Asia Pacific

Annan names new member to group monitoring UN sanctions against Al-Qaida, Taliban

8 May 2002
The United Nations Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, has designated a new member of the monitoring group set up by the Security Council to ensure that UN sanctions against the Taliban are enforced, according to a document released today at UN Headquarters in New York.

Displaced Indonesians suffer from higher rates of poverty, poor health, WFP reports

7 May 2002
The social violence over the last three years in Indonesia has forced more than one million people from their homes, exposing them to higher rates of poverty, unemployment and poor health, according to early results of a new survey by the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP).

East Timor approves measure to join global financial institutions upon independence

7 May 2002
East Timor’s leaders today approved a proposal paving the way for the territory to become a member of the major international financial organizations upon independence later this month, the United Nations mission in the fledgling nations said today.

UN team completes investigations into alleged mass graves in Afghanistan

7 May 2002
A United Nations forensics team left Afghanistan today after completing an investigation into alleged mass graves at three sites around the country.

On Day of Vesak, Annan hails Buddha's vision of peace, humanity's highest potentials

7 May 2002
As millions of Buddhists celebrated the life of their spiritual leader today, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan urged all people to work together towards the common good and a peaceful and harmonious coexistence.

UN agency hopeful of mass refugee returns before East Timor's independence

6 May 2002
As refugees continue to trickle back into East Timor, officials from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said today they were hopeful that the territory's fast-approaching independence would be a catalyst for more returns over the next two weeks.

Myanmar: Annan, UN human rights officials hail release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi

6 May 2002
United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan and UN human rights officials today welcomed the release by the Government of Myanmar of democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi from 19 months of de facto house arrest.

East Timor among highlights of Security Council agenda in May, president says

6 May 2002
A meeting to mark the independence of East Timor - a United Nations success story - will be among the highlights in the work of the Security Council in the month of May, the current President of the 15-member body said today.

East Timor: UN agency makes final push to return refugees before independence

3 May 2002
With just over two weeks to go before East Timor’s independence, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) today said it was concentrating its efforts on helping as many of the 55,000 remaining refugees return home.

Annan intends to keep UN office in Tajikistan to support peace-building efforts

3 May 2002
With Tajikistan in need of continuing support for its peace-building efforts, Secretary-General Kofi Annan intends to keep active the United Nations presence in the country for another year, according to a letter released today at UN Headquarters in New York.