UN Radio: SC Condemns Violence Against UN Workers

UN Radio: Security Council Expresses Strong Condemnation of Violence against Humanitarian Workers

Security Council Expresses Strong Condemnation of Violence against Humanitarian Workers

The UN Security Council has expressed its strong condemnation of all forms of violence against United Nations personnel and all those participating in humanitarian operations. And it has urged all States to ensure that crimes against such personnel do not go unpunished. In a resolution supported by all 15 members, the Council expressed its determination to take appropriate steps to ensure the safety of humanitarian and United Nations personnel.

Mexico Hails Council's Action to Enhance Protection of Aid Workers

The Council's action was spearheaded by Mexico.
Its representative, Ambassador Adolfo Aguilar Zinser, says the resolution clearly establishes what's needed to enhance the protection of humanitarian workers.

"It provides practical instruments and steps but it also is a resolution that makes it very clear that any attack on humanitarian workers in conflict situations must be considered a war crime."

Annan Welcomes Council's Call to Strengthen Action for Safety of Aid Workers

Secretary-General Kofi Annan welcomed the Council's action. He says he is especially grateful, given the recent terror attack on the UN headquarters in Baghdad and the tense situation in which "we are living":

"The UN personnel often work in dangerous and difficult places and they need protection, and governments have to commit themselves to bring to account those who attack these innocent unarmed civilian humanitarian workers."

Mr. Annan says the Council's action sends an unambiguous message to all those who believe they could advance their cause by targeting the servants of humanity.

Security Council Urges Respect for Liberia's Ceasefire Agreement

The Security Council has called on Liberia's rebels, political parties and civil society to respect the ceasefire and implement their commitments under the Comprehensive Peace Agreement signed in Accra, Ghana over a week ago. At the same time the Council says it remains concerned at the situation in Liberia in particular, the continuing dire humanitarian situation of much of the population.
Council President Ambassador Fayssal Mekdad of Syria:

"The Security Council again stresses the need to create a secure environment that enables respect for human rights, including the well-being and rehabilitation of children, especially child combatants."

ECOWAS Says It Is Vital That UN Meets Deadline for Liberia Peacekeeping Mission

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) warns it is vital that the Council meets the October 1 deadline to make the ECOWAS vanguard force the first elements of the UN peacekeeping mission. Foreign Minister Nana Akufo Addo of Ghana also calls on the international community to work with regional groups to ensure that all parties fulfil their obligations under the Accra Accord.

"Assistance from the international community will enable Liberia to implement the disarmament, demobilization and rehabilitation programme and the reintegration programme for the combatants."

Foreign Minister Addo says this is of greatest importance if durable peace is to be obtained in Liberia and the region.

UN Nuclear Agency Finds Traces of Weapons Grade Uranium in Iranian Facility

UN inspectors have found traces of highly enriched, weapons grade uranium at an Iranian nuclear facility. That according to a new report by the UN nuclear watchdog agency (IAEA). Spokeswoman for the agency, Melissa Flemming, tells UN Radio that while the report provides some answers, it also raises a lot of outstanding issues and questions that need to be resolved:

"It shows that we are still in the process of an inspection effort and that we are going to need at least several more weeks if not months to be at a stage where we can reach some kind of judgement."

For their part, the Iranians have said that it was contaminated equipment that they had procured from abroad that brought the highly enriched uranium traces into the country.

UN Warns of Organized Crime Threat in Post-War Iraq

A fact-finding mission of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime has warned of the growing threat of organized crime in post-war Iraq. The team said in a report that the evolving nature of organized crime in Iraq is based on sophisticated smuggling networks, many of which were established under the previous regime to circumvent UN sanctions. The report said there was a strong possibility of an increase in drug trafficking although this was not yet a problem.

© Scoop Media