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East Timor is expected to be a leading topic in New York this week. Leaders from around the world are gathering there for debate at the United Nations General Assembly. Global conflicts, the need for improved means of intervention and the rights of women and children will also be discussed. UN correspondent Max Ruston reports.
     UN Secretary General Kofi Annan is expected to open the debate with a call for new measures to strengthen UN intervention in conflicts where civilians are the main victims. He has expressed disappointment with the UN Security Council’ s failure to reach a consensus on intervention in Kosovo and urged Council members to work harder towards consensus in the future. In addition to their speeches in the general debate, leaders traditionally maintain busy schedules of bilateral meetings with discussions on regional conflicts, economic cooperation and other topics. Violence and unrest in East Timor, Kosovo, Angola, Sierra Leon, the Middle East and Afghanistan will be discussed widely at the assembly. Human rights, particularly those of women and children, will also be the subject of talks amid concerns that civilians have become the primary targets and victims of many of the world’s conflicts. Max Ruston, VOA News, United Nations.