Pakistan Islamic Republic

Despite a wide range of tools available to the United Nations in the areas of preventive diplomacy, peacemaking and peacebuilding, a new United Nations report calls for measures to boost the world body’s capacity to prevent conflicts.

Citing a “considerable gap” between rhetoric surrounding prevention and the use of measures towards that end, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon states that “the overriding challenge for the international community remains the development of more effective strategies for preventing conflict.”

In his latest report on conflict prevention, particularly in Africa, Mr. Ban notes that the cost of armed conflict on the continent is equal to or greater than the amount of money it receives in international aid. “Had that money not been lost as a result of armed conflict, it could have been used to address Africa’s growing development and humanitarian needs,” he points out.

The Secretary-General believes the key priority is to further enhance the UN’s work in the area of conflict prevention, and has unveiled plans to strengthen the capacity of the Secretariat, especially the Department of Political Affairs.

The report proposes to strengthen the Organization’s regional field presence in support of prevention, particularly in Africa.

While effective preventive action requires substantial human and financial resources, peacekeeping or peace enforcement costs much more, he notes, adding “we must therefore move from declarations of intent to concrete actions to ensure that preventive diplomacy becomes more effective.”

He notes that the UN is already bolstering its partnerships with Member States and regional organizations to develop their conflict prevention capacities, as evidenced by the world body’s close cooperation with the African Union on several prevention, peacekeeping and peacemaking initiatives.

Noting the underrepresentation of women at the formal stages of conflict prevention, Mr. Ban stresses the need for the UN to make an increased effort to support and encourage their full participation in this area.

To prevent crises from escalating into armed conflict, Mr. Ban calls on the Security Council to enhance its prevention capacity, including by dispatching timely missions to the field to assess situations on the ground.

He also urges the Council to increase the use of its “Arria formula” meetings, whereby non-governmental actors can address the 15-member body outside official sessions, and to work to ensure the “creative and constructive” use of sanctions as a tool for preventing conflicts.

Mr. Ban adds that it is only through political settlements that conflicts can be resolved. “If we do not deal with the root causes of conflict – and offer sustainable solutions – we will be left with humanitarian emergencies and peacekeeping operations without end.”


Back www.ismaili.us

U.S. President George W. Bush, in a speech opening the Annapolis conference on the Middle East here on Tuesday, said Israelis and Palestinians reach an agreement to launch immediate, bilateral talks aimed at reaching a comprehensive peace deal by the end of 2008.

Reading the joint statement by the Israelis and Palestinians, President Bush said the two sides agree "to engage in vigorous, ongoing and continuous negotiations and shall make every effort to conclude an agreement before the end of 2008."

President Bush Tuesday launched his biggest initiative for Middle East peace, brushing aside skeptics by insisting the time is right for Israelis and Palestinians to end their six-decade conflict. He also dismissed suggestion that this is not the right time to re-launch the Middle East talks.

"I believe that now is precisely the right time to begin these negotiations," he said.

"The task begun here at Annapolis will be difficult. This is the beginning of the process, not the end of it, and much work remains to be done," the President added.

President Bush urged Israel and Palestine to fulfill their commitment under the "Roadmap" plan drafted by the Quartet, or the United States, the United Nations, the European Union and Russia, in 2003.

The U.S. leader has held summit talks with the Israeli and Palestinian leaders at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, insisting that the time is right for the two sides to end the decades long conflict. For the Palestinian leaders, they "will create opportunity for all its citizens and govern justly and dismantle the infrastructure of terror," President Bush said, adding that Israeli leaders must "show the world that they are ready to begin to bring an end to the occupation that began in 1967, through a negotiated settlement."


"Israel must demonstrate its support for the creation of a prosperous and successful Palestinian state by removing unauthorized outposts, ending settlement expansion, and finding other ways for the Palestinian Authority to exercise it's responsibilities without compromising Israel's security," President Bush said.

