Back to newsletter list
UN DAILY NEWS from the
UNITED NATIONS NEWS SERVICE
21 May, 2008 =========================================================================
EN ROUTE TO MYANMAR, BAN KI-MOON SAYS HE WILL MEET LEADER IN EFFORT TO BOOST AID
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who is en route to cyclone-devastated Myanmar, will meet with the country’s Senior General Than Shwe in an effort to accelerate relief efforts for the estimated 2.4 million people in need of help since the disaster struck on 2 May.
Speaking with reporters at Bangkok airport, Mr. Ban said, “I will meet with senior Government officials in the Myanmar Government, including Senior General Than Shwe.” He added it was essential to “expedite all arrangements for facilitating the free movement of international relief aid and workers.”
“The Government itself acknowledges that there has never been a disaster on this scale in the history of their country,” he said, stressing that it was a “critical moment” for Myanmar. Mr. Ban noted that the relief programme had so far reached only about 25 per cent of the people in need.
Up to 2.4 million people have been severely affected by the disaster, which ravaged large parts of the Irrawaddy delta in the south of the country. Approximately 60 per cent of infrastructure in the delta has been destroyed or damaged, as have three quarters of the area’s schools, the Secretary-General said.
Mr. Ban added that Myanmar’s Government has estimated the losses at more than $10 billion, and said he plans to see the affected areas at first hand, and to meet with people in need.
Announcing that the UN has established a logistics hub for aid in Thailand, Mr. Ban said he hoped it would also be possible to set up forward logistics bases within Myanmar itself, in coordination with the Government and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). He commended ASEAN for helping the flow of relief aid and workers into Myanmar.
The Secretary-General repeated an earlier warning that the international community needed to give thought to Myanmar’s longer-term needs, saying it may already be too late for farmers to plant the next harvest, and that the economic impact of the disaster will be severe.
While in the country, Mr. Ban will also participate in a funding conference in Myanmar’s largest city, Yangon, on Sunday. He said he plans to “reinforce a partnership between Myanmar and the international community, including ASEAN and key neighbouring countries like India and China.”
The Secretary-General stressed that aid and assistance to the people of Myanmar should not be politicized. “Our focus now is on saving lives,” he added.
A major relief effort by UN agencies continues in Myanmar. The World Food Programme (WFP) has been given permission to use nine helicopters to fly in badly needed food supplies. WFP says it has dispatched enough rice to feed 340,000 for two weeks, but reports finding entire communities that have been forced to survive without outside assistance, despite having every building destroyed.
Meanwhile, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization (WHO) are providing shelter, medical equipment and water purification tablets, and carrying out health surveillance among the affected population.
Meanwhile, the Office of the Coordination for Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said that, of the 2.4 million victims of the cyclone, an estimated 1.4 million are located in the most severely affected townships of the delta region, and relief efforts will need to continue for some time, given the large numbers who have yet to receive adequate emergency assistance.
According to the World Food Programme (WFP), Myanmar’s authorities have now granted access for the agency to bring in 10 helicopters. The helicopters will be able to carry as much as three tons of food and other critically needed supplies to victims deep inside the delta. The first helicopter is expected to arrive tomorrow from Malaysia.
WFP says it has dispatched enough rice to feed 340,000 for two weeks, but reports finding entire communities that have been forced to survive without outside assistance, despite having every building destroyed.
The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization (WHO) are providing shelter, medical equipment and water purification tablets, and carrying out health surveillance among the affected population.
* * *
XENOPHOBIC ATTACKS IN SOUTH AFRICA DEPLORED BY UN AGENCIES
United Nations agencies operating in South Africa have expressed deep concern at the outbreak of violent xenophobic attacks in the province of Gauteng in the past week that has led to the deaths of several people and many others being left injured or homeless.
In a statement issued yesterday in Pretoria by the Office of the Resident Coordinator in South Africa, UN officials said they were equally disturbed by the violence and xenophobia that has been occurring across the country in recent months.
“Most of the victims are law-abiding migrants, refugees and asylum-seekers seeking a safe and better life for their families among South Africans,” the statement noted.
