaders, institutions and civil society to try to reduce fear and suspicion and overcome prejudices and polarizations that have emerged between Islam and the West, especially in recent years. Also participating in the Conference is Federico Mayor Zaragoza, a former Director-General of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization 2007-10-29 00:00:00.000
BAN KI-MOON PRESENTS $4.2 BILLION BUDGET FOR NEXT TWO YEARS TO UN ASSEMBLY New York, Oct 25 2007 6:00PM Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today proposed a $4.2 billion budget for the United Nations for the next two years, telling a General Assembly committee that the half percentage point growth in some areas is balanced by reallocations in others and urging Member States to support a stronger world body. “Never has the world so needed a strong United Nations,” Mr. Ban told delegates in the Assembly’s Fifth Committee, which tackles administrative and budgetary matters. “Yet never have our resources been stretched so thin.” The Committee is currently examining the proposed programme budget of $4.2 billion for 2008-2009, which represents a real growth of $23 million over the previous biennium, or half a percentage point. Mr. Ban said the proposals reflect strict budgetary discipline, balancing growth in some areas with reallocations in others. Noting that the year ahead will be “among the most challenging in our history” – with, among initiatives, the deployment of a major peacekeeping operation in the Darfur region of Sudan and diplomatic challenges in a number of countries – the Secretary-General pledged to strengthen the Organization so it can do the job that is expected of it. This will require careful fiscal management, balancing varied and sometimes conflicting priorities, and, above all, making the UN “faster, more flexible and more efficient in delivering better results with the limited assets at our disposal,” he stated. “This is a year of immense opportunity – to build a stronger UN for a better world,” Mr. Ban said. “You on this Committee are the key to our transformation.” He noted that, last year, the Department of Peacekeeping Operations was reorganized in order to better execute the UN’s many peacekeeping mandates. Now, the focus is on the Department of Political Affairs, with a new emphasis on anticipating crises and proactive preventive diplomacy. To that end, he asked the Committee to authorize $18 million to support the strengthening of DPA, arguing that boosting the UN’s capacity to prevent and resolve conflicts is “among the smartest investments we can make.” The proposed funds also include stable financing for the newly created Peacebuilding Support Office, which is separate from the political affairs department. Mr. Ban cited the need for fresh thinking and for bolstering research and monitoring capacities to address the needs of the poorest of the world’s poor, the “bottom billion” left behind by global economic growth – working with the Department of Economic and Social Affairs, the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and the UN’s regional commissions. In addition, he proposed re-organizing the Secretariat to better serve the interests and needs of the least developed, landlocked and small island nations. Mr. Ban noted that the proposed budget also reflects the decision by Member States to double the resources earmarked for human rights, a key component of the UN’s work. As part of the UN’s ongoing reform efforts, he emphasized that the Secretariat should continue to improve its working methods to avoid duplication and save costs, so that it can be faster, more flexible and modern. “This requires us to streamline rules and work patterns, in line with the best public and private practices.” In that connection, Mr. Ban has set up a new change-management task force, which will focus on human resources, budget and finance, and procurement. He noted that the proposed budget also provides for “stiffer” internal oversight, and the Committee is examining proposals for a comprehensive revision of the UN system of administrative justice. He called for extending the work of the Procurement Task Force – the body which was set up following revelations about widespread corruption in the UN procurement system and is credited with promoting accountability – for another year, as the Organization works toward more permanent independent auditing and investigative capabilities. Mr. Ban added that the budget is not only a financial document, but a “compact of understanding” between the Secretary-General and the UN’s Member States. “It details in concrete terms how we intend to realize the goals of the United Nations, and how I intend to exercise the authority you have entrusted to me,” he said. Clarifying aspects of the proposed budget, the Under-Secretary-General for Management told reporters that after taking account of inflation and exchange rates (re-costing) and possible budgetary “add-ons” resulting from legislative mandates or resolutions of the