In his introductory speech at the opening of the UNEP Governing Council’s special session in Monaco on 20th February 2008, H.S.H. Prince Albert II showed his particular concern for the situation in Kenya:

The results of the presidential elections on 27th December 2007 provoked a wave of public contestation.

In March, the Red Cross recorded over 1.000 deaths and the displacement of 600.000 people, particularly in the western part of the country and the Rift Valley region. 300 refugee camps were identified in the country, as were many refugees in Uganda.

The priority needs of the displaced population are access to food, drinking water and medical care.

To address this emergency situation, H.S.H. the Sovereign Prince has asked his Government to allocate 50 000€ to the International Committee of the Red Cross. The Kenyan Red Cross has been nominated by the country’s Authorities to co-ordinate emergency humanitarian aid on site.

In Madagascar, Sainte Marie Island and its 20 000 inhabitants were the worst hit by Cyclone Ivan with winds of up to 230 km/hour and ranking 4 out of 5 on the Saffir Simpson scale.

The island was completely cut off from the world for 3 days and the first reports by the BNGRC revealed an extremely worrying situation: flooded and cut off roads, lack of supplies, water and electricity, 75% of the houses damaged, hotel infrastructures destroyed, the aerodrome severely hit, port and vessels destroyed, villages threatened by the rising water levels…

In partnership with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Ministry of Health, Monaco has had close ties with Sainte Marie Island since 2004 via a Support Programme for the Island’s District Health Service, a key project to combat malaria and intestinal parasitosis. This partnership has resulted in a 90% drop in the prevalence of malaria in Sainte Marie.

To address this crisis situation, the Monaco Government has decided to allocate 75.000 euros to WHO in order to contribute towards the rehabilitation and reconstruction work on 6 community healthcare centres on Sainte Marie Island.

First of all, the President announced the upcoming ratification, at the end of May, of Franco-Monegasque agreements and conventions underway. These agreements chiefly concern administrative cooperation, judicial assistance and investor security.

The Prince informed the President of the Principality of Monaco’s application for admission to the Barcelona process. He thanked him for the support of France and the invitation the President had extended to him to attend the Paris Summit, which will bring together on 13th July all the Heads of State and Government concerned.

Confidence regarding the task force in charge of examining the situation of French citizens in Monaco was also conveyed during the meeting.

The Heads of State were delighted to hear, during the day, that the Chinese authorities had expressed their wish to renew dialogue with the Dalaï Lama.

The second-ranked Spaniard won 7-5, 7-5 Sunday, and improved his clay-court record over Federer to 7-1.

“Winning four times here is unimaginable,” said Nadal, who earned his 24th career title. “Roger played a great match. We always have good finals.”

Nadal has won 98 of his last 99 matches on clay, with a loss to Federer in the 2007 Hamburg final the only blip.

The Swiss star blew commanding leads in each set, breaking Nadal to lead 4-3 in the first and racing to a 4-0 lead in the second.

“Disappointing second set,” Federer said. “After playing the right way against him and then letting him back into the match, it was disappointing. Maybe I didn’t play my best.”

Federer committed too many unforced errors, surprisingly on his forehand, and let Nadal back into the match.

“He deserves to win,” Federer said. “I’m pushing Rafa today, having the feeling I can beat him if I play the right way. And I think that’s the feeling I didn’t have after (Monte Carlo) last year.”

Nadal is the only player in the Open era to win four straight titles at Monte Carlo, and the first since Anthony Wilding of New Zealand (1911-14).

Nadal has won 22 consecutive matches at Monte Carlo since losing to Guillermo Coria in the third round in 2003. Federer was the last person to take a set from him in the 2006 final. Nadal missed 2004 with injury.

The three-time French Open champion is 19-1 in clay-court finals, while Federer dropped to 7-8 on his least favorite surface. The 12-time Grand Slam champion has never won the French Open, the only major title missing from his resume.

Still, Nadal thinks Federer remains the best, despite a slower start to the season. Federer picked up his first win of the season last week at the Estoril Open.

“I think he doesn’t get enough credit,” Nadal said. “It is impossible to be at 100 percent all your career, he is still No. 1, the best in the world.”

Relying too much on his forehand, Federer also missed routine volleys at the net, and made 44 unforced errors.

Federer seemed poised to even the match after hitting some near-perfect winners down the line and taking a 4-0 lead in the second set. Nadal struggled to hold his serve in the fifth game, but turned the match around.

Nadal rallied to 4-3, and Federer had four consecutive errors in the eighth game to lose his serve at love.

A weak backhand gave Nadal the match point and he took it at the first opportunity, before sliding on his back and raising both fists in the air.

Federer lost his serve six times during the match.

“The amount of times I got broken today wasn’t what I was hoping for,” Federer said. “But at least I was finally able to break him also on (four) occasions, which is the good part.”

Federer won only 29 percent of his second-serve points, which even alarmed Nadal.

“A little bit strange because that’s not normal, no?,” Nadal said. “He’s a big server.”

Both players looked nervous on serve in the first set, swapping breaks for 1-1.

Federer saved a break point in the sixth game and dominated Nadal at the net in the seventh, breaking him to move ahead 4-3.

Nadal enjoyed some luck to break back to 4-4.

A loose return bounced on the baseline and surprised Federer, who returned it into the net. Then, on breakpoint, Nadal’s powerful forehand clipped the net and sent Federer the wrong way.

In the 12th game, Federer drew Nadal into the net but hesitated before trying a slice backhand that Nadal easily read and flicked back to take the opening set.

