UN Radio: Annan Says Developing Countries are Losing Investments
UN Secretary-General Says Developing Countries are Losing Investments
UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said today that for the sixth consecutive year funds continued to move from developing
to developed countries. Addressing a high-level meeting on financing for development, he pointed out that almost $200
billion were transferred from developing countries. The Secretary-General said funds should be moving from developed to
developing countries instead of the other way round:
"Funds that should be promoting investment and growth in developing countries, or building schools and hospitals, or
sponsoring other steps towards the Millennium Development Goals, are instead being transferred abroad. "
The Secretary-General said despite promising investment opportunities and improved economic policies in developing
countries, fear and uncertainty are keeping resources from being deployed where they are needed most.
UN Envoy is Concerned about Belgrade 's Parallel Structures in Kosovo
The Secretary-General's Special Envoy For Kosovo, Harri Holkeri, has expressed serious concern that Belgrade authorities
continue to strengthen parallel structures in Kosovo. Briefing the Security Council on the situation in Kosovo, Mr.
Holkeri cited as evidence, the recent unilateral appointment of so-called regional and municipal coordinators. Mr.
Holkeri added that parallel courts continue to function in the northern municipalities and even outside of Kosovo:
"This is really unacceptable. These parallel courts pretend to exercise jurisdiction in Kosovo. International arrest
warrants which have no validity have been issued through these unauthorized structures against Kosovo residents. This
has already caused serious difficulties and cannot be tolerated".
Mr. Holkeri stressed that under a Security Council resolution it is the UN Mission in Kosovo that has jurisdiction and
authority over the territory.
UN Secretary-General Welcomes North Korea and China's Agreement to Hold a New Round of Multilateral Talks
The Secretary-General today welcomed the news that China and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea have agreed in
principle to hold a new round on talks on North Koreas nuclear programme. He said he remains convinced that dialogue is
the way to resolve security and related issues facing the Korean peninsula. He called on the parties concerned to look
for creative approaches towards the issues they are facing.
UN Agencies Warn of Another Food Deficit in North Korea
UN agencies dealing with food and agriculture have warned that over six million people in the Democratic People's
Republic of Korea will need food aid next year. In a joint report issued today, the Food and Agriculture Organization
and the World Food Programme say that despite better harvests this year, North Korea will still need to import over
900,000 tonnes of food, animal feed and seeds. The agencies say the situation remain especially precarious for young
children, pregnant and nursing women, and many elderly people. A survey conducted by the UN food agency and UNICEF last
year showed that four out of ten young North Korean children suffer from chronic malnutrition or stunting.
. Cameroon and Nigeria Meet on Border Dispute
The joint Commission established by the UN Secretary-General to resolve the border dispute between Cameroon and Nigeria
is concluding its sixth meeting in Abuja, Nigeria today. The Cameroon-Nigeria Mixed Commission, as it is known, is
chaired by the Secretary-General's Special Representative, Ahmedou Ould Abdallah, and includes delegations from the two
countries. Myriam Dessables is the Special Representative's spokesperson in Dakar, Senegal.
"They discussed the first phase of the withdrawal process from the Lake Chad area. And this withdrawal is scheduled to
take place by the end of December this year. A working group on the withdrawal of the civil administration and military
police and the Chancellor of authority in the Lake Chad area was established."
OCHA Warns of Looming Humanitarian Crisis in Somalia
The UN humanitarian coordinator for Somalia, Maxwell Gaylard, has appealed to donors to urgently and generously support
emergency interventions to save the lives of people in Somalia. He warned of a looming humanitarian crisis as a result
of the rain failure.