General Assembly, the budget will increase. “We are presenting the Member States the proposed budget for 2008-2009 which is almost $4.4 billion, and then we are presenting to them a set of revised estimates that belong to legislative mandates and another set of add-ons that we are presenting, to bring the budget up to $4.6 billion,” Alicia Bárcena said at a press briefing this afternoon. Elaborating on the $18 million requested to strengthen the political affairs department, Ms. Bárcena said it would go towards building more regional capacities, including in Central Asia and in Africa, and to better equipping the Department to work on mediation, conflict prevention and conflict resolution. The funds would also contribute to enhancing support to the UN’s special political missions, creating a number of new posts within the Department, and strengthening and restructuring the six existing regional divisions. 2007-10-25 00:00:00.000
Oct 24
PARTICIPANTS IN UN FORUM HIGHLIGHT CRUCIAL ROLE OF DEVELOPMENT FINANCING New York, Oct 24 2007 7:00PM Countries rich and poor continued their discussion of finance for development during the second day of a high-level dialogue organized by the General Assembly, focusing on an anti-poverty partnership sealed five years ago in Monterrey, Mexico. At this week’s meeting, governments are assessing progress in implementing the landmark agreement reached in 2002 known as the Monterrey Consensus, in which developing countries took primary responsibility for mobilizing domestic resources and developed countries agreed to promote an environment conducive to this effort. The six major areas addressed by the Consensus are mobilizing domestic financial resources; mobilizing international resources; international trade; international cooperation for development; external debt; and the coherence of the international monetary, financial and trading systems. Participants in today’s session, which includes ministers and central bank governors, as well as representatives of governments, business and civil society, highlighted the crucial role played by official development assistance (ODA) in the efforts of countries to lift themselves out of poverty and achieve their development targets. Speaking on behalf of African States, Jean-Marie Ehouzou of Benin said assistance flows to developing countries should be stable, predictable and capable of stimulate financing of investments, especially in infrastructure. Also, development assistance would be more effective if it was in line with national priorities and harmonized between donors and recipients. While agreeing that donors needed to do more to improve the effectiveness of aid, United States delegate Alejandro Wolff felt many countries had not done enough to foster domestic resource mobilization or attract private capital flow. “Private sector flows will only go to areas that will be able to attract them,” said Pakistan’s State Minister for Economic Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar at one of the event’s round tables. “Goodwill is not enough,” she said, adding that human resource development was a key element to attract private investment. Lennart Båge, President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), pointed out that annual remittances from the world’s 150 million migrant workers amounted to $301 billion per year – three times the amount of ODA. For 45 countries, this represented more than 10 per cent of their gross domestic product. One third of such remittances went to rural areas, often representing the main source of financial resources. Canada’s delegate John McNee called for an integrated approach mobilizing all possible sources of financing, including trade liberalization, ODA, debt relief, and mobilization of domestic resources. “We must remember that a favourable national environment is indispensable for development financing,” he said. “Such an environment would permit to attract, retain and utilize wisely all sources of financing.” The outcome of the dialogue, expected to conclude tomorrow, will provide the basis for next year’s Review Conference on Financing for Development, to be held in Doha, Qatar. 2007-10-24 00:00:00.000
MYANMAR: UN RIGHTS EXPERT TO PROBE ALLEGATIONS OF ABUSES DURING CRACKDOWN New York, Oct 24 2007 6:00PM The United Nations independent human rights expert on Myanmar said today he would use his upcoming official visit to the troubled country to verify allegations of abuses during the recent Government crackdown on peaceful demonstrators, determine the numbers and whereabouts of those detained or killed, and collect testimony about what happened. Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro, the Human Rights Council’s Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, told the General Assembly’s third committee (social, humanitarian and cultural issues) that although he has not been allowed into the country since 2003, he has received extremely worrying reports about the Government’s response to the protests, which began in mid-August after a sudden surge in fuel prices. “I have been able to verify, through different independent and reliable sources, allegations of the use of excessive force by the security forces, including live ammunitions, rubber bullets, tear gas, bamboo and wood sticks, rubber batons and catapults (slingshots),” he said. “This largely explains the killings and the severe injuries reported.” Mr. Pinheiro said it was difficult to know yet exactly how many people were killed or arrested during the crackdown, with the figures provided by authorities well below that of others in the South-East Asian nation. “According to other sources, between 30 to 40 monks and 50 to 70 civilians have allegedly been killed, while 200 have been beaten,” he said, noting that one website has listed almost 800 people who were allegedly detained or have disappeared and others cite even higher numbers. The Special Rapporteur added that reports continue of deaths in custody, torture, disappearances, ill-treatment, and lack of access to food, water and medical treatment for those in detention. “Reports are being received regarding night raids during the curfew hours, with the army and the militia going home by home searching for people and detaining participants in the demonstrations. Relatives of people in hiding have reportedly been taken hostage as a way of pressure.” Mr. Pinheiro urged Myanmar’s authorities to: release unconditionally all detainees; ensure humanitarian access to all in custody; grant amnesty to those who have been sentenced; reveal the whereabouts of missing persons; ensure the safety of everyone taken into custody; and conduct an independent investigation into the killings and enforced disappearances. He noted that “the recent tragic events have shown to the international community, once again, that the Government is not adequately protecting the freedoms of opinion and of assembly,” and he said the Government-decreed road map for democratization “faces many obstacles” before it can produce a meaningful transition. In addition, he called for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi, the General Secretary of the opposition National League for Democracy (NLD), who as of today has spent 12 years in detention in Myanmar. Mr. Pinheiro’s visit, which the Government of Myanmar agreed to last Friday, is likely to take place before the summit meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which is scheduled to open on 17 November. Ibrahim Gambari, the UN Special Envoy for Myanmar, is also slated to makes his own visit to the country next month, his second since the crackdown began. 2007-10-24 00:00:00.000
LATEST FIGURES SHOW 43.7 MILLION TOOK PART IN GLOBAL UN ANTI-POVERTY EVENT New York, Oct 24 2007 6:00PM Over 43.7 million people took part in last week’s record-breaking United Nations campaign to “Stand Up Against Poverty,” a spokesperson for the world body announced today. Citing figures from organizers, Marie Okabe said the event set a Guinness World Record as people from around the globe participated in a bid to push international leaders to deliver on their pledge to end extreme poverty by 2015. More than 6,000 events were held in 110 countries during the 24-hour period from 16 to 17 October as part of the global campaign, which was led by the UN Millennium Campaign, an inter-agency initiative, in partnership with the Global Call to Action and a range of non-governmental organizations (NGOs), faith-based groups and civil society. During the 17 October event, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged all people to join their voices in support of the cause. “Let us all stand up. Let us demonstrate the political will required to end the scourge of poverty once and for all,” he said. 2007-10-24 00:00:00.000
UN OFFICIAL STRESSES NEED FOR PREPAREDNESS FOR POTENTIAL FLU PANDEMIC New York, Oct 24 2007 5:00PM Warning that the H5N1 virus responsible for bird flu could still transform itself into the next human influenza pandemic, a senior United Nations specialist has stressed the need to ensure that the world can respond promptly and effectively in the case of an outbreak. “Given the potential magnitude of human suffering and economic consequences, we need to be getting ourselves prepared for it,” the UN’s System Coordinator for Avian and Human Influenza, David Nabarro, told reporters in Geneva today. Providing an update on avian and human influenza, he noted that, as of the end of August, the H5N1 virus had spread to 60 countries, resulting in 200 deaths. Dr. Nabarro said the virus was entrenched in five countries, one of which was Indonesia, where there was evidence of continued circulation of H5N1 among poultry and occasional infections of humans with the virus. “As long as this virus is being circulated, even if it’s only in one or two countries, that raises the risk that a pandemic can develop,” he cautioned. The UN World Health Organization is currently working with national authorities to develop rapid response plans and ensure adequate supplies of the anti-viral flu medicine tamiflu. According to WHO, the projected supply of influenza vaccines in case of a global pandemic has soared this year, and it is expected that the world will be capable of producing 4.5 billion pandemic immunization courses per year by 2010. This compares to the 100 million courses of vaccine based on the H5N1 strain that WHO and vaccine manufacturers earlier this year projected could be produced immediately with standard technology. “We are not yet at a situation where this H5N1 has mutated into a form that could undergo continuous human-to-human transmission,” Dr. Nabarro said, adding that “as long as we don’t have a pandemic, what we do need to do is get prepared.” 