For the United States, "America will do everything in our power to support their quest for peace, but we cannot achieve it for them. The success of these efforts will require that all parties show patience and flexibility and meet their responsibilities," the President said.

Reading the joint statement by the Israelis and Palestinians, President Bush said the two sides agree "to engage in vigorous, ongoing and continuous negotiations and shall make every effort to conclude an agreement before the end of 2008."

U.S. President George W. Bush Tuesday launched his biggest initiative for Middle East peace, brushing aside skeptics by insisting the time is right for Israelis and Palestinians to end their six-decade conflict. President Bush also dismissed suggestion that this is not the right time to re-launch the Middle East talks.

"I believe that now is precisely the right time to begin these negotiations," the President said.

"The task begun here at Annapolis will be difficult. This is the beginning of the process, not the end of it, and much work remains to be done," he added.

The President urged Israel and Palestine to fulfill their commitment under the "Roadmap" plan drafted by the Quartet, or the United States, the United Nations, the European Union and Russia, in 2003.

The U.S. leader has held summit talks with the Israeli and Palestinian leaders at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, insisting that the time is right for the two sides to end their decades-long conflict. For the Palestinian leaders, they "will create opportunity for all its citizens and govern justly and dismantle the infrastructure of terror," President Bush said, adding that Israeli leaders must "show the world that they are ready to begin to bring an end to the occupation that began in 1967, through a negotiated settlement."

"Israel must demonstrate its support for the creation of a prosperous and successful Palestinian state by removing unauthorized outposts, ending settlement expansion, and finding other ways for the Palestinian Authority to exercise it's responsibilities without compromising Israel's security," he said.

For the United States, "America will do everything in our power to support their quest for peace, but we cannot achieve it for them. The success of these efforts will require that all parties show patience and flexibility and meet their responsibilities," the President said.

Nearly 50 countries and international organizations attended the Annapolis conference, the first such conference since the Bush administration took office in seven years.

Posted by: Ismaili.US, Fatimid Heritage Foundation

Labels: Aga Khan Fatimid Imam Caliph, Ehud Olmert, Fatimid Heritage Foundation, Fatimid Imamat Caliphate, Geneva Peace, Ismaili.US, Israel, Mahmud Abbas, Palestine, President Bush

Discours par Son Altesse l'Aga Khan lors du diner d'état à Madagascar,
le 27 novembre 2007



Monsieur le Premier Ministre,
Monsieur le Président de l’Assemblée Nationale
Messieurs les Ministres,
Excellences,
Mesdames et Messieurs,


Je tenais tout d’abord, particulièrement à vous remercier pour l’invitation que vous m’avez adressée au nom du Président de la République et du Gouvernement malgache, ainsi que pour l’accueil chaleureux et l’hospitalité si caractéristiques du peuple malgache, que vous m’avez réservés. Cela me va droit au coeur. Je voudrais également vous dire combien vos mots me flattent et m’honorent, tout autant qu’ils honorent ma communauté.

C’est en 1956, il y a 50 ans, que pour la première fois, j’ai mis les pieds sur le sol Malgache. Parmi les visites effectuées depuis, celle-ci revêt un caractère particulier et symbolique pour moi et ma communauté. Je célèbre, en effet, l’année de mon Jubilée d’Or et je vous remercie de vos félicitations à cette occasion en visitant tous les pays chers à mon cœur, et ayant une signification particulière pour les Ismailis et moi-même.

La communauté ismailie, implantée à Madagascar depuis une centaine d’années, s’est fortement impliquée dans la vie économique et sociale du pays et s’est fondue dans le tissu national, pour devenir l’une des nombreuses cultures et traditions qui font la richesse du pays. Les Ismailis sont établis dans près de trente-cinq pays à travers le monde et représentent un pluralisme culturel et linguistique considérable.

