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Turning the page on decades of distance, Syria's President Ahmad al-Sharaa addressed the U.N. General Assembly, marking the first time any president from his country has done so in almost 60 years.

NPR's Vicki O'Hara reports the US is facing the consequences of failing to pay its dues to the United Nations... and cutting its voluntary funding of UN programs. UN and U-S officials say Scandinavian countries may challenge the US for leadership of the huge UN development program... a powerful position that influences foreign aid policy... and UN reform efforts.

NPR Diplomatic Correspondent Ted Clark reports on the second day of the Millennium Summit at the UN, where the focus is on efforts to prevent conflict, especially in Africa.

Mike Donkin of the BBC reports that a U.N. panel has recommended sanctions against African nations that have gotten involved in the war in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

NPR's Mike Shuster reports that despite warnings about the possibility of genocidal violence in Burundi, and frequent calls for a UN intervention force, the international community has been caught off-guard by the coup there, and is uncertain how to proceed.

Commentator Iain Guest says that the United States has a love/hate relationship with the United Nations these days...mostly because Americans haven't been given a clear idea of how the UN fits in with the foreign policy goals of the U.S.

Brooke talks with a U.N. official who provides an eyewitness description of yesterday's Iraqi attack on the northern Iraqi city of Irbil. He says it appears Iraqi troops are withdrawing from the city, where calm now prevails.

NPR's Trevor Rowe reports on developments at the United Nations today, which hosted the largest-ever gathering of world leaders for the 50th anniversary session of the UN General Assembly. President Clinton made the opening address. Boris Yeltsin of Russia also spoke.

NPR's Ted Clark reports that the United States stood by its opposition to renewing the term of office of UN Secretary General Boutros-Ghali by vetoing a Security Council resolution to renew his appointment for another five years. The veto sets the stage for what promises to be a long and acrimonious argument between the US and the rest of the world, which wants to see Boutros-Ghali get another term.

- Diplomats at the United Nations say they worry that Africa is once again becoming the forgotten continent. NPR's Trevor Rowe reports that conflicts such as that in Burundi are getting minimal attention as the world's powers express growing impatience for becoming embroiled in struggles among African peoples.