2007-10-24 00:00:00.000
BAN KI-MOON URGES EFFORTS TO ACHIEVE BASIS FOR GLOBAL ACTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE New York, Oct 24 2007 5:00PM Continuing his campaign to galvanize the international community on climate change, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today urged ministers meeting in Indonesia to work towards a solid basis for international action to tackle the problem. “The threat of climate change has moved to the centre of the global political arena with more urgency and intensity than any issue in recent memory,” Mr. Ban said in a message to an informal Ministerial Meeting on Climate Change being held in Bogor. He reviewed recent developments, including the high-level event he convened in New York in September, which fostered a consensus among national leaders on key themes. Participants “pointed to mitigation and adaptation as central to a sound response, with financing and technology as key tools,” he said, recalling that they also stressed the need to harness technology and foster innovative financing, including incentives to prevent deforestation. “While these themes may provide the building blocks for a future regime, the true challenge lies in putting them together to create a solid foundation for global action,” Mr. Ban declared. “It is critical that this ministerial meeting lay the cornerstone for success in Bali.” The Indonesian island will play host in December to the next Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change That pact’s Kyoto Protocol contains binding commitments for countries to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions blamed for climate change, but it will expire in 2012. The challenge for the Bali meeting is to lay the groundwork for an international regime after that date. 2007-10-24 00:00:00.000
WORLD TURNING TOWARDS MULTILATERALISM, BAN KI-MOON SAYS IN UN DAY MESSAGE New York, Oct 24 2007 8:00AM The world is moving in favour of the United Nations but the Organization must strengthen its ability to produce results in the areas of peace and security, development and human rights, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today in his first message to mark UN Day. "More people and governments understand that multilateralism is the only path in our interdependent and globalizing world," Mr. Ban said in his message. "Global problems demand global solutions -- and going it alone is not a viable option." Noting that the demands on the UN "are growing every day," the Secretary-General pledged to ensure that the UN makes progress on the most pressing current issues. He cited conflict prevention and peacebuilding, disarmament and non-proliferation, climate change, human rights and reaching the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). "We will be judged in the future on the actions we take today -- on results. On this United Nations Day, let us rededicate ourselves to achieving them." Mr. Ban -- who assumed the post of Secretary-General on 1 January this year -- said he would work with Member States and civil society worldwide to ensure that the UN can play the fullest role possible in conflict prevention, peacemaking, peacekeeping and peacebuilding. He also pledged to mobilize political will on the key questions of aid, trade and debt relief to help poor nations reach the MDGs, the series of eight anti-poverty targets which world leaders have vowed to try to attain by 2015. "And I will continue to do all I can to galvanize global and decisive action on climate change," he said, adding that the UN was the natural forum for building international consensus among both rich and poor countries on how to respond to the phenomenon. Turning to human rights, Mr. Ban said he would try to translate the "responsibility to protect" concept from word into deed to make certain that there is timely action whenever populations face genocide, ethnic cleansing or crimes against humanity. To achieve all of these tasks, the Secretary-General stressed the need to "transform the UN itself. We must adapt to meet new needs, and ensure the highest standard of ethics, integrity and accountability, so as to demonstrate that we are fully answerable to all Member States and to people around the world." 2007-10-24 00:00:00.000
