New UN For Ethnics

Amsterdam: Ethnic minorities and peoples seeking independence will set up an “alternative United Nations” at a meeting in the Netherlands next week, one of the group’s organizers said on Feb.4. Called the “Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization“, it will at first have 20 members, Including representatives of the Baltic republics and Australia’s aborigines. “This will be an independent body for peoples and nations that can’t get into the United Nations … the purpose is to offer services to them”. said Catherine Ingram, an American author and one of the group’s coordinators. The body alms to promote the peaceful resolution of conflicts and offer diplomatic training advice on dealing with the UN public relations counsel and expertise on environmental issues, she said. The group will later be opened up to others among the estimated 5,000 ethnic groups and nations in the world not recognized by the UN Ingram said. (Indian Express Feb.6).