L’éthique de l’Islam établit un lien indissociable entre la vie spirituelle et la vie matérielle, Din et Dunya. En conséquence, mes responsabilités de chef spirituel et d’interprète de la foi vont-elles de pair avec un profond engagement en faveur de l’amélioration de la qualité de la vie. Cette action ne se limite pas à la communauté ismailie, elle s’étend à tous ceux qui partagent leur vie, que ce soit à l’échelle locale, nationale ou internationale.

Notre devoir est de chercher à libérer les hommes de la pauvreté. Et pour moi, pauvreté signifie être sans abri, sans protection, sans accès à la médecine, à l’éducation, au crédit, et sans espoir d’autonomie face à son destin. Cela veut dire la condamnation de ses enfants et petits-enfants à des conditions de vie inacceptables.

Une démarche volontariste et novatrice doit être entreprise dans la perspective de casser cette chaîne de désespoir et d’emprisonnement total.

C’est pourquoi, en tant qu’Imam des Ismailis, j’ai considéré qu’il était de mon devoir de relever les défis auxquels ces populations sont confrontées aujourd’hui. J’ai choisi de m’engager dans des projets de développement dans tous ces domaines, par l’intermédiaire d’un groupe d’agences privées connues sous le nom du Réseau Aga Khan de Développement (AKDN), un réseau multisectoriel ayant pour but de combattre la pauvreté, au service de tous, sans distinction de religion ni d’origine.

En mai 2005, avec le soutien du gouvernement de Madagascar et des Ministres ici présents, nous avons identifié la région de Sofia afin d’y établir un programme de développement rural et Monsieur le Premier Ministre vous avez bien voulu vous y référer. Ce programme, utilisant des méthodes novatrices, notamment dans la formation des paysans, a permis de doubler le rendement à l’hectare de la production rizicole et bénéficie d’ores et déjà à près de 10.000 agriculteurs participants.

En s’appuyant sur un savoir-faire acquis dans plus de 12 pays d’Afrique et d’Asie, nous avons également introduit en 2006 à Madagascar une agence de microfinance, la P.A.M.F. qui compte, à ce jour, sept filiales en zone rurale et urbaine et près de 3000 clients.

Parmi d’autres initiatives, le Fonds Aga Khan pour le Développement Economique (AKFED), encourage le progrès économique des pays en développement ou en reconstruction post-conflit. L’AKFED intervient dans des domaines où les retours sur les investissements sont longs et incertains, et où nombre d’investisseurs privés considèrent qu’il est risqué d’investir. Les profits générés par AKFED sont réinvestis dans des projets dans des pays, en insuffisance d’investissement étranger afin de consolider leur économie nationale. Nous avons ainsi récemment lancé des projets dans les domaines de l’énergie auxquels vous avez fait référence (avec l’inauguration il y a quelques mois d’une nouvelle centrale hydroélectrique à Bujagali en Ouganda), des télécommunications (en Afghanistan) ou du tourisme (notamment en Afrique de l’Est), où l’initiative privée se met au service des priorités nationales.

L’importance capitale que le « Madagascar Action Plan » (MAP) accorde à l’éducation a particulièrement retenu notre attention car il concourt avec l’approche de notre Réseau.

L’objectif est de stopper la fuite des cerveaux, véritable fléau des pays en voie de développement, en proposant des universités aux standards internationaux dans des campus régionaux tels que celui que je viens juste d’annoncer à Arusha qui pourrait à terme servir tous les pays de l’Afrique de l’Est et de l’Océan indien. De telles institutions permettront, je l’espère, de rompre la dépendance du Sud par rapport au Nord et de former le leadership de demain. L’amélioration des institutions d’enseignement primaire et secondaire d’excellence, avec un curriculum international et multilingue, permettra aux élèves d’accéder à ces universités ainsi qu’aux meilleures institutions dans le monde. De plus, un Centre de Développement Professionnel soutiendra l’amélioration de la compétence des enseignants, et l’introduction de méthodes d’enseignement innovantes.

