UN Radio: U.S Delivers Draft Ideas on UN Iraq Role

UN Radio: U.S. Delivers Draft Ideas on Possible UN Role in Iraq

UN Report Shows Decline of Foreign Direct Investment Flows

A report by the UN Conference on Trade and Development shows that foreign direct investment has dropped by almost half. The report, launched in New York today, covers the period up to the end of 2002. According to the report, this is the second consecutive year that foreign direct investment has declined compared to its peak in the year 2000. The principal officer in the Secretary-General's office on Economic Issues, Georg Kell, says there are regional and country specific variations of foreign direct investment trends:

"Some regions even succeeded in working against the trend. They attracted more foreign direct investment. Notably here is central and Eastern Europe, but also China, and Hong Kong Province of China. The two together, as a matter of fact attract almost half of the whole foreign direct investment that has been flowing to all developing countries."

Mr. Kell says the trends are expected to continue more or less on the levels of 2002 and hopefully, foreign direct investment will pick up again in 2004.

UN Receives Draft Ideas on Possible Role in Iraq

The UN Secretary-General has confirmed that on Wednesday he received draft ideas on Iraq from Ambassador John Negroponte of the United States. His spokesman said this was the first time the Secretary-General had seen elements of a possible resolution on an expanded role of the United Nations in Iraq. The ideas are also being circulated to Security Council members.

UN Secretary-General Calls on Palestinians and Israelis to Break Cycle of Violence

United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan today called on the Israelis and Palestinians to break the cycle of violence. In a message to the UN International Conference of Civil Society in support of the Palestinian people, the Secretary-General reiterated that the Road Map remains the best way to reach an independent and viable Palestinian state. Under Secretary-General for Political Affairs Keran Prendergast delivered the message:

"Settlement expansion and the construction of bypass roads remain serious impediments to the Road Map, which clearly calls for a freeze of all settlement activity. For its part, the Palestinian Authority must act decisively to halt terrorist attacks."

The Secretary-General called on civil society, particularly Palestinian civil society to speak loudly and clearly against terrorism, which he said, is not justifiable but harmful to the Palestinian cause.

UN Discusses Role of Civil Society And NGO's in Conflict Prevention

The General Assembly today held an informal panel on the Role of Civil Society and non-governmental organizations in the prevention of armed conflict. Addressing the meeting, Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Danilo Turk recalled that the Secretary-General's report two years ago reaffirmed the important role of non-governmental organizations in the prevention of armed conflict:

"And that is why the report of the Secretary-General 2001 recommended that NGOs that have an interest in conflict prevention should think organizing an international conference to better determine how to work with each other and with the United Nations, and of course, with member states of the United Nations."

Mr. Turk underlined the importance of the role of non-state actors in conflict prevention.

UN Secretary-General Welcomes Sudan Peace Talks

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has welcomed the talks being held in Kenya between the first Vice President of Sudan, Ali Mohamed Taha and the Chairman of the Sudanese People's Liberation Movement John Garang. He expressed the hope that the talks, under the auspices of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, IGAD, would provide the necessary impetus for the two sides to conclude their negotiations for the comprehensive peace agreement. UN Spokesman Fred Eckhard:

"The Secretary-General reiterates his appreciation for the efforts of the government of Kenya in leading the IGAD peace initiatives and those of the other countries that are closely supporting and assisting the peace process."

The Secretary-General said the United Nations was ready to contribute to the effort of the international community to help implement the peace agreement concluded by the Sudanese parties.

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