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14 February, 2004
 

Table Of Contents

S-G On Elections 1

Secretary-General Kofi Annan said on 9 February he hoped to be able to decide this month on the recommendations of a United Nations team currently in Iraq holding consultations on the feasibility of holding elections before the return of sovereignty at the end of June, as well as other alternatives.

Speaking to reporters at UN Headquarters in New York, Mr. Annan said the team, which arrived over the weekend and is led by his Special Adviser, Lakhdar Brahimi, would stay in Iraq for about a week. "I would hope to be able to give my decision to the Governing Council before the end of the month," the Secretary-General added.

Asked by reporters to characterize the talks so far, Mr. Annan said, "I think the work of the team is going extremely well." He noted that it has already met with the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA), the Iraqi Governing Council and its individual members, as well as other Iraqis, and confirmed that Mr. Brahimi will also be meeting with Ayatollah Ali Sistani, a leading cleric who has advocated direct elections.

"As I indicated before they left, they should see as broad a range of people as possible, and so they are reaching out and are open to talking as many groups as possible," he added. "So far, so good. The atmosphere has been good, they have been well received and there has been very good and frank discussions."

In response to a question on whether the 30 June date for the handover was still firm, the Secretary-General recalled that when both parties were in New York last month for talks with him, they indicated their preference for keeping that deadline.

"We are working on that assumption, but of course as I said, we are going to talk to all parties," he said. "If the parties were to agree to other arrangements, I think it would be difficult to reject it. We will have to consider it."

Meanwhile on the ground, the fact-finding team continued its discussions with a broad cross section of the Iraqi political spectrum, meeting with individual members of the Governing Council, as well as various representatives of Iraqi civil society.

According to a UN spokesman, Mr. Brahimi stressed throughout these meetings that the UN team was there with no agenda other than to assist the Iraqi people in their quest for self-determination, independence and restoration of sovereignty.

Mr. Brahimi described himself as "in listening mode," emphasizing the independence and neutrality of the United Nations as Iraqis debate whether elections are the best means for the transfer of power by 30 June, spokesman Fred Eckhard said at a press briefing.

 

IAEA Calls For Tougher Non-Proliferation Regime 2

The head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog agency on 12 February called for the urgent strengthening of the world's non-proliferation regime to ensure that nuclear materials and even weapons are not acquired by terrorists.

Mohamed ElBaradei, Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said the existing rules and safeguards are not tough enough to deal with modern realities and the world risks "self-destruction" unless it updates them.

Speaking at the IAEA's headquarters in Vienna, Mr. ElBaradei said he welcomed proposals unveiled on 11 February by President George W. Bush of the United States to introduce such measures as tighter controls over the export of nuclear materials and protocols allowing broader inspection rights.

"I have the same concern and sense of urgency expressed by President Bush to shore up the non-proliferation regime and international security system," he said.

Urging the international community to get together to quickly lay out appropriate reforms, Mr. ElBaradei said the IAEA needs more authority to conduct inspections, nuclear exports must be controlled more strictly and there must be accelerated moves towards nuclear disarmament.

Mr. ElBaradei elaborated on his proposals for improving and strengthening the non-proliferation regime in an opinion article published in The New York Times on 12 February. 

"If the world does not change course, we risk self-destruction," he warned in the article.

Mr. ElBaradei said there is currently not enough of a penalty for countries that withdraw from the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. He suggested an automatic review of the country's move by the UN Security Council as a minimum.

Mr. ElBaradei also suggested that the five States recognized under the treaty as nuclear powers _ China, France, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the US _ must make verifiable and irreversible moves towards disarmament. This would include bringing into force the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty.

 

IAEA: Nuclear Arms Smuggling Cases Found So Far `Just Tip Of Iceberg' 3

Warning that cases of covert nuclear proliferation discovered so far are "just the tip of the iceberg," the head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog agency has repeated his call for urgent action to reinforce the global security framework to shut down this black market.

It is clear that the system now in place is not working to prevent underground trafficking and close serious gaps in controls on exports of sensitive nuclear material and equipment, the Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Mohamed ElBaradei, told an international expert seminar in Vienna.

Mr. ElBaradei stressed both in his opening address to the two-day meeting ending on 6 February and in news briefings that more resources will be needed to follow through on examining a "chain of activity" in the nuclear black market and to make sure such cases are not repeated.

It was the second time in three days that the IAEA has drawn attention to the seriousness of the situation. On 3 February it issued a news release highlighting recent statements by Mr. ElBaradei calling for a "vital" security upgrade to prevent nuclear technology from falling into the wrong hands through the emerging global network of the sophisticated black market.

