UN : Amidst Draw Down, US Must Remain Committed To Afghanistan

UN Spokesman Martin Nesirky says Secretary General Ban Ki Moon sees President Obama’s decision as the beginning of an important transition of responsibility to the Afghan people, while emphasizing the importance of continuing a strong relationship with Afghanistan in the pursuit of security and development. (00:18)

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Targeting World's Poorest, Not Best Method Of Eliminating Poverty

Jomo Kwame Sundaram, editor of the book “Poor Poverty: The Impoverishment of Analysis, Measurement and Policies” argues for a more universal approach to poverty eradication, as opposed to focusing on the poorest of the poor. (00:44)

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Sudan Is Not Implementing Necessary Changes, Says Expert

Osman Humaida, the executive director of the African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies, discusses the Sudanese government’s failure to implement the changes recommended by the UN. President Obama is scheduled to discuss Sudan with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon tomorrow  (0:26)

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Ban Ki-Moon Says Iran Should Suspend Nuclear Enrichment Activities

Ban Ki-Moon, Secretary General of the United Nations, responds to a TRNS question on Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) criticism of the country’s growing nuclear program. The President of the Islamic Republic, Mahmood Ahmadinejad, is expected to meet with Ban Ki-Moon when he attends the UN General Assembly in New York on September 23rd. (1:35)

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Iraqi People Need To Have More Of A Stake In Forming Their Government, Says Kurd Official

The Chief of Staff for the President of the Kurdistan Regional Government, located predominantly in northern Iraq, called upon the U.S. to take a less dominant role as the Iraqi government forms.

“The United States must not take the initiative in forming the Iraqi government, that’s not good for the United States, and its not good for Iraq,” said Fuad Hussein during a discussion with the Atlantic Council in D.C. Friday. (0:49)

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Staff Friday, July 30, 2010 at 12:52PM

UN Africa Advisor David Mehdi Hamam Speaks With UN Correspondent Tala Dowlatshahi

United Nations Correspondent Tala Dowlatshahi interviews David Mehdi Hamam, the Chief of the Office of the Special Advisor on Africa for the United Nations on UN Talk Radio Day Friday on Sudan, Somalian pirates, corruption, Rwandan relations with the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the state of Africa’s natural resources. (9:38)
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Chavez Illegally Jails Judge, Contradicts UN Order

TRNS Congressional Correspondent Geoff Holtzman speaks with international attorney Robert Amsterdam about a case involving a client of his named Eligio Cedeno. Cedeno, a Venezuelan citizen who had peacefully opposed President Hugo Chavez, spent almost three years in jail as a political prisoner.

Earlier this year, the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention of the United Nations handed down an opinion to Venezuelan Judge Maria Lourdes Afiuni, which declared that Cedeno's incarceration was unlawful. Based largely upon that opinion, the judge then decided to release Cedeno. According to Amsterdam, within minutes of granting Cedeno's conditional release, Judge Afiuni was arrested by Venezuelan intelligence police officers. Her ruling was reversed by another judge, and a new arrest warrant was issued for Cedeno, who now finds himself on the run.

Additionally, just one day after the arrest of Judge Afiuni, President Chavez appeared on national television to denounce her as a criminal, and instructed his Attorney General and other high-ranking state officials to ensure that she is convicted and sentenced to 30 years in prison.

Click the audio icon below to listen to Geoff Holtzman's full conversation with Robert Amsterdam. (4:30)


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U.S. Envoy To Sudan Praises U.N. For Sudan Aid

"Without the U.N. and without the support to this mission for security and without the UN.'s participation in food programs and NGOs... we wouldn't have been able to do half the stuff we're doing," says Special Envoy to Sudan Major General Scott Gration regarding progress made toward peace in that country. (0:45)
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U.N. Radio Day: UNRWA Representative Saahir Lone

Talk Radio News' U.N. Correspondent Tala Dowlatshahi interviews UNRWA Representative Saahir Lone (14:06)
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U.N. Radio Day: UNESCO Representative