“We remain gravely concerned at the prospect of [a] further escalation in violence, especially against the most vulnerable, including women, children and poor families.”
The officials said they welcomed the deployment of more police to affected areas to restore order, as well as the condemnation of the attacks by senior figures in the Government and public life.
“The United Nations organizations in South Africa stand ready to provide assistance and support for immediate humanitarian needs faced by the victims of attacks, as well as to find medium and long-term solutions to the unfolding developments.”
* * *
CHINA: UN STEPS UP AID EFFORTS FOR VICTIMS OF DEADLY QUAKE
The United Nations is continuing to rush aid to victims of last week’s devastating earthquake that struck Sichuan province in China’s south-west.
According to state media, over 41,000 people lost their lives as a result of the quake, which measured 7.8 on the Richter scale. Some 32,000 people are missing, while more than 250,000 others have sustained injuries. Roughly 5 million people have been left homeless.
The UN refugee agency is supplying 11,000 tents to provide emergency shelter for 55,000 people, in response to yesterday’s request by the Government.
“This urgently needed aid is an expression of our solidarity with those suffering as a result of this terrible disaster,” said UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) António Guterres.
The final details of the delivery of the tents, manufactured in China for the agency, are currently being hammered out with Chinese authorities. It is hoped that they will be delivered as soon as possible.
For its part, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) is purchasing a second round of relief food supplies, comprising rice, wheat flour and cooking oil, to feed 100,000 people for three weeks.
The 473-ton shipment of aid is slated to arrive in Sichuan province by the end of the week and will be distributed as part of Red Cross emergency packages.
“WFP hopes that this food will offer strength to the survivors of this terrible tragedy,” said Anthea Webb, the agency’s Representative to China. “By supplying food now, we aim to allow the Government and local partners to focus on settling the survivors into safe accommodation.”
The first batch of WFP supplies – enough instant noodles to feed 100,000 people for one week – reached Mianyang, a city in north-west Sichuan, and is ready to be delivered.
The WFP-managed UN Humanitarian Response Depot (UNHRD) is sending airlifts of aid from Brindisi, Italy.
The Italian Government has sent two shipments of supplies, including a field hospital, tents, high-energy biscuits and medicines. So far, one arrived in Chengdu over the weekend while another is expected to touch down in China on Thursday.
WFP is organizing a third flight – on behalf of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the Irish Government – containing additional tents and blankets.
Meanwhile, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is taking part in a mission organized by the Government to provide immediate psycho-social assistance for children suffering from emotional trauma following the tremors.
The Ministry of Civil Affairs (MCA) assembled the team – including UNICEF professionals, psycho-social recovery specialists and senior government officials – in response to reports of children exhibiting signs of severe stress related to the massive earthquake.
“It is important to reach out quickly to children who have been affected by the traumatic experiences they have been through,” said Yin Yin Nwe, UNICEF Representative and Chair of the UN Disaster Management Team for China.
“After the 2007 Yunnan earthquake, when UNICEF provided technical assistance for child psycho-social support we found 95 per cent of children were naturally resilient and could be helped through community-based psycho-social care,” Dr. Nwe added. “The remaining 5 per cent needed to be referred for psychological treatment.”
Efforts to collect information on children separated from their parents have been impeded by damaged infrastructure, the agency noted. If children are suddenly separated from their families, their vulnerability to abuse and exploitation increases.
UNICEF has also procured more than $400,000 worth of supplies, including tents, blankets and school kits.
The UN Development Programme (UNDP) has allocated $100,000 for emergency relief activities, part of which will be put towards coordinating the aid response.
Also today, the UN contributed $8 million from its Central Emergency Relief Fund (CERF) to the Chinese Government, and these funds will be used by six of the world body’s agencies working on the ground.
“The United Nations stands ready to provide further support, as required, to the Government of China in its efforts to respond to the humanitarian needs caused by the disaster,” said Khalid Malik, UN Resident Coordinator in the country.
