UN Radio: Developing Countries Losing Investments

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.

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