Federer started out strongly in the second set with crisp volleys and confusing angles. He broke Nadal at love in the third game, then easily held for 4-0 before Nadal rallied.

Vladimir Vukčević told Blic a meeting with the former Hague prosecutor could be arranged in early July in Monaco, or in September in Belgrade.

“With my authorization, a War Crimes Prosecution representative has met with Del Ponte in Buenos Aires, where she is the current Swiss ambassador,” he said.

The war crimes prosecutor said that his envoy and Del Ponte had spoken about her book, “The Hunt”, and had put across Belgrade’s position that “that book is a commercialization and politicization of a very delicate affair which is still not closed.”

“He also asked her to speak with the deputy prosecutor and judge working on the organ sales case,” he added.

“Should her diplomatic functions prevent her from doing so, that conversation could take place either at the Crans Montana forum in Monaco, or in September in Belgrade, during the promotion of her book,” explained Vukčević.

Asked whether he would be able to ascertain exactly who had blocked the investigation into the trade in human organs, and about the current difficulties associated with the case, the war crimes prosecutor replied that “on the basis of information we have at our disposal, it’s clear that UNMIK was not functioning properly.”

“We know that there was an inquiry into the sale of human organs, and we know that one UNMIK official fled to South America with a stack of charges hanging over him concerning the matter,” he said.

Vukčević said that after publication of Del Ponte’s book, many things were “clearer, and we’ve launched a preliminary inquiry based on her claims.”

“We’ve been in contact with the Albanian prosecution and the International Red Cross. We’ll question more witnesses in addition to the ones we’ve already spoken to,” the war crimes prosecutor added.

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Mosley, who is president of the FIA, does not watch every grand prix but he is a regular in Monaco because he lives in the principality.

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He said: “I will be going to the Monaco Grand Prix. I only went to one complete Formula One race last year. That was Monaco, and I was at the complete event because I live there.”

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It has been suggested that Mosley should have attended the Barcelona Grand Prix this weekend because the FIA was launching an anti-racism campaign, but he insists he only attends events if he has a clear role to play.

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He added: “I never had any intentions of going to Barcelona because I had nothing to do there.”

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Mosley’s position will be considered at an extraordinary metting of the FIA general assembly on June 3, where he is expected to make a statement to explain why he thinks he should keep his job.

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When a tabloid newspaper published allegations about Mosley in March, the Crown Prince of Bahrain, Sheikh Salman Bin Hamad Al-Khalifa, asked him to stay away from their race.

“We can’t go on as business as usual. Those who haven’t realised that yet will be sorry in a few years,'’ the prince said.

The UN, leading talks to find a climate pact to succeed the Kyoto Protocol, wants to highlight lifetimes dedicated to the environment with the awards, in their third year.

Previous winners include former US Vice President Al Gore.

Ms Clark, who did not attend a gala dinner in Singapore where winners received a trophy made of recycled metal, won for her goal to make New Zealand use 90 per cent renewable energy by 2025.

While in Singapore, the prince will be receiving the “Champions of the Earth” prize, which is an award given by the United Nations Environment Programme.

The award recognises individuals from various parts of the world who have shown extraordinary leadership on environmental issues.

The prince, who will travel to other countries in the region before returning to Singapore for the ceremony on 22 April, is one of seven environmental achievers this year.

An advisory released by the Information Department Thursday stated that the prince, who will be accompanied by Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, would visit the Deer Cave and Clearwater Cave at the park.

The park covering 52,864 hectares in Baram district was declared by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) as a world heritage in 2000.

Prior to visiting the park, the prince has attend a state dinner  hosted by Sarawak head of state, Tun Abang Mohamad Salahuddin.

The average price of a property in the best locations of central London was $6,191 per square foot, according to the firm’s Prime International Residential Index, published Monday. Monaco averaged $5,888 per square foot and, eight kilometers west along the Mediterranean coast, properties in St. Jean Cap Ferrat cost $5,853 per square foot, the London-based firm said.

He then emphasized that “this realization financed by the Monegasque Red Cross in partnership with the Government of Timor-Leste and the Foundation for Post Conflict Development is the expression of Monaco’s will to be involved in humanitarian actions.” At the Prince’s request, funds dedicated to development will reach 0.7% of gross national income by 2015.The Ruling Prince then went to the Governor’s Palace to meet Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão. After this meeting, H.S.H. Prince Albert II announced that “diplomatic relations will soon be established between Timor-Leste and Monaco,” emphasizing that the Principality “will strive to satisfy the population’s urgent needs in educational, social and medical areas as in those concerning environmental protection.”

H.S.H. Prince Albert II then inaugurated a Youth Centre in the Bekora District. He stated that in a country where “half the population is made up of young people, this place is a strong symbol: it is the future of Timor-Leste.”

The Ruling Prince then went to Sarawak where He participated in a dinner hosted by the Prime Minister, Yang Amat Berhormat Pehin Sri Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud. He stressed that “our two countries, despite the great geographical distance between them, have many points in common,” in particular “our commitment to preserve the Planet.”

On Sunday 20 April and in the morning of Monday 21 April, the Ruling Prince visited Gunung Mulu National Park where He discovered the amazing wealth of flora and fauna as well as exceptional natural caves.

On Tuesday 22 April in Singapore, H.S.H. Prince Albert will participate in particular in the ‘Champions of the Earth’ Gala organized by UNEP. He will receive this award for Europe.