News From the United Nations 22.2.08

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is concerned with the continued violence on the Iraq-Turkey border.  On Thursday, Mr. Ban called for an immediate cessation of violence.  A statement issued by his spokesperson  attributable to the Secretary General on Friday said  that all parties should use "utmost restraint."  Early statements issued by the UN report that 10,000 Turkish troops have crossed over into Kurdish territory.  Reports of casualties are unconfirmed.  The European Union empathised with Turkey's security concerns, but condemned it's incursion into Iraq.

The Security Council has emphatically condemned the violent attacks on embassies in Belgrade.

The United Nations Refugee Agency is "shocked" at the destruction in west Darfur due to recent border violence.  Attacks by tribal forces on the Sudan-Chad border have prevented refugees from crossing the border into Chad, and prevented the United Nations from delivering food and supplies.  Currently 3.2 million people depend on supplies and help from the UN.

The United Nations World Food Agency is currently distributing food to 40 thousand Chadian refugees in Cameroon.

Regarding Iran, , Mohamed El Baradei, director the International Atomic Energy Agency, issued a statement confirming that most of Iran's outstanding issues have been "cleared up."  Though the issue of Iran's nuclear ambitions remains unresolved, IAEA has made "quite good progress."  The Secretary-General welcomes continued dialog between the IAEA and Iran.