Madagascar, en ayant identifié les défis auxquels sa population fait face, a clairement défini sa feuille de route. Et c’est en partageant de manière idoine avec le Réseau Aga Khan de Développement sa vision du futur, que nous pouvons dorénavant avancer main dans la main pour les générations à venir.

Merci.

Did you know...
You can access current weather conditions, local forecasts, the previous day's conditions and weather warnings in real-time via your wireless device? Access the Wireless Portal through your Web-enabled mobile device at wap.gc.ca or www.gc.ca - It's easy, it's fast, it's mobile.

The Government of Canada Wireless Portal is an evolving project that we invite you to try out and give us your feedback on. The services currently available on the Wireless Portal are described below. The services continue to evolve and expand as we move forward with this project.

The Wireless Portal is designed to complement the existing service channels, through which you can obtain Government of Canada information. This means that the information accessible through the Wireless Portal is already available on the Canada Site, through 1 800 O-Canada or at Service Canada Access Centres.

The Wireless Portal is your quick and easy single point of access to selected government information and services on the go!

To access government information and services, point your mobile Web-enabled device (Web-enabled cell phone, PDA) to: wap.gc.ca or www.gc.ca

How to Use the Government of Canada Wireless Portal
Services Available
Currently, a select number of services are available. As the initiative expands, more services will be added.

Services and information currently available include:
Border Wait Times
Select Border Wait Times to access the estimated wait times for crossing the Canada-United States land border at certain locations. This information is provided by the Canada Border Services Agency.
Canada Business service centres Contact Information
Select Canada Business service centres to access the toll-free numbers, locations and e-mail addresses for the Canada Business service centres. This information is provided by Industry Canada.
Canadian Company Capabilities
Select Canadian Company Capabilities to access the on-line database that contains information on Canadian suppliers and distribution channels to determine competition, to form partnerships and to uncover export ventures. The Canadian Company Capabilities database provides the name, address, contacts, products and services and key international markets, and it also allows direct links to a company's home page, an e-mail service and an on-line registration service. This information is provided by Industry Canada.

Canadian Hurricane Centre
Select Canadian Hurricane Centre to access hurricane and tropical storm information statements, watches and warning bulletins. This information is provided by Environment Canada

Please note that you should not rely totally on forecasts from this service in 2007 because:

This is a new service that started on September 1, 2004 and interruptions are to be expected while Environment Canada fine-tunes the service.

This service may not be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week; therefore the timely delivery of forecasts is not guaranteed.

Currency Converter
Select the Currency Converter to access conversions (to and from Canadian dollars) based on the Bank of Canada's nominal noon exchange rates, which are published each business day at about 1 p.m. EST. This information is provided by the Bank of Canada

Economic Indicators
Select Economic Indicators to access Canada's latest population figure, the rates for unemployment and inflation and the gross domestic product (GDP). This information is provided by Statistics Canada.

Exchange Rates
Select Bank of Canada Exchange Rates to access the current exchange rates. This information is provided by the Bank of Canada

Government of Canada Employee Phone Numbers
Select the Government Electronic Directory Services (GEDS) to access an integrated directory of federal public servants provided by Public Works and Government Services Canada.

Government of Canada news releases, media advisories, background news, and more.
Select News to access Government of Canada news releases, media advisories and background news information in real-time.

Member of Parliament Contact Information
Select Member of Parliament Contact Information to access a listing of Members of Parliament contact information from the Parliament of Canada Web site.

Passport Offices
Select Passport Offices to access Passport Office addresses and phone numbers. This information is provided by Passport Canada.