He told the seminar it was important to reduce the role that nuclear weapons play in international security. He also urged cutting the number of nuclear weapons from the current 30,000, and said an inclusive, universal system of nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear disarmament is the only way forward.

On the multinationalization of the nuclear fuel cycle, Mr. ElBaradei said it was time to limit the processing of weapon-usable material (separated plutonium and high-enriched uranium) in civilian nuclear programmes, as well as the production of new material through reprocessing and enrichment by restricting such operations exclusively to facilities under multinational control. Consideration should also be given to multinational approaches to the management and disposal of spent fuel and radioactive waste, he added.

Participating in the seminar are leading international researchers, scholars, and representatives of non-governmental think tanks, international organizations, and regional and global political institutes engaged in efforts against weapons of mass destruction and nuclear proliferation.

 

New Envoy For Afghanistan 4

United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan has moved to appoint Jean Arnault of France as his Special Representative for Afghanistan.

Mr. Arnault has served as the Acting Special Representative in Afghanistan since Lakhdar Brahimi stepped down from the post at the start of last month. He has also been Deputy Special Representative for the country, with responsibility for political affairs, since March 2002.

Mr. Annan wrote a letter to the Security Council President on 6 February informing him of his intention to appoint Mr. Arnault.

Mr. Arnault previously served in Kabul in 1990, as a Senior Political Affairs Officer for the UN and the head of the Kabul headquarters of the then-Office of the Secretary-General in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The experienced French diplomat has held a range of international posts, including a stint as the Secretary-General's Special Representative for Guatemala from 1997 to 2000.

 

Cypriots Have `Historic' Chance To Join EU As One, S-G Says Ahead Of Talks 5

The people of Cyprus have a historic opportunity to unify their country and enter the European Union together, garnering great economic and social benefits, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan said on 9 February on the eve of talks between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders in New York.

"A unified Cyprus entering the European Union will really help reduce tensions in the Aegean region, it will improve relations all around in the region and it would also facilitate Turkey's entry into Europe," the Secretary-General told reporters upon arrival at UN Headquarters.

"It's a win-win situation all around, and I hope the people of Cyprus will press their leaders not to miss this opportunity," he added.

The Secretary-General noted that time was running short as negotiations on his plan should conclude by the end of March. "I have made proposals to them for us to discuss when they come here, because quite frankly, as I've said, we don't have much time if we are going to meet the deadline of 1 May," he said.

 

Greek And Turkish Cypriot Leaders Meet For Third Round Of Talks With S-G 6

The Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders met on 12 February at United Nations Headquarters in New York for a third round of talks hosted by Secretary-General Kofi Annan in a bid to resolve the Cyprus problem before the deadline for entry into the European Union.

The discussions began on 10 February after the Secretary-General last week invited the Greek Cypriot leader, Tassos Papadopoulos, and the Turkish Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktash _ along with the guarantor nations of Greece, Turkey and the United Kingdom _ to resume negotiations on the basis of his settlement plan.

The objective is to submit a completed text to separate referenda in April, in time for a reunited Cyprus to accede to the European Union on 1 May, along with nine other countries.

Asked to describe 12 February meeting, a UN spokesman said, "It went better yesterday than the day before."

He added that if the Secretary-General was convinced the two sides were serious about reaching agreement, talks could shift to Cyprus for a "nuts-and-bolts" phase under the guidance of Mr. Annan's adviser for Cyprus, Alvaro de Soto.

"Once that is established, then he will send them off to work with Mr. de Soto to try to sort out their remaining differences," spokesman Fred Eckhard said.

 

Secretary-General Appeals For Funds An d International Support To Rebuild Liberia 7

United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan on 6 February appealed to the international community to support Liberia in its efforts to rebuild after a devastating 14-year civil war, ensuring peace and stability not only in the West African country but throughout the region as well.

"Let us seize this opportunity to end a long-running nightmare that has disgraced humankind. Let us consolidate the peace, and make the peace process irreversible," the Secretary-General said in opening remarks to the second day of the International Reconstruction Conference on Liberia in New York.

The Secretary-General stressed that it was first and foremost the responsibility of the Liberian people to turn their backs on violence and sustain the peace process. 

"Their leaders in particular must urgently overcome their difficulties, and move ahead with national reconciliation," he said.

The conference was also meant to demonstrate international solidarity with Liberia at a decisive moment, the Secretary-General said, pledging that the United Nations was "strongly committed to working closely with all Liberians to establish the rule of law, to build up an independent judiciary, to promote transparency, and to pursue justice for the crimes and abuses that have been committed."

