Monthly Archives: May 2005
Blog Roundup #18
A sampling of United Nations related blog commentary
JUAN COLE: “Two Army analysts who mistakenly claimed that aluminum tubing bought by Iraq was for centrifuges to enrich uranium received job performance awards during the past 3 years. If Elbaradei could see the falsehood of the claims almost immediately, it is not plausible that US analysts could not. Every American should go back and read thoroughly the transcripts of the reports to the UN of Mohamed Elbaradei in February and March of 2003.”
PIRATE’S COVE: “I do believe that the United Nations has done, and still does, some good. That’s a fact. There is no doubt in my mind that that is the case. However, do the good things that they have done, are doing, and will do, absolve them of the bad that they have done, are doing, and might do? Hell no. So why does the Left excuse the actions of the UN?”
&c.: “Pat Moynihan may have talked tough at the U.N. in the 1970s, but the man understood how to combine tough talk with immense charm when necessary. Bolton–well, not so much.”
News Roundup #18
Selected summary of United Nations news and events
UN Memorial Pillar to be constructed
UN food relief agency to sponsor worldwide walk to end child hunger
Sudan arrests second aid worker, Annan’s translator
AFGHANISTAN: Life One Year After Disarmament
U.S. Endorses Plan for U.N. Body on Post-Conflict Peacebuilding
WHO Spotlights Role of Health Professionals in Tobacco Control
UN News Service: “On “World No Tobacco Day”, the UN World Health Organization (WHO) is urging health professionals to be more proactive in minimizing the problems caused by tobacco addiction, consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke.
“Tobacco continues to be a leading global killer, with nearly five million deaths a year”, notes Dr Lee Jong-wook, WHO Director-General, and “Health professionals are on the frontline. They need the skills to help people stop smoking, and they need to lead by example, and quit tobacco use themselves.”
Memorial Day
Every day, in field operations around the world, men and women serve under the flag of the United Nations to build and maintain peace, to relieve human suffering, and to promote human rights and sustainable development. Link (pdf)
There are 66,000 military and 15,000 civilian peacekeepers.
115 members of those missions paid the highest price for their dedication to peace in 2004, with 39 more already killed during 2005.
Death Threats Force UNICEF out of Somali Town
Clinton Backs Tsunami Aid Deal With S.Lanka Rebels
“Former U.S. president Bill Clinton said on Saturday he supported a tsunami aid-sharing deal between the Sri Lankan government and Tamil Tiger rebels, saying it could lead to a lasting peace.
Clinton, the U.N. envoy for tsunami relief, also told a news conference at the end of a one-day visit he had seen much progress in recovery efforts since his last trip in February.” Full Story
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The SC; HRC; DPRK; South Sudan
The SC: The Security Council today held its last consultations under the Council Presidency of ROK. Tomorrow, Russia will take over the rotating Presidency of the Security Council for March under Ambassador Vitaly Churkin.
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The SG; Mali; Middle East; Palestine
The SG: At the Fifth Global Forum of the UN Alliance of Civilizations in Vienna, Austria today, the SG emphasized the role of youth in ensuring a “prosperous, equitable and peaceful future.”
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The SG; DRC; HRC; Palestinian Prisoner
The SG: In Ethiopia over the weekend, the SG is now in the United Arab Emirates. Today he met with Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashed Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, where the two discussed developments in the region, including Syria, Iran, Lebanon, Egypt and Jordan, and in the Middle East Peace Process.
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