National Parks
Select National Parks to access the List of National Parks of Canada by Province/Territory. Their contact information, including address, phone number and email, is provided. This information is provided by Parks Canada.
1 800 O-Canada International Toll-free Numbers
Select 1 800 O-Canada International Toll-free Numbers to access a list of toll-free numbers that can be used to access information on the Government of Canada from locations outside Canada and the United States. Service is provided in English and French, Monday to Friday, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Weather
Select Weather to Access current weather conditions, local forecasts, the previous day's conditions and weather warnings in real-time for pan-Canada weather stations. This information is provided by the Environment Canada Weather Office.
Feedback
Your feedback, questions or comments about the Wireless Portal are appreciated and may be sent to: sitecanadasite@canada.gc.ca
If you have an opinion to share or would like a response to a question about any topic other than the Government of Canada's Wireless Portal, please visit the Canada Site's Questions and Comments Form.
Anwar Merchant is a Government of Canada On-Line Research Panel member.

Fatimid Heritage Foundation invites to join for a Development Gateway co-sponsored Global Dialogue on Mobile Government: The New Frontier in Transforming Public Services. The event will take place 08.30 - 11:00 am ET on November 29, 2007 in Washington D. C. and in Delhi; you can also join via live webcast and online discussion forum, or via videoconference from one of several other participating cities. The event is co-sponsored by the World Bank, the Development Gateway Foundation, e-GovWorld, e-Gov Monitor, and IIS-Russia.

Mobile services are quickly emerging as the new frontier for transforming government towards citizen-centricity and one-stop multi-channel delivery. They extend the benefits of remote delivery of government services and information to those who are unable or unwilling to access public services through the Internet or simply prefer to use mobile devices. In theory, many government services can now be made available on a 24x7x365 basis in any place covered by mobile networks, which today means almost everywhere.

According to an estimate by R. Chandrashekar, Additional Secretary (e-Gov), Government of India, (keynote speaker at this seminar), up to 50-60% of government services in India can be delivered via mobile channels. This emerging trend in public service delivery has often been called "Mobile Government" (M-Government) and is part of a broader phenomenon of mobile-enabled development (m-development), which leverages the mobile revolution to enable development impact. The organizers hope to address the following questions at the Global Dialogue on Mobile Government:

+ According to the ITU, the total number of mobile users worldwide as of late 2006 was about 2.7 billion and the number of internet users was just above 1.1 billion. Does this provide a strong case for leveraging mobile channels to dramatically improve access to public services to those who can afford to use a personal or shared mobile phone (e.g. as in Village Phone programs)? Does this create an opportunity to connect in the near future the next two billion people to the benefits of e-government, e-health, e-education, e-banking and e-commerce?
+ How exactly can Mobile Government transform the lives of common people in developing and transition countries? What are the best examples of such impact? + What are the types of services that can be easily provided on mobile phones/devices ("quick wins") and what are the more strategic high-impact services ("killer applications")?
+ What are the key constraints to making this vision a reality? What are the critical success factors and lessons learned?
+ Should government agencies and the development community take this opportunity to drastically improve access to information and services? How should governments and donors change the way they do business to take full advantage of mobile technologies?
+ What is the role of the private sector? Are there successful business models (e.g. PPP) for private sector companies to support value-added m-government services?

This Global Dialogue seminar is organized as an integral part of the eGovWorld 2007 Conference taking place in New Delhi on Nov. 29-30, 2007 (www.egovworld.org) and will connect a large and high profile audience in India with experts and e-government champions in other countries for sharing ideas on how to take public services transformation to the next level with the help of mobile technologies.

More information about this event is available at http://go.worldbank.org/RLCVF90NB0.
JOIN LIVE WEBCAST:

The Webcast links are at: http://www.worldbank.org/edevelopment/live (registration is not required but is recommended). If you would like to send in advance questions for speakers, or if you have any questions on how to access the webcast and e-discussion, please email edevelopment@worldbank.org.
JOIN DISCUSSION FORUM:

Fatimid Heritage Foundation strongly encourages you to post your views on the discussion forum created for this event to promote the good image of your respective counties, at:
http://topics.developmentgateway.org/egovernment/discussi...

P.S. Feel free to forward this invitation to all who may be interested!

His Highness Aga Khan, the Fatimid Imam Caliph of the Ismaili Muslims, yesterday praised Mozambique as a model of successful post-conflict development and hailed the country’s economic performance and tenacity in overcoming difficulties.

