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Occupied Arab Territories in Political Turmoil;
 Haiti says the resumption of official international aid cannot be considered a long-term strategy for the country; Jamaica warns of the critical situation in Haiti because of instability, and lack of sustained assistance; The Bahamas calls for a lasting peaceful settlement to the conflict in the Middle East; The president of the general Assembly appeals to States to observe the Olympic Truce during the Athens Games; Jamaica welcomes progress in reducing the digital divide
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Annan Calls for Ceasefire to Fighting in Najaf There's been a call for every effort to be made, even at this late hour, to work out a ceasefire and peaceful solution to the fighting in the Iraqi holy city of Najaf. The call comes from Secretary-General Kofi Annan. In a weekend statement, Mr. Annan said he was extremely concerned at the widespread fighting that has broken out in Iraq over the past several days and was particularly troubled by the high toll of dead and wounded, including civilian casualties. United Nations Spokesman Fred Eckhard says the Secretary-General believes that in such a situation, force should be a last resort.
The spokesman
says the United Nations is ready to extend its facilitating role to
the current crisis, if it would be helpful.
Security a Top Concern in Iraq: Annan Security remains
an obstacle and constraint in Iraq. And according to Secretary-General
Kofi Annan, a qualitative improvement in the overall security environment
is an essential pre-requisite for the success of United Nations efforts
in Iraq. In a new report to the Security Council, the Secretary-General
said that since last December, the security environment in Iraq has
not improved. He warned that "for the foreseeable future, the
United Nations will remain a high-value, high-impact target for attack
in Iraq." Mr. Annan stressed that "staff security remains
the overriding constraint for all United Nations activities in Iraq."
He said United Nations staff and activities will remain limited as
the risks of working in the country remain high. Twenty-two UN staffers
were killed in a terrorist bombing of the UN Office in Baghdad last
August.
UN Envoy Condemns Attack that Kills Two Afghan Electoral Staff The head of the
UN mission in Afghanistan, Jean Arnault, has condemned the murderous
attack that claimed the lives of two Afghan electoral workers in Uruzgan
last Friday. At the same time he expressed the hope that another member
of the convoy that was attacked and is currently missing would be
found soon and alive. Four vehicles of a convoy from the Joint Electoral
Management Body were destroyed in the attack.
World Youth Festival Opens in Barcelona
"The forum's president, the Mayor of Barcelona Joan Clos greeted the participants: "You are saying in this meeting here in Barcelona: we are going to build a new world. This is something really that we applaud, that we support, that we would like to contribute also with the thinking of the Form of Cultures of Barcelona." The Youth Festival is examining four themes: sustainable development, conditions for peace, globalization and cultural diversity. Reporting for UN Radio from Barcelona, Spain, I'm Bissera Kostova."
Annan Urges Empowerment of Indigenous People
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"The
United Nations is helping with the preparations for the national conference,
due to begin in mid-August. And in the Secretary-General's view, the
conference can be an important step in a peaceful and inclusive political
transition, by promoting national reconciliation and dialogue."
Rebel
movements in the Darfur region of Sudan have agreed to allow the vaccination
of hundreds of thousands of children who have been cut-off from regular
health services. UN officials say agreement was reached with the Sudan
Liberation Army (SLA) and the Justice and Equality Movement after
a UN team met their representatives in Eritrea on the weekend. The
World Health Organization and UNICEF are now planning to vaccinate
the children against measles and polio, and to boost their immune
systems with vitamin A drops. Special envoy for Sudan, Jan Pronk,
described the agreement as "a good example of the kind of cooperation
needed from both sides to deliver the relief that is urgently needed."
.More
than 5-thousand young people and hundreds of youth organizations from
around the world are in Barcelona, Spain for the World Youth Festival.
The one-week festival is the largest event in the summer-long Barcelona
Forum 2004. UN Radio's Bissera Kostova reports:
Today
is International Day of the World's Indigenous People. Secretary-General
Kofi Annan marked the occasion with a call for governments, inter-governmental
organizations and civil society to work towards empowering indigenous
peoples and ensuring that they take part in decisions that affect
their lives. Mr. Annan said the commemoration is an opportunity to
celebrate the richness of indigenous cultures and the contributions
of indigenous peoples to the human family.