UN Radio: G8 Millennium Goals - Myanmar - Congo

Annan Says G-8 gave Strong Support for Millennium Development Goals

Secretary-General Kofi Annan says there was strong support for the Millennium Development Goals at the Group of Eight (G-8) summit in Evian, France.

The Millennium Development Goals which, among other things, aim at halving poverty by 2015, were agreed to by heads of state and government three years ago at the Millennium summit held at UN headquarters. On arrival at UN headquarters moments ago, the Secretary-General says there was a commitment from the leaders to do whatever they can to support the goals:

" There was also strong support for Africa and as you know, the G-8 met with a group of African leaders and reaffirmed its engagement with Africa through the NEPAD." NEPAD is the New Economic Partnership for African Development. On the question of the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mr. Annan says there's a need to tackle the issue on two fronts:

"To take urgent steps to calm the situation in Bunia and I am grateful to the governments that have offered troops. But at the same time, we should press ahead on the political front with the implementation of the Pretoria agreement and the formation of the transitional government." The Secretary-General said he's sending a special representative to work with the government on the formation of a new Congolese army.

UN Confirms Fresh Fighting in the D R Congo

The UN mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC) has confirmed reports of fresh fighting in the Ituri region. But it is still unclear whether civilians in the area have been massacred. Spokesperson Patricia Tome says a militia faction called PUSIC - the Party for Unity and Safeguard of the Integrity of Congo - informed the UN mission of fighting in an area called Tchomia, northeast of Ituri: "…but MONUC is not in a position to confirm the massacre and what exactly is going on there because we don't have access. As you know we don't have any military observers in that area, after the killing of two military observers ten days ago. " Spokesperson Patricia Tome says the mission is trying to get information about exactly what has happened in the area.

ILO Examines Roadmap for Fighting Poverty

The head of the International Labour Organization has appealed to governments, workers and employers to join forces in seeking a tripartite effort to help "free people and societies from the global poverty trap". Director-General Juan Somavia told the opening of the annual International Labour Conference in Geneva Tuesday that work is the best route out of poverty.

His report to the conference titled 'Working out of Poverty' provides a road map for the organization's efforts to reduce poverty by promoting decent working conditions for the working poor and creating new opportunities for those excluded from work. The conference is considering a host of issues ranging from a new plan for fighting poverty worldwide to enhancing safety and security in the workplace and eliminating discrimination.

HIV/AIDS stands in the way of Africa's development: Amoako

The social and economic impact of HIV/AIDS is hampering Africa's ability to tackle deep-rooted poverty and hunger. The head of the Economic Commission for Africa Kingsley Amoako warned that Africa has lost too much time in coming to grips with the daunting challenges posed by the pandemic.

He said Africa needed to achieve higher economic growth rates to combat poverty, but the HIV/AIDS virus stood in its way. He told a symposium jointly sponsored by the African Development Bank and the Economic Commission for Africa in Addis Ababa, that Africa had to tackle HIV/AIDS if the Millennium Development Goals agreed to by heads of state and government three years ago, are to be met.

No Evidence of Weapons of Mass Destruction Found by UN inspectors: Blix

UN weapons inspectors did not find evidence of a resumption of programmes of weapons of mass destruction or significant quantities of proscribed items in Iraq. But according to chief weapons inspector Hans Blix, the inspectors had many questions about Iraq's chemical and biological programmes when they left shortly before the United States invaded the country in March.

In a report to the Security Council issued Monday, Dr. Blix said the inspectors didn't have time to follow up on some late information provided by the Iraqi government. He said while inspectors got a better understanding of past weapons programmes, little progress was made in solving outstanding disarmament issues.

Liberians Flee for Cote d'Ivoire as New Fighting Erupts

Thousands of Liberians have fled fresh fighting around the southern town of Pleebo, for the relative safety of neighbouring Cote d'Ivoire. The refugees, mostly women and children, tell of extremely heavy fighting in recent days.

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