Talk Radio News Managing Editor Victoria Jones speaks with Helene-Marie Gosselin, the U.N. Representative of UNESCO, about the progress of UNESCO (10:50)
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U.N. Radio Day: Dr. Eva Busza

Talk Radio News' Managing Editor Victoria Jones speaks with Dr. Eva Busza, the Principal Officer in the Strategic Planning Unit of Executive Office of the Secretary General (9:22)
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U.N. Radio Day: Senior Human Rights Officer With The Counter-Terrorism Committee

Talk Radio News' Managing Editor Victoria Jones sits down with Edward J. Flynn, the Senior Human Rights Officer with the U.N. Counter-Terrorism Committee about the world-wide state of human rights (7:53)
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U.N. Radio Day: Chief Of Media At UNICEF

Talk Radio News' Managing Editor Victoria Jones speaks with Christopher de Bono, Chief of Media at UNICEF about the international plight of children (9:30)
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U.N. Radio Day: Undersecretary General of Communications and Public Information

Talk Radio News' Managing Editor Victoria Jones speaks with Kiyo Akasaka, U.N. Undersecretary General of Communications and Public Information about the U.N.'s relevancy (5:46)
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U.N. Talk Radio Day: Interview with the U.N. Millennium Campaign

TRNS Managing Editor Victoria Jones speaks with Anita Sharma with the United Nations Millennium Campaign about what her organization is doing to combat world poverty. (11:31)
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U.N. Talk Radio Day: Interview with UNICEF

TRNS Managing Editor Victoria Jones speaks with Chris de Bono with UNICEF about ways in which his organization is providing humanitarian aid around the globe. (9:28)
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Analyst: China Key To Stopping North Korea

By Celia Canon- Talk Radio News Service

Celia Canon talks to Bruce Klingner, an analyst for the Heritage Foundation, about North Korea’s recent underground nuclear tests and what can be done to halt Pyong Yang’s recent acceleration in its technological developments and trials. Klingner insists that China will be pivotal is sanctioning and stopping North Korea’s nuclear program.

However, Klingner also warns that this will not be an easy task, but that the government needs to stop praising China for its efforts when it could really do much more to involve itself in the international community’s sanctions. (1:01)
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Leaders need to lead against AIDS

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon talks about the prevalence of HIV/AIDS worldwide and the need for leadership to take the lead on this issue. (0:50)
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UN-Russia cites Ukranian famine in escalating tensions

His Excellency, Mr. Vitaly Churkin, Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the United Nations said several Ukranian delegates have expressed concern about the victims of the famine of 1932-33 and the subsequent years of suffering and deaths of Ukranians during the Soviet era. Mr. Churkin admitted many suffered during the famine and Soviet regimes but rejected that the regime oppressed only Ukranians. He asked us to look at other areas and countries including Kazakhstan, where tragedies took place. Kazakhstan was denied a voice at the GA last week when their representative attempted to address the sufferings of the countries civil society during Soviet occupation.

Churkin claimed the Ukranian leadership is looking at these historical circumstances in a negative way. He cited many incorrect statements made by Ukrainian delegates including accusations of genocide against Ukranians, as breaking the "brotherly bond" between the Russian and Ukranian people.  Churkin also inferred: "the hyperactive attitude of the United States delegation is aimed at exacerbating the situation between Russia and Ukranian delegates."

Churkin also believes these issues are being brought up now by the political motivation of some leaders in the current United States and United Kingdom administrations in order to spark unrest. He is hopeful for a "fresh opportunity for new US leadership" to help resolve these issues but would not say which presidential candidate the Russians support. The General Assembly spokesperson, Enrique Reyes, responded to Churkin's allegations and said there was no agreement from members on the issue of the famine-forcing the President of the GA to postpone the meeting.

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The United States way into the Iraq war

Ambassador Tom C. Korologos outlines the United States way into the Iraq war, also highlighting the United States "did not rush into war". (1:10)
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