Monday, 23 February 2004

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Iraqi Poll Likely by End of 2004: Annan

The election assessment report on Iraq by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has been sent to the UN Security Council and Coalition Provitional Authority. In the report, Annan said elections could be held by the end of 2004, or early next year, if preparations begin immediately for a "legal and institutional framework." But he said political agreement on the legal framework might not be secured before the end of May. The Secretary-General recommends that an autonomous and independent Iraqi Electoral Commission should be established without further delay in order to start working immediately towards a well organized electoral process that would result in elections at the earliest date. The report comes as the Secretary-General continues his visit to Japan telling Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi that the world body stands ready to help Iraq hold elections "in the not-too-distant future." Earlier, Annan met with Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi for what he describes as "a wide range of urgent issues, including Iraq" and Afghanistan.

"The UN is ready to play its role as the council indicated once . The consequences are right and we are preparing ourselves to play that role."

The United Nations electoral team visited Iraq earlier this month to assess whether elections can be held by June 30.

ICJ Hearing on Israel Fence

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the Hague has begun three days of hearings on the consequences of the Israeli construction of a wall or security fence in the occupied Palestinian territory, including in and around east Jerusalem. The Court's action comes in response to a request from a General Assembly Emergency session on Palestine in December asking the Court to render an opinion on the matter. Israeli argues that the fence is being built for security purposes and has so far resulted in a reduction in the number of Palestinian suicide bombings. The Palestinians argue that the wall is being used to seize more Palestinian land. The ICJ has the option of ruling itself "Unqualified" to give a judgement on the matter.

UN Nuclear Chief in Libya Monitoring Dismantling of Nuclear Programme

The head of the UN nuclear agency (IAEA) Dr. Mohamed ElBaradei is in Libya to monitor progress in the dismantling of Tripoli's nuclear programme. The IAEA started the process last December when the government agreed to scrap its weapons programme. The IAEA spokesman in Vienna, Lothar Wedekind, says progress has been made in the verification of Libya's nuclear programme and Dr. ElBaradei is now talking with senior officials to review further areas of cooperation and work that still needs to be done.

"The Director- General has said that nuclear supply network is one area of the discussions in Libya and is also an important part of the work that we are undertaking there to better understand and monitor that network of supplies."

The IAEA will report to its Board of Governors which will meet in two weeks.

Annan Condemns Bombing in Jerusalem

Secretary-General Kofi Annan has condemned Sunday's suicide bombing in Jerusalem. In a statement, Annan says "the deliberate targeting of civilians is a heinous crime and cannot be justified by any cause." He urges the Palestinian Authority to "take the steps necessary to bring to justice those who plan, facilitate and carry out such crimes."
Sunday's bombing killed eight Israelis and wounded more than 60.

HIV on the Rise in Western Europe: UN

The virus that causes AIDS is spreading again in Western Europe. The warning comes from the head of the UN AIDS programme Dr. Peter Piot. He says that "of all the social and political challenges facing an expanded European Union, AIDS is one of the greatest, requiring determined and sustained action now." Statistics released at the start of a two-day AIDS conference in Dublin show that Western Europe registered 30,000 to 40,000 new infections last year - a development Dr. Piot describes as an "unacceptable occurrence for one of the richest regions in the world."