* * *
MEMBER STATES ELECT 15 COUNTRIES TO SERVE ON UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL
Fifteen countries from around the world have been elected to serve on the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) for three-year terms starting next month after one round of balloting today among Member States at UN Headquarters in New York.
Zambia, Ghana, Burkina Faso and Gabon were chosen in that order to fill the four vacant African seats on the 47-member panel, according to a formula that allots seats among regions.
The three seats up for grabs in the Latin America and the Caribbean region – successful candidates in each category must obtain an absolute majority of valid votes cast by the 192 General Assembly members – went to Chile, Brazil and Argentina.
In the Eastern European category, Slovakia and Ukraine won the two available seats, while Serbia was unsuccessful.
Six countries contested the four positions distributed to Asian States, with Japan, Bahrain, the Republic of Korea and Pakistan winning the most votes to join the panel, and Sri Lanka and Timor-Leste missing out.
The closest contest occurred in the race for the two vacant seats in the Western European and Other States category. France scored 123 votes and the United Kingdom picked up 120, edging out Spain, which garnered 119 votes.
General Assembly spokesperson Janos Tisovszky told reporters that there were 190 valid votes and two invalid votes in the Western European and Other States category. Ten of the valid votes cast were abstentions.
Some of the successful candidates today had been due to retire on 19 June, when their current term on the HRC expires – they were Gabon, Ghana, Japan, Pakistan, the Republic of Korea, Ukraine, Brazil, France and the United Kingdom.
Under Council rules, members serve for three-year periods and cannot run for immediate re-election after two consecutive terms. Overall, the 47 members include 13 from Africa, 13 from Asia, six from Eastern Europe, eight from Latin America and the Caribbean, and seven from Western Europe and Other States.
* * *
UN TO HOST SECOND MEETING OF GREEK AND TURKISH CYPRIOT LEADERS
The Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders will meet at the official residence of the United Nations Envoy to Cyprus this Friday for the second round of talks aimed at reuniting the two communities on the Mediterranean island, it was announced today.
UN spokesperson Marie Okabe told reporters that the meeting will allow the leaders – Demetris Christofias (Greek Cypriot) and Mehmet Ali Talat (Turkish Cypriot) – to review progress in the process they launched in March aimed at reuniting the country’s communities.
This will be their second formal meeting since Mr. Christofias’ election in February.
The meeting will be held at the residence of the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Cyprus, Tayé-Brook Zerihoun, in the UN Protected Area in Nicosia.
Last month, substantive talks among six working groups began after an agreement between representatives of the two leaders was brokered by the UN.
At the time, Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs B. Lynn Pascoe told the Security Council that he was optimistic that Cyprus could soon be reunified, but also cautioned that the upcoming negotiations between the two sides would not be easy.
“I think the entire world would be delighted to see Cyprus move forward on its negotiation,” he told reporters after briefing the 15-member body. “We would like to see this settled as soon as possible.”
* * *
UN COUNTER-TERRORISM TASK FORCE NEEDS SUSTAINABLE FUNDING – ASSEMBLY CHIEF
The United Nations task force charged with coordinating the world body’s counter-terrorism efforts needs guaranteed and sustainable funding, rather than the current voluntary model, so that it can carry out its work, General Assembly President Srgjan Kerim told a briefing at UN Headquarters today.
Addressing an informal briefing of Member States by the Secretary-General’s Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force, Mr. Kerim said the group – established three years ago – has already played an important role in identifying where the UN can assist in global efforts against terrorism.
But the task force has no standing resources of its own and has to attract funds on a voluntary basis, the Assembly President said.
“I commend the governments for providing funding for various working groups, but it is also important to ensure a stable and sustainable central support for the task force,” he said. “Indeed, there is a need to complete the institutionalization of the task force, as supported by the General Assembly when it adopted the Strategy [in September 2006].”
Robert Orr, Assistant Secretary-General for Policy Coordination and Strategic Planning and chair of the task force, told the briefing that the voluntary funding model “has significantly slowed the pace” of the work of the task force.
“We have needed to collect, process and transfer funds to set the working groups on their feet financially, to help them bring on relevant experts, and to get them what they need administratively from the UN system,” he said. “And we have been doing so with a skeletal staff run out of my office.”
