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Due to the Prophet Mohammad's Birthday/ National Holiday falling on the same day as the UNAMA press briefing, today's briefing has been cancelled. However we are nonetheless providing the media with details of UN-related news and activities. Talking Points FAO: tests on dead birds prove negative for Avian Influenza in Ghor The mission, which consisted of seven doctors from various UN and government agencies, was conducted in the village of Dehor with a population of about 120 families. Doctors concluded there was no evidence of disease amongst the estimated one thousand chickens in the village. As a result of additional tests in the FAO Kabul laboratory, a total of 26 cases of H5 strain have been found in Kabul , Jalalabad, Maidan Shar, Laghman, Kunar, Logar and Paktia provinces. The samples have been sent to the FAO laboratory in Italy for further tests. Yesterday marked Bird Migratory Day and later today in Kenya, environmentalists and leading scientists from around the world will meet to discuss how best to tackle the issue of bird flu. Particular attention will focus on the role of migratory birds in spreading the virus, and on what can be done to protect these birds. FAO holds training on grafting wild grapevines for food security The joint FAO-Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Food training programme aimed to encourage farmers to take advantage of their natural resources which will contribute to the food security of the population. International conference for Afghan senators The conference, which will be held in Kabul between April 15-17, will aim to strengthen the legislative capacity of the Upper House, and for senators and senior government representatives to learn lessons and good practices from other parliamentary jurisdictions on a number of topics. IOM-implemented tree program beginning to bloom in Maimana province The programme, which was funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, hired internally displaced persons (IDP) and refugees to plant 7,000 near schools, mosques, hospitals and government offices. The Ministry of Agriculture also lent a hand in selecting beneficiaries and provided training on how to plant and take care of the apple, pear and pine trees. For the IDPs this is a chance to learn a new skill and generate income from the sale of apples and pears. Their goal is to facilitate the recruitment of 210 highly qualified experts currently living in the neighbouring countries of Pakistan , Iran , India , Kazakhstan , Tajikistan , Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan by 2008. Press are invited to attend the conference which will be held o n Wednesday, April 12, 2006 at 2:30 pm , at the Ministry of Afghan Diaspora and Experts (MoADE) located in Shar-i-naw, Qalai Musa Square . The program is being funded by the UN World Bank at a cost of $US 105,300 and once complete in July will benefit 475 households in Andarab and Khinjan districts. 
The UN Food and Agriculture Organization in Afghanistan completed a successful mission last Friday (April 7) in Ghor province. Tests were conducted on the remains of eight chickens and 1 sparrow and all were found to be negative for bird flu.
A seven-day training session for farmers on how to graft wild grapevines using simple, low cost methods took place recently in Badakhshan.
Still with conferences, the UNDP's SEAL Project (Support to the Establishment of the Afghan Legislature), along with the Meshrano Jirga, or Upper House, of the Afghan National Assembly is organizing a conference entitled International Conference on Effective Legislative-Executive Relations .
A tree-planting programme implemented by the UN International Organization for Migration is beginning to bear fruit.
In an effort to boost institutional capacity in fields that are crucial for Afghanistan 's development and reconstruction process, IOM and the Ministry of Afghan Diaspora and Experts will be launching a new stage of a programme called Return of Qualified Afghans (RQA).
A project to irrigate close to 1000 hectares of land and employing 200 people is underway in Baghlan province.