Asia Pacific

Military developments 'fundamentally' alter aid effort in Afghanistan: UN official

29 November 2001
The rapidly changing military developments in Afghanistan have "fundamentally changed" the conditions for the delivery of assistance into the war-ravaged and drought-stricken country, a senior United Nations relief official said today.

Peace is key to revival, UN envoy says at end of forum on Afghanistan's recovery

29 November 2001
As an international conference on the reconstruction of Afghanistan wrapped up its work today in Islamabad, the United Nations official leading the UN recovery effort in the country stressed that a viable political settlement was key to any future economic revival.

UN Volunteers to step up relief efforts on behalf of displaced Afghans

28 November 2001
The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme today announced plans to intensify relief efforts for Afghanistan by setting up a force of experts ready to be deployed on short notice.

UN Afghan talks in Bonn ‘off to a good start,’ Annan says

28 November 2001
Talks among four Afghan factions in Bonn “are off to a good start,” according to Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who addressed reporters in Washington, D.C., today following his meeting with President George Bush.

East Timor: Assembly sets first presidential elections for early April

28 November 2001
The Constituent Assembly of East Timor today approved a motion recommending that the territory’s first presidential election be held in early April 2002, and affirmed that the formal transfer of powers and sovereignty from the United Nations to democratically elected East Timorese institutions would take place a month later, on 20 May.

Afghanistan: UN experts supervise demining activities at Kabul airport

28 November 2001
United Nations experts are working at Kabul airport to clear the area of dangerous mines and unexploded ordnance (UXOs) that could pose serious safety threats, a UN spokesman announced today.

UN Afghan talks open in Germany; Annan urges sides to seize 'historic' chance

27 November 2001
As four Afghan factions began United Nations-sponsored talks in Germany today, Secretary-General Kofi Annan urged the sides to seize this historic opportunity to start the process of finally achieving peace and national reconciliation in the war-torn country.

UN-sponsored conference on Afghanistan's reconstruction opens in Islamabad

27 November 2001
The international community stands ready to help meet the needs of Afghanistan's people in reconstructing their war-torn country, officials said today at the opening of a three-day conference in Islamabad sponsored jointly by the World Bank, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Asian Development Bank.

Afghanistan: UN aid officials concerned over security situation in Mazar-i-Sharif

27 November 2001
United Nations relief agencies working to deliver aid to the beleaguered people of Afghanistan are concerned about the security situation in the provincial capital of Mazar-i-Sharif, UN officials said today.

Asia-Pacific nations meet to prepare for UN summit on sustainable development

27 November 2001
Delegates from Asian-Pacific countries met in Cambodia's capital today for the start of a high-level meeting to consolidate the region's position for an upcoming United Nations conference on sustainable development.