On 4 September, the General Assembly will meet in plenary session to review the implementation of the strategy so far.
* * *
IRAQ’S NATIONAL SYMPHONY PLAYS FOR UNITY IN FIRST MAJOR PERFORMANCE IN YEARS – UN
The Iraqi National Symphony Orchestra (INSO) today gave a concert in Baghdad to promote unity and dialogue, its first significant performance in years, the United Nations announced.
More than 400 people attended the performance, held to commemorate the World Day for Cultural Diversity, for Dialogue and Development. It was also broadcast live on Iraqi television.
The concert, organized by the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), was the first of its kind in the war-torn Middle Eastern nation and was held under both the UN emblem and the Iraqi flag.
Intended to remind the world of what Iraqis can offer and to preserve the country’s cultural heritage, the orchestra’s Iraqi and classical repertoire was selected from culturally diverse folklore, both Arab and Kurdish, along with traditional tunes and classical concertos.
Part of the concert – which was addressed by Staffan de Mistura, head of UNAMI, and Mahmoud al-Mashhadani, Iraqi Speaker of Parliament – was conducted by Iraqi cellist and the Orchestra’s Director Karim Wasfi, while the other portion was led by renowned international conductor Oliver Gilmour.
“Without culture a country will literally pack up,” Mr. Gilmour, the first guest conductor to be invited since before United States-led forces invaded in 2003, told UN Radio, underscoring the crucial role played by the arts.
He said that a concert such as this is a source of price and “engenders a feeling of quasi-normality.”
The conductor paid tribute to the orchestra’s members, who represent different sects and ethnicities and who have faced danger in attending rehearsals. “In many ways what they do is inspirational and it illustrates, I think, their indomitable spirit and the power of music,” he observed.
* * *
DR CONGO: UN SUBMITS REPORT ON FEBRUARY VIOLENCE IN FAR WEST TO AUTHORITIES
The United Nations mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) said today that it has sent a report on the February 2008 violence in the Bas-Congo province to the Congolese authorities.
The report deals with human rights abuses committed by Government forces and by members of the Bunda Dia Kongo (BDK) armed movement during the February stand-off between the two sides in the far west of the country.
MONUC expects the report to be released to the public after the Congolese Government has confirmed they have received it.
The Congolese national police have been involved in violent and sometimes deadly clashes with the BDK politico-religious movement since the beginning of the year.
Meanwhile, the UN mission notes an overall decrease in the number of violations of recent agreements between the Government and various armed groups in North and South Kivu provinces in the east of the country.
Over the weekend, the UN’s Deputy Special Representative and Humanitarian Coordinator Ross Mountain visited Goma, the main town in North Kivu Province, to assess the security and humanitarian situation in the area.
MONUC noted “with satisfaction” a decrease in the number of ceasefire violations by different military factions in the Kivus. The UN mission also called on all armed groups in the provinces and in other parts of the country to release child combatants in their ranks.
After discussing the impact of the global food crisis on already extremely vulnerable populations in the Kivus, Mr. Mountain said that the UN, in close consultation with the Congolese authorities, was looking for rapid solutions to improve the situation.
* * *
UN CULTURAL AMBASSADORS CALL FOR EDUCATION FOR ALL
A group of celebrity ambassadors with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) today called for greater efforts to provide “education for all” at their annual meeting at the agency’s headquarters in Paris.
“Education is a fundamental human right, yet millions of children and adults around the world are still deprived of access to basic education and technology” said Princess Firyal of Jordan and French musician Jean Michel Jarre on behalf of the 19 Goodwill Ambassadors present at the meeting.
In their statement, the ambassadors also said that respect for cultural diversity and languages is a key to social development and peace, and added that there should be a renewed focus on the environment. “Now is the time to face up to the challenges of an over-exploited p***t and to take steps to preserve it for generations to come,” they said.
The Goodwill Ambassadors committed themselves to work on raising awareness about global warming.
“2008 is the International Year of P***t Earth. This is a timely opportunity for us all to be less self-centred and to strive for a better future” added Jean Michel Jarre.
