[03 April, 2006]

UN RUSHES EXPERTS TO ASSESS DAMAGE IN QUAKE-STRUCK IRAN

New York, Mar 31 2006 6:00PM The United Nations is sending an inter-agency assessment team to Iran after an overnight earthquake killed or injured hundreds and is ready provide any aid that may been needed and to mobilize international assistance, officials of the world body said today. Experts from the UN World Health Organization, UN Children's Fund and UN Development Programme will leave tomorrow for Iran's western Lorestan province. Initial reports have confirmed 66 people killed and more than 1,200 injured, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), which warned that the number of affected persons is expected to rise. The quakes, measuring between 2.8 to 6.0 on the Richter scale, mainly affected the industrial cities of Doroud and Boroujerd; however, provincial authorities estimate that there are more than 200 villages between the two cities which have suffered substantial damage, OCHA said... For more details go to UN News Centre at http://www.un.org/news

[27 March, 2006]

DR CONGO: ANNAN WELCOMES PREPARATIONS FOR EUROPEAN SUPPORT TO UN MISSION

New York, Mar 25 2006 4:00PM United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan today welcomed the decision of the European Union to start planning and preparation for possible support to the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC). Consultations between representatives from the European Union, the UN and the Congolese authorities are presently underway, according to a statement released by Mr. Annan's spokesman in New York. "The Secretary-General very much appreciates the continuing close cooperation between the United Nations and the European Union in support of peace operations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and throughout Africa," the spokesman said. For more details go to UN News Centre at http://www.un.org/news

[20 March, 2006]

SENIOR UN ENVOY ON LEBANON ISSUES STARTS TALKS WITH KEY ARAB LEADERS

New York, Mar 18 2006 3:00PM Beginning a round of meetings with key Arab leaders in the Middle East, a senior United Nations envoy dealing with Lebanon today held what he called "constructive" talks with senior officials in Saudi Arabia. Terje Roed-Larsen, Secretary-General Kofi Annan's Special Envoy for the implementation of Security Council 1559, which focuses on an end to foreign interference in Lebanon, met in Riyadh today with Saudi Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz and Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal. Mr. Roed-Larsen lauded the important role played by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the efforts to resolve the multiple conflicts in the Middle East. He characterized his talks with Saudi leaders as "constructive and forward-looking" with a "strong convergence of views." "We are working hand in hand, and the Secretary-General and I are looking forward to continuing this partnership," he said... For more details go to UN News Centre at http://www.un.org/news

[13 March, 2006]

ANNAN URGES AID TO AFRICAN MISSION IN DARFUR WHILE TRANSITION TO UN FORCE IS PLANNED

New York, Mar 10 2006 6:00PM Welcoming the decision of the African Union (AU) to extend its peacekeeping force in the troubled Darfur region of Sudan, Secretary-General Kofi Annan today urged all States to support the operation while planning for a handover of responsibilities to the United Nations. Speaking to the press following a working luncheon with members of the Security Council, Mr. Annan said the UN looks forward to working with the AU and the Sudanese Government in "ensuring that there is effective security on the ground in Darfur that would allow the humanitarian workers to continue their work, ensure protection of the IDPs (internally displaced persons) and ensure access to the needy." He said that full details were not yet available, but it appeared that the AU and the Government have at least agreed to a six months extension of the force, and to work with the UN on transition... For more details go to UN News Centre at http://www.un.org/news

[06 March, 2006]

DR CONGO: UN-BACKED MILITARY ACTION HALTED AFTER ARMY TROOPS PROTEST CONDITIONS

New York, Mar 3 2006 3:00PM One of two operations in which hundreds of helicopter-backed United Nations peacekeepers were helping the army of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) dislodge militia has been called off so that the Congolese soldiers involved can receive better training and preparation, a spokesman said today. The decision to suspend the operation, in which 300 UN 'Blue Helmets' were helping the army dislodge militia said to have been looting and enslaving locals in the eastern Ituri region of the vast country, was taken after an incident yesterday when some newly integrated elements of the national army protested over their conditions of service. Both the peacekeepers from the UN's Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Moroccan contingents and the Congolese army soldiers, who include reintegrated former rebels, have now returned to Ituri's main town, Bunia. They had been operated in the Tchei area, some 60 kilometres to the south-east... For more details go to UN News Centre at http://www.un.org/news

[26 February, 2006]