On the second day of the International Reconstruction Conference on Liberia at UN Headquarters, donors meeting at the United Nations in New York pledged $520 million to help Liberia to meet a host of reconstruction and humanitarian needs, including disarming fighters, creating jobs, retooling the country's infrastructure and stopping the spread of HIV/AIDS.

Representatives from dozens of countries promised to support the West African nation with the $487.7 million needed for the next two years to begin the rebuilding process after a ruinous 14-year civil war. Another $180 million will be required for humanitarian activities.

In a communiqué adopted at the close of the two-day event, representatives from 96 countries and 45 organizations noted agreement on an inclusive, community-based approach to reintegration and reconstruction which fully incorporates the needs of all segments of the population affected by the conflict, with special focus on women and children.

 

S-G Calls On Haitians To Resolve Political Differences Peacefully 8

Expressing concern about rising bloodshed in Haiti, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan on 6 February called on Haitians to resolve their differences peacefully and through constitutional means.

In a statement released by his spokesman, Mr. Annan termed 5 February events in the city of Gonaives _ Haiti's fourth largest town _ "a further escalation in the violence that is affecting the country."

Mr. Annan emphasized his full support for the efforts of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) in trying to work through the political impasse, as well as the continuing work of the Organization of American States (OAS) Special Mission in Haiti.

The United Nations fielded a series of missions to Haiti, largely during the 1990s, in a bid to support the professionalization of the Haitian National Police force, consolidate Haiti's system of justice and other national institutions, and promote human rights.

 

Sec-Gen, Security Council President Deplore Deadly Terror Attack In Moscow 9

United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan and the current President of the UN Security Council have strongly condemned deadly terrorist attack in Moscow on 6 February.

In a statement issued by his spokesman, the Secretary-General said he was "appalled to learn of yet another indiscriminate act of terrorism" perpetrated in the Russian capital. 

He pointed out that all of the dozens of innocent people killed and injured in the attack were "merely going about their daily rounds on a rush-hour subway train."

The spokesman stressed the Secretary-General's adamant opposition to all acts of terrorism from whatever quarter. "No cause whatsoever can justify such heinous crimes," he said.

The statement also voiced hope that the perpetrators will swiftly be brought to justice, and conveyed Mr. Annan's condolences to the Russian Government and people, as well as the victims' families and friends.

Expressing the outrage of the Security Council, its current President, Ambassador Wang Guangya of China, condemned the Moscow terrorist attack in the "strongest possible" terms.

 

Secretary-General Deplores Loss Of Life During Israeli Military Incursions 10

United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan on 12 February deplored the deaths of at least 15 Palestinians, including civilians, during Israeli military incursions in Gaza on 11 February.

He urged Israel to abide by its obligations under international law, including stopping the use of disproportionate force in densely populated areas and taking greater care to avoid injuring innocent civilians, his spokesman Fred Eckhard said.

More than 50 Palestinians were reported injured, including several critically wounded children, he said.

 

UN Military Observer Killed In DR Of Congo 11 

A United Nations military observer from Kenya was killed on 12 February in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) during the ambush of a UN convoy as it returned from investigating allegations of extortion by local militia members.

The UN Organization Mission in the DRC (MONUC) said the military and civilian convoy was on its way back to its headquarters in Bunia from its probe of claims that armed members of the Union of Congolese Patriots (UPC) had been shaking down civilians in Katoto. It was ambushed and attacked. 

In New York, Secretary-General Kofi Annan reaffirmed "MONUC's determination in cooperating with the Government of the DRC to pursue the culprits and bring to justice all those who are responsible for this reprehensible and criminal act."

 

Senior UN Official Urges Parties In Nepal To Sign Human Rights Accord 12

Responding to an upsurge of abuses in Nepal, a senior United Nations official on 6 February urged action on an accord governing human rights in the country.

Bertrand Ramcharan, the acting UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, issued a statement in Geneva raising concern over the increasing number of human rights violations since the breakdown of the ceasefire.

Mr. Ramcharan reiterated his call on both parties to demonstrate their commitment to international law by signing the Human Rights Accord. "The implementation of the Accord would help to protect civilians and could build confidence between the parties," he
said.

He also pledged that the UN Human Rights Office would support efforts by the National Human Rights Commission to verify the implementation of the Accord once it has been signed.

 

UNODC Chief: Afghanistan Risks Becoming `Narco-State' 13

Unless illegal drug activities in Afghanistan are reined in, the country risks becoming a key player in the narcotics trade now fuelling terrorism, the head of the United Nations anti-drug agency warned 10 February.