Meeting on the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development and during the International Year of Languages, the UNESCO Goodwill Ambassadors noted that half of the world’s 7000 languages currently face extinction. They also made a plea to governments to promote bi- and multilingual education, and to respect mother languages in all countries.
* * *
FORMER RWANDAN OFFICIAL TRANSFERRED BACK TO UN WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL
A former senior Rwandan official who stands accused of involvement in the 1994 genocide has been transferred from The Hague back to Arusha, Tanzania – where the United Nations war crimes tribunal to deal with the mass killings is based – after the Netherlands ruled that it did not have jurisdiction in trying his case.
Michel Bagaragaza was the Director General of the office controlling the Rwandan tea industry during the genocide.
According to the UN International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR), he “is charged with ordering his subordinates and with instigating, aiding and abetting others over whom he did not have authority to kill hundreds of Tutsi civilians who sought refuge on Kesho Hill near a tea factory in Rubaya and in Nyundo Cathedral, both in Gisenyi Prefecture.”
He was alleged to have helped establish, fund, train and arm the Hutu-dominated rebel Interahamwe militia to carry out attacks on Tutsi civilians and to have been the honorary president of a local Interahamwe unit. He also allegedly ordered tea factory employees to provide the Interahamwe with vehicle fuel, arms and ammunition from a stockpile at the factory and ordered them to help kill hundreds of Tutsis, the Tribunal said.
Shortly after surrendering to the ICTR in Arusha in August 2005, Mr. Bagaragaza was transferred to the detention unit in The Hague of the UN International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) for security reasons.
Both the Governments of Norway and the Netherlands have attempted to have the case transferred to their countries. In the case of Norway, the Scandinavian nation’s Prosecutor found that its criminal law did not provide for the crime of genocide.
Last August, the order to refer Mr. Bagaragaza’s case was revoked by the Netherlands on the grounds that the country does not have any jurisdiction in this instance.
* * *
LEBANESE POLITICAL ACCORD SHOULD BE PRELUDE TO RECONCILIATION – BAN KI-MOON
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has welcomed today’s agreement among Lebanon’s political leaders on a deal to resolve their prolonged stand-off over the presidency and the direction of the country.
In a statement issued by his spokesperson following the agreement in Doha, Qatar, Mr. Ban said he looked forward to the early election of a new president and the formation of a national unity government.
“He hopes this agreement will be the prelude to a lasting period of national reconciliation, political stability, peace and progress for all of Lebanon’s people and for the future of their country, as well as a stepping stone toward the full implementation of the provisions of the Taif Agreement and the relevant Security Council resolutions,” the statement said.
Mr. Ban also voiced his appreciation to the Qatari Government and the League of Arab States for their “crucial efforts… in facilitating this agreement.”
Today’s accord follows recent violence in the capital, Beirut, and elsewhere between pro- and anti-Government militias. Since November last year, when the office became vacant, there have been 18 failed attempts to conduct a parliamentary vote for president.
* * *
SECRETARY-GENERAL WELCOMES INDIRECT PEACE TALKS BETWEEN SYRIA AND ISRAEL
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has welcomed today’s announcement that Syria and Israel have started holding indirect peace talks aimed at resolving their long-running conflict.
The two Middle East countries confirmed that they are holding talks, under the auspices of Turkey, with the hope of reaching a comprehensive peace in accordance with the 1991 Madrid Conference terms of reference for peace.
In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Mr. Ban commended Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert “for taking this important step.” He also thanked Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan for his efforts.
* * *
UN TRADE LAW GROUP WELCOMES AUSTRALIAN MOVE ON INSOLVENCY
The United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) today welcomed Australia’s adoption of legislation – based on the Commission’s model – on cross-border insolvency.
Australia becomes the fifteenth country or jurisdiction to adopt legislation based on the UNCITRAL model on this subject, which was endorsed by the UN General Assembly in 1997 to try to help States harmonize their laws on insolvency.
The model law deals with cases where an insolvent debtor has assets in more than one State or where some of the creditors are not from the State where the insolvency proceedings are being held.