“In an era when frustration often breeds cynicism concerning the possibility of progress, Mozambique can provide inspiration and encouragement to other post-conflict societies,” he said.

The Aga Khan, who is chairman and founder of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) with projects throughout Africa, noted that Mozambique's economic growth was one of the best in Africa despite continued problems. “The problems of poverty, disease and, illiteracy here are still enormous. But your recent progress has been built on sound principles – and for that reason, Mozambique has become a valuable model for the whole of the developing world,” he said.

The Aga Khan made the remarks at an official banquet in Maputo, held in his honour by Mozambique's President, His Excellency Armando Guebuza, who invited him to the country. Mozambique was the first leg of the Aga Khan’s 9-day tour of Southern Africa that also includes Madagascar. The visit is the Aga Khan’s second to Africa since July 11, which marked the start of his year-long Golden Jubilee celebrations.

In his address, the Aga Khan said that Africa has been one of his central preoccupations during his 50-year Imamat, because of the century and a half of history of the Ismaili people in the continent and the independence movement of many African nations as they “began their journey toward stability and progress as self-governing countries.” The Aga Khan said he was proud to participate in the “great, continuing story of Mozambican progress.”

The Aga Khan announced that AKDN will expand its involvement in Mozambique to establish a garment factory, as well as the country’s first microfinance bank. He also said the people of Mozambique will benefit from the construction of a new undersea high-speed fibre optic cable that will link Southern and Eastern Africa with Mumbai in India and Marseille in France – a project co-financed by the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development (AKFED) – the network’s economic development arm. The cable will also serve Kenya, Tanzania, Madagascar and Rwanda.

The Ismaili leader said he saw great potential in Mozambique as a tourist destination and announced more investments in that sector.

As he arrived at Maputo International Airport earlier in the day, the Aga Khan was greeted by Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Alcinda Abreau, and a cheering crowd of local and visiting Ismaili community members, as well as troupes of traditional singers and dancers.

Today, the Aga Khan also met with Mr Eduardo Mulembwe, the President of the Assembly of the Republic of Mozambique, after hosting a luncheon in honour of Mozambique’s President Guebuza. On Friday the Aga Khan visited field projects in Mozambique’s north-eastern Pemba region before departing for Madagascar.

In Pemba's Cabo Delgado region, the Aga Khan Development Network is involved in rural support projects designed to reduce poverty in the remote areas of the country. The programme covers 146 villages and benefits 21,000 households.

As California continues to recover from last month’s devastating Southern California fires, the Department of General Services (DGS) is committed to continuing to do everything as the State’s business manager to help support the ongoing recovery effort. Following the devastation last month, Governor Schwarzenegger ordered all State agencies to move quickly to ensure fire commanders, emergency managers, local government officials and ultimately the general public got the help and resources they needed to respond to and recover from these devastating wildfires.

Over the past several weeks, DGS staff has been moving to secure cleanup contracts, line-up commercial space for recovery operations, and ensure that critical communications sites across the State were restored following the fires. With 4,000 staff statewide and responsibilities over managing real estate, funding school construction, purchasing and contracting, and emergency telecommunications, DGS has been uniquely positioned to help local government officials, as well as the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (OES), and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) get the resources they need to keep the recovery process moving forward. The other day, DGS secured contracts with nearly 90 companies that can provide help in cleaning up debris from the fires and putting erosion control measures in place across the burned-out landscape. DGS has also identified portable classrooms that school districts can use if necessary and secured 60,000 square feet of space for FEMA to warehouse donated goods. At the height of the fire siege, DGS’ Telecommunications staff was deployed to numerous fire scenes to repair critical emergency radio sites that had been damaged. Moving forward, DGS is continuing to work closely with OES to meet any ongoing business needs that are identified and appreciates the opportunity to help California recover and rebuild.


Learn more about DGS at http://www.dgs.ca.gov/.