"I don't think we can call it a narco-State now but Afghanistan is at a critical juncture _ it could go either way," Antonio Maria Costa, Executive Director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), said at a press conference in Kabul.

Mr. Costa was in the Afghan capital to present the outcome of the two-day International Counter Narcotics Conference on Afghanistan, which wrapped up on 9 February and adopted five action plans on strengthening law enforcement, alternative livelihoods, the criminal justice system, promoting awareness, and drug abuse prevention and treatment.

"The more we allow the narco-economy to become ingrained in the behaviour of key people, the more we allow the narco-economy to penetrate legitimate business, the more we allow military commanders to benefit and profit from these activities, the greater the risk that the country will go the wrong way," he stressed.

The UNODC chief said while he had no specific figures, hundreds of millions of dollars in narcotics profits are ending up in the hands of terrorist groups, which control shipping routes with roadblocks. They also demand toll payments in the form of drugs that are then traded for military equipment, transport vehicles or money for troops. "There is no doubt that the Taliban and Al-Qaida are applying the same toll, which becomes a way of funding terrorism," he said.

Mr. Costa called on the coalition forces and the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) to help the country fight against illicit activities. "Resources from trafficking feed into funding terrorism and therefore fighting drug trafficking equals fighting terrorism," he said.

 

UNESCO: More Asian Children Than Ever Attend School But Vast Numbers Drop Out 14

Although more children are attending school than ever before in the countries of South and East Asia, vast numbers drop out before the end of the primary cycle, and the region still accounts for the world's largest share of out-of-school youth, according to a new United Nations report.

The South and East Asia Regional Report, published by the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Institute for Statistics, shows that an estimated 46 million children are out of school in the region, 32 million of them in South and West Asia. The agency calls for recruiting more teachers to cut these numbers.

The study presents the latest education data for a region ranging from the Philippines in the East to Afghanistan and Iran in the West, and including five of the world's most populated nations.

It notes that enrolments for boys and girls rose substantially in most countries over the decade from 1990 to 2000. In Laos and Bangladesh net primary enrolment ratios for boys and girls rose between 15 and 20 percentage points.

But enrolments are only part of the picture. The Report also reveals that only half the children who enter primary school in India, Laos and Myanmar will reach grade five. Nepal, Cambodia and Bangladesh follow closely behind with between 35 and 38 per cent dropping out before the end of the primary cycle.

This trend is confirmed by data showing that even though many children are enrolled in primary education, very few will have a chance to enrol in lower secondary education. An estimated 233 million pupils of all ages are enrolled in both lower and upper secondary education with girls making up some 43 percent of the total.

The report estimates there are about 13 million primary teachers throughout the region, including 9 million in East Asia. This means that, on average, there is about one teacher for every 21 pupils in primary school in East Asia, compared to one for every 40 in South and West Asia.

 

UN Rice Conference Opens, Aims To Boost Production, Efficiency And Sustainability 15

With more than 2 billion people in developing nations depending on the rice-based system for their economic livelihood, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on 12 February opened a two-day international conference aimed at increasing production through greater efficiency and sustainability.

"Intensification of rice production in an economically and environmentally sustainable manner is essential for food security, particularly in Asia and Africa," FAO said in a news release at the start of the meeting at its Rome headquarters.

The Conference is a part of the UN General Assembly's International Year of Rice 2004 (IYR) awareness and action campaign, which FAO sees as a vehicle for achieving the first of the eight Millennium Development Goals calling for a 50 per cent reduction of hunger and poverty by 2015.

Rice is the staple food for more than half of the world's population. FAO projections show that by 2030, total demand will be 38 per cent higher than the annual amounts produced between 1997 and 1999. In order to meet this, new methodologies and production technologies are necessary because land and water resources are under threat.

Of the 840 million people still suffering from chronic hunger, more than half live in areas dependent on rice production for food, income and employment. Because rice does not contain all the elements necessary for a balanced diet, a key aspect of the IYR is to encourage rice producers to intensify production systems and fully exploit their capacity to raise fish and livestock.

Rice-based systems provide "a prism through which the interconnected relationships between agriculture, food security, poverty alleviation, and sustainable development issues can be clearly understood," said the Assistant Director General to the FAO Agriculture Department, Louise Fresco.

"This is an action campaign _ a chance for us to make good on our promise to the billions of people for whom `rice is life,'" Ms. Fresco said of IYR.

