UN Gazeti
Wednesday 17 October 2007
Issue No. 243
UN Observances
| 17 October |
International Day for the Eradication of Poverty/ Stand Up against Poverty Campaign |
| 24 October |
United Nations Day |
| 25 October |
Launch of GEO 4 |
UN IN AFRICA
UNDP OFFICIAL HAILS SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA’S ECONOMIC GROWTH
The head of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) reported yesterday that for the first time in years countries in sub-Saharan Africa are actually growing faster than the global economy, but added that conflict and lack of capacity are two of the main challenges faced by the continent in achieving economic progress and development.
“When one looks at the numbers, one can actually feel somewhat encouraged in terms of overall economic progress,” UNDP Administrator Kemal Dervis said at a press briefing in New York, having just returned from a two-week trip to Eastern and Southern Africa.
For more information, visit: http://www.un.org/news
SUDAN: UN ENVOY HOLDS MORE TALKS ON WITHDRAWAL FROM UNITY GOVERNMENT
The top United Nations official in Sudan yesterday met with a senior minister to discuss the decision of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) to suspend its participation in the Government of National Unity.
Tayé-Brook Zerihoun, the Secretary-General’s Acting Special Representative for Sudan, spoke with Sudan’s State Minister for Foreign Minister Ali Karti, who briefed him on the reaction of the National Congress Party to the SPLM withdrawal.
For more information, visit: http://www.un.org/news
UGANDAN FLOOD VICTIMS RECEIVE VITAL COMMUNICATION TOOLS FROM UN TELECOMMUNICATIONS
The United Nations telecommunications agency has deployed 25 satellite terminals to help restore vital communication links in the aftermath of severe floods that have affected the eastern and northern regions of Uganda since August.
The Government was forced to declare a state of emergency after torrential rains and flash floods swept through the country taking lives, stranding hundreds of thousands of people, destroying road and communication links, and submerging crops.
For more information, visit: http://www.un.org/news
SIERRA LEONE HAS MADE GREAT STRIDES, SAYS DUTCH AMBASSADOR
A senior United Nations peacebuilding official yesterday wrapped up a week-long visit to Sierra Leone by praising the tremendous recent efforts made by the West African nation in consolidating stability but cautioning that much work remains to be done.
Dutch Ambassador Frank Majoor – who chairs the Peacebuilding Commission’s Sierra Leone meetings on that country – met with Government officials to witness first-hand the situation on the ground following last month’s elections.
For more information, visit: http://www.un.org/news
WHO ISSUES CHOLERA ALERT FOR SOMALIA
The United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) has warned of an imminent risk of cholera in southern Somalia, where tens of thousands of people were affected by a previous outbreak which killed over 1,000 just a few months ago.
Seven new cases have been confirmed so far in the capital, Mogadishu, as well as Berdale and Burhakaba.
For more information, visit: http://www.un.org/news
TOP UN ENVOY MEETS WITH PRESIDENT KABILA ON NORTH KIVU
The top United Nations envoy to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the Force Commander of the UN peacekeeping mission there (MONUC) met on 15 October with the country’s president today to discuss the violence in the troubled North Kivu province.
The Secretary-General’s Special Representative, William Lacy Swing, and General Boubacar Gueye conferred with President Joseph Kabila in Goma, in the north-east, UN spokesperson Michele Montas told reporters in New York.
For more information, visit: http://www.un.org/news
SG URGES RESTRAINT BY ETHIOPIA AND ERITREA AS TENSIONS RISE
Voicing his concern at escalating tensions between Ethiopia and Eritrea, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on 11 October called on the two East African neighbours to show maximum restraint and abide by the accords that ended their border war seven years ago.
Of particular concern are “recent shooting incidents, as well as the building up of military forces in the border area,” according to a statement issued by Mr. Ban’s spokesperson.
