UN Radio: Int. Stabilisation Force for Liberia

UN Radio: Security Council Delegation Recommends International Stabilization Force for Liberia

Security Council Delegation Recommends International Stabilization Force for Liberia

Plans for the deployment of an international stabilization force in Liberia should be drawn up rapidly. That according to British ambassador Sir Jeremy Greenstock who led a Security Council delegation that has just returned from West Africa.
But he says the implementation of a ceasefire and the basics of a peace agreement between the parties are necessary prerequisites for the deployment of an international force:

"I think all members of the mission came away hoping that the United Nations system and member states interested not least ECOWAS can respond rapidly to that call. We hope that will include help to any ECOWAS force that is now decided upon by West African leaders and we hope that there will be broader international support as well."

A report submitted by the delegation urged the Security Council to create a stable security environment and resume aid, among other areas.

Annan Orders UN Work to Resume in Liberia

Secretary-General Kofi Annan has ordered the resumption of United Nations humanitarian work in Liberia. UN spokesperson Hua Jiang says the Secretary-General has also requested his representative for Liberia to return to Monrovia to prepare for the return of UN and associated personnel:

"In anticipation of the early deployment of a multinational force and the consequent improvement in security, he said he has instructed an expeditious return of all UN agencies providing humanitarian assistance to the people in Liberia."

The Secretary-General has decided to appoint Jacques Klein as his special representative for Liberia "to lead and coordinate the activities of the United Nations" in the country. UN workers were evacuated from Monrovia as fighting intensified between rebels and government forces.

Top UN Official Wants DRC Force in Place by mid-August

The top UN peacekeeping official wants a replacement peacekeeping force for the Democratic Republic of Congo in place around Bunia by mid-August. Under Secretary-General Jean-Marie Guehenno says the deployment of a strong multinational force in Bunia has begun to change the balance between the warring parties and the legitimate political actors in the area:

"All efforts are being made to ensure that the second task force will be deployed in Bunia by 15 August to allow a two-week handover with the International Emergency Multinational Force (IEMF)."

Under Secretary-General Guehenno says it is vital for a force that is "robustly configured and positioned, to build on the current stabilizing presence" of the international force.

Investing in Children Must be Africa's First Priority: Bellamy

The UN children's agency (UNICEF), has warned that the only chance for sustaining development and progress in African countries is for their leaders to invest in children and to do so "early and often." Executive Director Carol Bellamy stressed that "to keep hope alive, Africa must start keeping its children alive." She said that children are the hope of Africa even in the midst of crisis. But she said they need their leaders to keep the promises they have made by putting far more resources into basic social services.

UNHCR Helping Some Iraqis Return from Iran

The UN refugee agency (UNHCR), is set to help thousands of Iraqi refugees return from Iran. But the agency wants governments worldwide to hold off sending even larger numbers back. UNHCR spokesman Peter Kessler says the situation in Iraq is still not conducive to large-scale returns:

"There is still unrest in many areas; essential services and civil administration are also still lacking in many areas of the country. It's not yet conducive to a mass return movement."

UNHCR plans to launch a programme of what it termed "careful, small scale, organized voluntary returns" for about a quarter of the more than 200-thousand Iraqis living in Iran.

IAEA Chief holds Discussions with Iran to Allow Tougher Nuclear Inspections

The head of the UN nuclear agency Dr. Mohammed ElBaradei is in Teheran hoping to obtain a commitment from Iran to sign an additional protocol to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.
He's also hoping to make progress in talks with senior Iranian officials on getting answers to questions about Iran's nuclear programme.

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