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Peter Daou

West Seeks UN Pressure on Iran

"Iran came under more pressure to halt its suspected nuclear weapons programs on Tuesday when the United States and its allies took the issue to the full U.N. Security Council and Russia pursued its own initiative in talks in Moscow. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said that any retreat on the nuclear issue would break the Islamic Republic's independence and force it to retreat in other areas." [Link]

Security Council Welcomes African Decision to Transform Darfur Force

"The Security Council today welcomed the decision of the African Union (AU) to support, in principle, the transition of the AU peacekeeping mission in the strife-torn Darfur region of Sudan to a United Nations operation. "The Security Council commended the African Union for the successful deployment of the African Mission in Sudan (AMIS) and AMIS' role in reducing large-scale organized violence in Darfur," Council President Cesar Mayoral of Argentina told the press after the body was briefed by Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Hedi Annabi." [MORE]

Avian Flu Spreads, UN Prepares for Human Pandemic

Global_H5N1inHumanCUMULATIVE_20060308.png WHO: Affected countries with confirmed human cases of H5N1 avian influenza since 2003 "With wild birds spreading the avian flu virus further into Africa and Europe, the United Nations system was stepping up assistance to countries in their efforts to contain the virus in birds and conducting simulation exercises to prepare strategies for quick action on a human future pandemic, the official in charge of the effort said today. "Frankly, there will be a pandemic, sooner or later," Dr. David Nabarro, the UN System's Coordinator for Avian and Human Influenza told correspondents at UN Headquarters in New York as he updated them on developments since his mission to China in mid-January. "It might be due to H5N1 or to some other influenza virus and it could start any time," he said. "We have to behave as though this could start any time, because if we don't, we will put off getting prepared." [Read more] Also see: Bird Flu Could Reach Americas in 6 Months UN Officials Rehearse Plans for Bird Flu Pandemic World Health Organization: Avian influenza complete coverage

Annan Proposes Overhaul of UN to Realign Operations from Headquarters to Field

112846.jpg Secretary-General Kofi Annan ©UN Photo/Mark Garten "Aiming to keep step with the shift at the United Nations from bureaucratic tasks to life-saving work in the field, Secretary-General Kofi Annan today presented proposals for a far-reaching overhaul ranging from setting up a 2,500-strong core of mobile peacekeeping professionals to multimillion dollar investments in training and technology. His far-reaching report, "Investing in the United Nations: For a Stronger Organization Worldwide," focuses on ensuring efficiency and accountability in a way that reflects the fact that more than 70 per cent of the $10 billion annual budget now relates to peacekeeping and other field operations, up from around 50 per cent of a $4.5 billion budget ten years ago." [Read more]

Blog Roundup #93

A sampling of United Nations related blog commentary Democracy Arsenal: Guest Blogger: Jon B. Wolfsthal, Nonproliferation Fellow -- International Security Program, CSIS: "For three years the United States has been trying to bring Iran's violations of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and alleged pursuit of nuclear weapons to the UN Security Council. The International Atomic Energy Agency Board of Governors reported Iran's behavior to the UN in early February and gave Iran one month to clear up lingering concerns about its program, after having previously found Iran in violation of its inspection obligations. Nobel Laureate and IAEA Director General reported to the IAEA Board last week that Iran is still obstructing inspection requests by the Agency, and advancing its uranium enrichment program and despite last minute diplomatic efforts by the EU and Russia, the matter is now headed directly for New York and the UN Security Council." RCP Blog: "In widely reported remarks this weeked at the AIPAC conference U.S. Ambassador John Bolton warned of "tangible and painful consequences" for Iran if tit doesn't acquiesce to international demands. Today The Guardian reports that Bolton offered an even more frank assessment of the situation with Iran to a delegation of British MPs visiting Washington last week."

Compliance Body Set Up for Kyoto Protocol

"The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) said today that a Compliance Committee for the Kyoto Protocol, the environmental treaty aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions, has begun operations, with an enforcement branch dealing with countries having difficulties meeting their commitments." [More]

New UN Fund to Speed Global Disaster Response

"U.N. Emergency Relief Coordinator Jan Egeland asked for the fund after the tsunami, and the General Assembly approved it last December. The idea is to give the world body the ability to quickly send emergency supplies to areas hit by natural disasters and other humanitarian crises, without having to wait for international donors to send checks.