Friday, 13 February 2004
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Greek and Turkish Cypriot Leaders Agree to Resume Talks

There's been a breakthrough in the Cyprus talks at the United Nations between Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders.

"I am pleased to announce that the parties have committed to negotiating in good faith on the basis of my plan to achieve a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem through separate and simultaneous referenda before 1 May 2004."

Secretary-General Kofi Annan says new talks will resume next week between the two sides on how to end the 30-year old division of Cyprus, which is to join the European Union on May first.

"A lot of hard work is still needed and there are tough questions ahead. But if all concerned show the same courage and good will during the next three months that they have shown in the last three days, I believe there is now a real chance that before 1 May, Cyprus will be reunited."

Mr. Annan will be allowed to decide issues that the Greek and Turkish Cypriot negotiators cannot agree.

Turkish Cypriot Official Says Agreement is a Win-Win Situation

Meanwhile, Turkish Foreign Ministry Under-Secretary Ugur Ziyal says the parties have reached an agreement within a framework that the Secretary-General has put out.

"I believe that the work that we have started will end in a win-win situation as my prime minister has stated. This will be our objective to have a resolution of this issue and to have the two sides live in peace within a common state."

Timing for Iraqi Elections Should Not Be Prisoner to Deadline: Brahimi

The leader of the UN fact-finding team to Iraq says the timing for elections in Iraq should not be held prisoner to any deadline. Special envoy Lakdhar Brahimi says " we need to organise elections as early as possible, but not earlier than possible." He says "there is a consensus among the Iraqis that it is by elections that the permanent Iraqi Government which will rebuild the country, will be formed." But Mr. Brahimi says, "In order for these elections to produce all the benefits required, it is necessary to fulfil the conditions which will enable Iraq to hold elections in an appropriate environment."

WHO to Develop Road Map to Reduce Deaths in Pregnancy

The World Health Organization plans a regional meeting in Harare, Zimbabwe this month to develop a road map to reduce deaths in pregnancy and childhood in the Africa region. WHO's Assistant Director-General for Family and Community Health, Ms. Joy Phumaphi, says the meeting is one of the initiatives that has been taken globally in order to address this area as a Millennium Development Goal.

"The aim of this regional meeting will be to develop a road map for the Africa region, to define the current status of maternally new born health, to identify the constraints of attainment of the MDGs and to develop a framework for maternally new born health programmes in countries and agree on mechanisms for delivery."

Ms. Phumahpi says this is not an initiative that is limited to Africa alone but an example of the global efforts that have been undertaken.

UNHCR Plans to Repatriate Two Million Refugees in Africa

There is now cause for optimism about resolving some of the most protracted refugee and displacement situations on the African continent. That's the word from the UN refugee agency (UNHCR), which says it's seeing multiple possibilities for the repatriation of up to two million refugees from several African countries. Spokesman Ron Redmond says the plan is possible because many African countries appear to be turning the corner after years of civil war.

"Given the enormous potential for finding lasting solution for so many people, UNHCR believes the international community has to seize this opportunity and take a comprehensive regional approach toward ensuring repatriation and sustainable reintegration in Africa."

UNHCR will host a ministerial level conference in Geneva next month to discuss peace processes that it says would present unprecedented opportunities to find solutions for Africa's protracted refugee problems.