For more information, visit: http://www.un.org/news
UN AROUND THE WORLD
GREEK AMBASSADOR ELECTED PRESIDENT OF UNESCO GENERAL CONFERENCE
Greece’s Ambassador to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) was unanimously elected in Paris yesterday as the President of the 34th session of the body’s General Conference.
“UNESCO must not be a statue but a sentinel, a watchtower,” George N. Anastassopoulos – who has had a distinguished career as a journalist, government spokesperson and member of the European Parliament – said in his address to the Conference. “Its ethics must be the ethics of the future… There is much we will be able to do if we unite in supporting a stronger UNESCO.”
For more information, visit: http://www.un.org/news
SG COMMENDS HIS HIGH-LEVEL APPOINTEES FOR THE MANY ROLES THEY PLAY
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon yesterday hailed the work of his special and personal representatives and envoys, recognizing the multiple demands placed on men and women called to be diplomats, negotiators, managers and communicators all at the same time.
“As my representatives and envoys, you have multiple demands placed upon you – by the United Nations, by your other partners on the ground and in the global arena, and above all, by the countries, regions and people you are appointed to serve,” Mr. Ban said in a video message to a seminar in Mont Pèlerin, Switzerland.
For more information, visit: http://www.un.org/news
UNHCR APPEALS URGENTLY FOR FUNDS FOR SAHRAWI AND MAURITANIAN REFUGEES
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) yesterday urgently appealed for funding for its work in refugee camps in Western Sahara and Algeria as well as for the repatriation of Mauritanian refugees.
The agency’s spokesperson Jennifer Pagonis told reporters in Geneva that a special donor meeting – attended by Julian Harston, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative in Western Sahara, the ambassadors of Mauritania and Senegal, as well as representatives from donor countries – was convened on 15 October to address the funding shortfall.
For more information, visit: http://www.un.org/news
THOUSANDS OF BLOGGERS UNITE TO ISSUE CALL TO SAVE PLANET
Thousands of online voices worldwide will join forces to push for environmental protection to mark the United Nations-backed first-ever Blog Action Day.
More than 12 million readers have viewed the 15,000 blogs – ranging from those promoting gardening such as “gardenrant.com” to sites providing tips for those interested in web businesses such as “entrepreneurs-journey.com” – participating in the event, supported by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP).
For more information, visit: http://www.un.org/news
UN, SRI LANKA SHOULD COOPERATE ON HUMAN RIGHTS, HIGH COMMISSIONER SAYS
Citing ongoing reports of abuses in Sri Lanka, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, who has just wrapped up a visit to the country, called for UN-Government cooperation to address the problem.
“There is a large number of reported killings, abductions and disappearances which remain unresolved. This is particularly worrying in a country that has had a long, traumatic experience of unresolved disappearances and no shortage of recommendations from past Commissions of Inquiry on how to safeguard against such violations,” Louise Arbour said in Colombo.
For more information, visit: http://www.un.org/news
GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT LAUDS AL GORE, IPCC ON NOBEL PEACE PRIZE
The President of the United Nations General Assembly on 13 October congratulated Al Gore and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) on their receipt of the 2007 Nobel Peace Price and voiced hope that it would spur action on the issue.
“The President believes that the awarding of the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize is a clear recognition of the fact that climate change is not just an environmental problem but a global, multifaceted challenge that deserves immediate and crucial attention from the international community,” a spokesman for Srgjan Kerim said in a statement released in New York.
For more information, visit: http://www.un.org/news
SG HAILS NOBEL LAUREATES AL GORE
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on 12 October hailed the awarding of the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize to Al Gore and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and urged governments to build on the momentum they have generated by adopting a new set of binding commitments to contain greenhouse gas emissions.
In a statement released by his spokesperson, Mr. Ban paid tribute to Mr. Gore's “exceptional commitment and conviction, as an example of the crucial role that individuals and civil society can play in encouraging multilateral responses to global issues.”
For more information, visit: http://www.un.org/news
For more information on the United Nations and its activities, please visit the main U.N website at www.un.org or the U.N Kenya website at www.un-kenya.org
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