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External sources (not reviewed)

Its extraordinary scenery is due to its volcanic origins; large parts of the island are covered with ashes and lava, and Lanzarote's inhabitants have successfully cultivated the rich, fertile soil.

As a result, Paraguay was invaded, sacked and pillaged, and thrown into extreme poverty; but under a provisional Government appointed by the occupation forces it was still able, through an arbitral award by United States President Rutherford B. Hayes, to retain the part of the Chaco (western region) claimed by Argentina – which, like Brazil, annexed large and rich territories.

At the plenary sessions of the International Conference, there was an extensive review and analysis of the situation regarding disarmament and the participation of the States of Central Asia and the Caspian Basin in the relevant agreements and a compelling discussion of the international law framework for disarmament and how it can be enhanced.

Last, but not least, the European Union will follow with great interest the 2009 local elections in Timor-Leste as another important milestone in the country’s democratic processes and as a significant indicator of the progress achieved so far in the area of institutional capacity-building and democratic governance, which are both so crucial to ensuring stability and good governance in the country.

In this regard once again we note with great interest the proposals made by the representative of the United Nations Correspondents Association and reflected in the latest report of the Ad Hoc Working Group (A/63/959), such as quick delivery of statements to the press; easy access for the media to Assembly meetings; indication of the speakers’ names and titles during video and TV transmissions of meetings; and enhancing the capacity and institutional memory of the Assembly’s Spokesperson section.

More characteristic still is the view of Rab's Palestinian contemporary R. Johanan: All the bliss for the future promised by the Prophets refers only to the Messianic time, whereas in regard to that which is in store for the righteous in the world to come it is said: "No eye hath seen it beside thee, O God" (Isa. lxiv. 3 [AV 4]; Ber. 34b; comp.

Regarding the 1373 Committee, my delegation welcomes with interest the ambitious programme of work announced by the Turkish chairmanship of the Committee, especially measures aimed at ensuring the effective implementation of the obligations pursuant to resolution 1373 (2001) and the continuation of initiatives aimed at promoting the implementation of the resolution through regular thematic discussions and informal briefings with Member States, the most recent of which related to maritime security and acts of terrorism on the high seas.

The following elements of quality education were highlighted: focus on assistance in curricula review and revision, particularly the introduction of values education and ethical approaches, in accordance with national priorities and Arab needs; “learner-centred” education; improvement of teaching including capacity-building and teacher training; improvement in the status of teachers; development of benchmarking and assessment; elaboration of national standards regarding quality education.

During this session, the SHS and SC Commissions examined the resolution proposed in document 35 C/COM SC/DR.1 (submitted by: Austria, Belgium, Plurinational State of Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Congo, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Finland, Iceland, Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, New Zealand, Netherlands, Norway, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Poland, Portugal, Samoa, Senegal, Slovenia, Sweden, Tuvalu, Uruguay; co-sponsored by: Barbados, Costa Rica, Germany, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Malaysia, Monaco, Pakistan, Solomon Islands, Suriname, and Zambia), requesting the Director-General to strengthen UNESCO’s specialized capacity on climate change, building upon UNESCO’s unique interdisciplinary profile.

The net decrease reflects reductions under most objects of expenditure, including $242,800 under consultants, mainly as a consequence of the increased use of in-house expertise, where possible; $104,700 under experts, resulting mainly from concerted efforts to combine meetings or reduce the number of experts and the duration of meetings, whenever possible; $121,200 under travel of staff, mainly attributable to increased utilization of video conferencing, combining trips and/or reducing the duration of travel as much as possible; $460,800 under contractual services, primarily owing to increased utilization of electronic means of disseminating publications; $111,000 under furniture and equipment, reflecting reduced requirements for the replacement of furniture and office equipment resulting from extending the lifespan of furniture and equipment; and $781,600 under grants and contributions, mainly owing to the termination of the contract with the International Computing Centre.

In the Medical Services Section, the establishment of 15 additional national posts (6 National Officers and 9 national General Service staff) is proposed, as the Section has over the past years expanded the services it provides, which include round-the-clock operation of the UNOCI headquarters clinic, which is now functioning at level I-plus rather than the previous level I; patients are followed up at their homes after discharge from level III hospitals; patients are regularly visited in the 11 level III hospitals in Abidjan and in Sector West and Sector East; doctors in the regional headquarters perform outreach activity by visiting remote offices twice a week; support is provided to the Government during important functions and to the United Nations country team as part of the United Nations integrated framework; and medical support is proposed to be provided eight hours a day at the logistics base in Koumassi as opposed to the current two hours a day.