It aims to respect individual countries’ national procedural laws, but at the same time include features to resolve problems, such as by granting access to courts to foreign representatives, enhancing cross-border cooperation and recognizing foreign proceedings.
Established in 1966, the Vienna-based UNCITRAL works to remove obstacles to international trade by progressively modernizing and harmonizing trade law.
* * *
UN HELPING TO TRAIN HUMAN RIGHTS WORKERS IN SIERRA LEONE
The United Nations is helping to train nearly two dozen newly-recruited human rights workers in Sierra Leone.
The UN Integrated Office in Sierra Leone (UNIOSIL) and the UN Development Programme (UNDP) are taking part in preparing 23 new staff members of the Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone.
The five-day induction, which began on 19 May, will provide a comprehensive understanding of the Commission’s mandate, as well as basic human rights concepts, standards and mechanisms at the national and international levels.
The training will also deal with transitional justice, focusing on the findings and recommendations of the country’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which, in 2004, made a number of recommendations regarding past abuses and violations and foster reconciliation in Sierra Leone, which is consolidating peace following a brutal, 11-year conflict.
Following this introductory session, UNIOSIL will continue to assist the Human Rights Commission organize training courses on themes such as: complaint handling and investigation; mediation and counseling; monitoring and investigation; and advocacy.
* * *
UN AGRICULTURE AGENCY OFFICIAL RECEIVES NIGER’S TOP HONOUR
The head of the Niger office of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has been bestowed with the West African nation’s highest honour for her work in the fields of agriculture and assisting the rural population.
Maria Helena de Morais Semedo, who has been in charge of the agency’s office in the capital Niamey since 2003, received the award in a ceremony presided over by Minister of Agricultural Development Mahamane Moussa.
More than one-third of the 34 million people in Niger are undernourished, according to FAO. The landlocked nation, which is largely desert and dependent on farming and some mineral wealth, is among the poorest in the world.
Since Ms. Semedo’s arrival in Niger, FAO’s assistance to the country has climbed to more than $40 million.
In 1995, the agency launched the Special Programme for Food Security (SPFS), currently active in 6 of the country’s 8 regions, reaching nearly 200 villages and some 8,000 households, or roughly 60,000 people. Also as part of SPFS, Niger participates in a scheme in which developing countries assist one another, with Moroccan technicians working with farmers in Niger to boost farming conditions.
The country’s first agricultural and livestock census was held by FAO in 2004. Funded by the European Union and Niger’s Government, the survey showed that the country’s resources have been significantly underestimated. It was revealed that Niger has more than 30 million heads of livestock, 30 per cent more than previously assumed.
FAO has also helped to enhance agriculture in Niger by promoting fertilizers and an inventory credit system allowing low-income farmers to access credit, with more than 2 billion CFA having been warranted to date.
The agency is also assisting Niger tackle virulent plant and animal pests and diseases – including the desert locust and avian influenza – which pose a risk to local and regional economies.
* * *
UNESCO HEAD DEPLORES KILLING OF INDIAN JOURNALIST
Stressing the importance of media professionals’ safety, the Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) today condemned the killing of an Indian journalist who died while covering an incident in Kashmir.
Ashok Sodhi, a reporter with a quarter century of experience, died of bullet injuries sustained while working on a story in Samba district, south of the city of Jammu. He worked for the Daily Excelsior, a newspaper in the State of Jammu and Kashmir.
“The safety of journalists is a subject of paramount concern in any democracy,” said Director-General Koïchiro Matsuura of UNESCO, the UN agency mandated to defend freedom of the press and freedom of expression. “It is essential that reporters be able to do their work and inform the public, even in areas of conflict. Their status as civilians must be respected.”
* * *
-----------------------------------------
Click here for a PDF version of the UN Daily News: http://www.un.org/News/dh/pdf/english/2008/21052008.pdf
For more details go to UN News Centre at: http://www.un.org/news
To listen to news and in-depth programmes from UN Radio go to: http://radio.un.org/
---------------------------------------------------------
To change your profile or *** go to: http://www.un.org/apps/news/email/
