Asia Pacific

Tobacco report criticizes Indian films

18 February 2003
As final negotiations are under way on a landmark global treaty to reduce tobacco-related deaths and disease, the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) has launched a report sharply criticizing India's film industry for glamorizing smoking as the "cool" thing to do.

With India's support, UN to distribute nutrient-rich biscuits to Afghan children

16 February 2003
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) today announced plans to distribute nearly 10,000 tons of high-energy biscuits donated by India to the school children of Afghanistan.
UNDP's Ercan Murat (L) & David Lockwood

Afghanistan: UN hopeful donors continue support for recovery efforts

13 February 2003
The overwhelming donor response to the crisis in Afghanistan -with some $2 billion delivered in 2002 - has officials from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) hopeful that, whatever happens on the international scene in the coming months, the long-suffering Afghan people will be able to continue their march towards recovery.

Concerned at arrests in Myanmar, Annan says dialogue is key to reconciliation

12 February 2003
Voicing concern at the arrests by the Myanmar authorities of 12 members of opposition parties, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan today reiterated his strong belief that national reconciliation should begin with a constructive dialogue between the Myanmar authorities and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
Mr. ElBaradei

DPR of Korea: IAEA reports nuclear issue to UN Security Council, Assembly

12 February 2003
Expressing deep concern that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) has rejected efforts at dialogue and is now in further non-compliance with international nuclear safeguards, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) today decided to report the matter to the United Nations Security Council and the General Assembly.
Lakhdar Brahimi

Afghan people appreciative of international security force, UN envoy says

10 February 2003
The chief United Nations envoy for Afghanistan, attending the ceremony in which command of the international security force was handed over from Turkey to Germany and the Netherlands, said today that the Afghan people appreciated the contributions of the international community to securing their country.

Rural reforms can reduce poverty in South Asia, UN-backed report says

7 February 2003
South Asia, home to 1.4 billion people, needs to carry out major reforms to build a system of agriculture and rural development that is both growth-oriented and human-centred, according a report compiled with the help of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

UNICEF delivers new school materials to Afghanistan

6 February 2003
A renewed drive for girls education in Afghanistan took off today with the first airlifts of school materials supplied by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) as part of its Back to School campaign.

UN signs two agreements to assist agricultural activities in Afghanistan

6 February 2003
Two agreements signed today between the United Nations and Afghan Government aim to support animal husbandry activities and control locust infestations in the country.

UN conference adopts texts promoting information society for Western Asia

6 February 2003
Delegates from Arab countries meeting on the final day of a United Nations conference in Beirut adopted a declaration today making recommendations on policies and initiatives that would spur the growth of information technologies in Western Asia.