UN Radio: Annan Says Spying on Him Should Stop

UN Radio: Annan Says Spying on Him Should Stop

UN Secretary-General If True, Spying on Him Should Stop

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said today that if it is true that his conversations were bugged, this practice should stop. He was responding to media reports that his phone conversations were tapped by British intelligence. UN spokesman Fred Eckhard:

"Such activities would undermine the integrity and confidential nature of diplomatic exchanges. Those who speak to the Secretary-General are entitled to assume that their exchanges are confidential."

Mr. Eckhard said the Secretariat routinely takes technical measures to guard against such invasions and those efforts will now be intensified.

President of Georgia Says Security Council Should Do More to Bring Peace in Georgia

The President of Georgia, has told the Security Council that much work needs to be done to bring about lasting peace and stability in the caucases. Addressing members of the Council on the situation in his country, President Mikheil Saakashvilli, said he believed the international community had a moral obligation to advance the cause of peace and secutity wherever they are threatened , as they are in his own country. And he said there was a unique window of opportunity to do so in Georgia. Referring to the situation in Abkhazia, he said that for too long, the international community has sat around the table trading accusations and threats, instead of sharing ideas and proposals that would lead to a lasting solution. He offered this suggestion to the council:

"For all those forces that are unable and are unwilling to to make this commitment, the Security council must establish a firm and clear policy in support of peace and reconciliation, and the rejection of violence and further division. The security council must make it clear that those who are not on the side of peace will be held accountable."

The President of Georgia. The United Nations has had a peacekeeping mission in that country since 1993.

Security Council Meets on Haitian Crisis

The UN Security Council will hold an urgent meeting Thursday on the crisis in Haiti. The council meets at the request of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), in light of what it describes as "the steadily deteriorating situation which affects peace and stability in the region". Today's meeting comes a day after members of the council condemned the continued violence and political crisis in Haiti and deplored the decision by the opposition to reject a joint peace plan proposed by the Caribbean Community and Organization of American States. The Council urged the international community to respond to the serious humanitarian situation in the country.

UN Concerned about Dwindling Aid for Southern Africa

The overall humanitarian situation in the southern African region remains precarious. That assessment comes in a report which says the UN agencies received only half of a $642 million appeal launched last July for the southern Africa region. The report shows that international aid for six countries in southern Africa hit by drought appears to be dwindling at a time when the number of people needing help continues to increase. The Deputy Director of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Rashid Khalikov says there are outstanding pressing needs such as health, nutrion and the provision of life sustaining social services for children in particular:

"The aim of this appeal is to respond to the population requiring immediate emergency assistance while at the same time, we have to work together to initiate actions to address longer term needs so that vulnerable populations will not slip back to the crisis."

Lack of rainfall has had a negative impact on food production in Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Iraq Security Situation an Even Greater Concern: Ross Mountain

The UN's Special Representative for Iraq says the security situation in the country has become an even greater concern. Ross Mountain, in Baghdad to assess the country's humanitarian needs ahead of this week's conference in Abu Dhabi, says the Secretary-General has made it clear that security is the major concern. At the same time, he said he hopes "to have a full international staff on the ground by the time the elections are held". Mr. Mountain says the issue is not if the UN is returning to Iraq with international staff, but when and how.

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