 

FAO: Fighting Hunger Today May Halt Obesity And Soaring Health Costs Tomorrow 16

Reducing hunger and undernourishment in pregnant women and children now could prevent them from becoming overweight and obese and reduce associated health costs in later life, according to a study released on 11 February by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

With obesity identified as a main cause of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), the study compiles a growing body of empirical evidence suggesting that hunger during pregnancy "programmes" foetal tissues to get the most out of the food energy available, leading to overnourishment in adult life when coupled with greater food availability and a more sedentary lifestyle.

Many developing countries currently face these conditions, with potentially dramatic impact in the future, the agency said. Hunger today and more food availability tomorrow will mean that many will shift from hunger to obesity and become vulnerable to one of the related NCDs, such as diabetes and coronary heart disease.

"The message is clear: all efforts that help fight hunger today and improve the nutritional situation of women during their reproductive age have the potential to yield an extra dividend tomorrow," the Rome-based FAO said.

"This is particularly important in developing countries, where `prenatal programming' is likely to lead to overweight, obesity and increased susceptibility to NCDs in a less austere later life," it added.

 

WHO Issues Safety And Sustainability Guidelines For Herbal Medicines 17

With growing reports of adverse effects from herbal medicines and the risk that over-harvesting could lead to the extinction of endangered species, the United Nations health agency on 10 February issued guidelines for good agricultural and collection practices in an industry estimated to be worth more than $60 billion a year.

The World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines are intended for national governments to ensure that the production of herbal medicines _ which can be the natural, readily available answer to some ailments _ is safe, posing no threat to either people or the environment.

Herbal medicines are growing in popularity in wealthy countries and their use remains widespread in developing regions, but poor quality of raw plant materials and wrong identification of plant species are a major cause of adverse effects. Cultivating, collecting and classifying plants correctly are therefore of the utmost importance for the quality and safety of products, the Geneva-based WHO said in a news release.

The Guidelines on Good Agricultural and Collection Practices for Medicinal Plants also warn that the growing market and its great commercial benefit might pose a threat to biodiversity through over-harvesting of raw materials for medicines and natural health care products. If not controlled, these practices may lead to the extinction of endangered species and the destruction of natural habitats and resources.

The guidelines cover the spectrum of cultivation and collection, including site selection, climate and soil considerations and identification of seeds and plants, as well as the main post-harvest operations and legal issues such as national and regional laws on quality standards, patent status and benefits sharing.

Among the risks highlighted are inadvertent contamination by microbial or chemical agents and misidentification of plants or intentional adulteration. In this context, the report cites cases of serious cardiac arrhythmias reported in the United States in 1997 after the accidental substitution of plantain, to be used as a dietary supplement, with Digitalis lanata, generally used for heart conditions.

Among endangered medicinal plants the guidelines mentioned the reported rapid decline due to increasing demand of wild ginseng used for digestive conditions resulting from nervous disorders. Wild American ginseng, goldenseal, echinacea, black cohosh, slippery elm and kava kava top the "at-risk list" of endangered species of medicinal plants.

 

UN Study Analyzes How Benefits From Traditional Medicines Are Shared 18

A new United Nations report spotlights the complexities of equitably sharing profits from the commercial use of herbs traditionally nurtured by indigenous groups, but recently analyzed and patented by non-indigenous corporations.

The study, produced jointly by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), highlights the shortcomings of existing agreements while pointing out that there is scope for property rights to be used more effectively to generate and share benefits more equitably.

Offering examples, the report notes that a Genetic Resource Recognition Fund was established at the University of California at Davis to share the benefits from the commercial use of a now patented, disease-resistance gene taken from rice used by the Bela people in Mali. But so far, the Trust has received no funds.

The WIPO/UNEP study also questions why the blight-resistance gene from Oryza longistaminata and the associated technical knowledge are not being made available to the Institute of Economic Research in Mali, given the current work by UC Davis to transfer the gene into Chinese rice varieties.

The Bela people have been given "no formal recognition as primary conservators and holders of detailed knowledge of this disease-resistant variety of wild rice," it notes.

In India, a team of researchers from the All India Coordinated Research Project learned from the Kani people about an energizing substance derived from the Arogypaacha plant. Subsequently the Tropical Botanic Garden Research Institute in Kerala developed, tested and licensed it to companies under the name Jeevani.

The Kerala Kani Samudaya Kshema Trust was set up in the late 1980s, funded by some of the profits from licensing Jeevani. The trust's objectives included community welfare and development projects for the Kani in Kerala.

The patents filed on the medicines excluded an important Indian healers' association called Plathis, however, and covered just India, the study says. Nonetheless, it notes, Jeevani products are being sold outside India, with at least one company in the United States falling outside the licensing and benefit-sharing agreement.