DR CONGO: UN FOOD SUPPLIES REACH 60,000 PEOPLE DISPLACED BY FIGHTING

New York, Feb 24 2006 2:00PM United Nations agencies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have begun feeding 60,000 people who fled fighting between government troops and Mayi-Mayi militia in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported today. Trucks from the UN World Food Program, the UN Children's Fund and NGOs have been able to negotiate insecure roads in the Katanga area, where 120,000 people have fled their homes since November, OCHA said. It called upon the local authorities to help arrange security for the displaced people and to put an end to impunity for rights violators in Katanga. Yesterday OCHA warned that fresh operations by the army against the Mayi-Mayi were sparking fears of a further flight of civilians. For more details go to UN News Centre at http://www.un.org/news

[20 February, 2006]

UN AGREES TO INDIAN OFFER TO PROVIDE TROOPS FOR GOLAN HEIGHTS FORCE

New York, Feb 16 2006 7:00PM With the withdrawal of Canadian support troops from the United Nations force in the Golan Heights (UNDOF), Secretary-General Kofi Annan and the Security Council today agreed to an offer from India to provide military personnel for the long-running mission. Speaking to reporters in New York, a spokesman for Mr. Annan said that troop rotations were a regular occurrence in peacekeeping missions, and the UN promptly seeks replacements for departing contingents. A letter to the Security Council from Mr. Annan to discuss the replacement of the Canadians said that the addition of the Indian troops would not increase the overall strength of the mission. UNDOF, which observes the ceasefire between Israeli and Syrian forces in the Golan Heights, began its operation in May 1974 and last December the Security Council, citing "the very tense situation in the Middle East," extended its mandate through to 30 June. For more details go to UN News Centre at http://www.un.org/news

[13 February, 2006]

ANNAN TO DISCUSS DARFUR, IRAN, AND OTHER HOTSPOTS WITH TOP OFFICIALS IN WASHINGTON

New York, Feb 9 2006 5:00PM Ahead of his visit next week to Washington, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan said today the situation in the Darfur region of Sudan and the nuclear dispute involving Iran would be among the key issues discussed with United States President George W. Bush and other senior officials. Speaking to the press in New York, the Secretary-General also said Cote d'Ivoire would be on the agenda during Monday's meetings... He emphasized the importance of addressing strife-torn Darfur, a region which earlier this month Mr. Annan said needed a UN peacekeeping operation to take over from the African Union (AU) force currently there... He also predicted that talks would touch on the Iranian issue, the situation in Iraq and the Middle East, as well as the controversial cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad that have sparked violent protests worldwide. For more details go to UN News Centre at http://www.un.org/news

[06 February, 2006]

UN ATOMIC ENERGY CHIEF ASKED TO REPORT TO SECURITY COUNCIL ON IRAN

New York, Feb 4 2006 4:00PM The Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) today passed a resolution in Vienna requesting the Agency's Director General to report to the United Nations Security Council on Iran. The action followed three days of debate on the issue sparked when France, Germany and the United Kingdom -- the so-called "EU-3" -- requested a special meeting of the Board after Tehran broke IAEA seals on equipment used to produce enriched uranium. By asking IAEA Director-General Mohamed ElBaradei to report to the Council all IAEA reports and resolutions relating to the implementation of safeguards in Iran, the Board moved the issue for the first time to the Security Council. Prior to the adoption of the resolution, Mr. ElBaradei said, "The draft resolution which is now before the Board (sponsored by Britain, France, Germany) says that we should report on that issue. But the sponsors made it clear that the Security Council is not expected to take any action at least before March." He said the period from now until then represents "a window of opportunity" for diplomacy. For more details go to UN News Centre at http://www.un.org/news

[31 January, 2006]

ANNAN'S TOP IRAQ ENVOY CONDEMNS COORDINATED ATTACKS NEAR CHURCHES

New York, Jan 29 2006 6:00PM The senior United Nations envoy to Iraq today condemned a series of deadly explosions carried out in coordinated sequence in the vicinity of churches in Baghdad and Kirkuk. The attacks, which caused the death and injury of many innocent Iraqis, constituted "a reprehensible act that can only exacerbate sectarian violence," Secretary-General Kofi Annan's Special Representative, Ashraf Jehangir Qazi, said in a statement issued in the Iraqi capital. Mr. Qazi called on Iraq's authorities and political leaders to commit themselves to the safety of all worshipers, and to preserve the sanctity of places of worship. For more details go to UN News Centre at http://www.un.org/news

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