Turner foundation delivers 1 billion dollar to UN

UNITED NATIONS, Oct 11 (Reuters) The United Nations Foundation, created by media mogul Ted Turner, has donated 1 billion dollar to UN projects over the past nine years, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said.

Turner, the founder of the CNN television network, himself donated 1 billion dollar and his foundation raised millions from other corporations, governments and charities.

Some 600 million dollar of Turner's original 1 billion dollar has been spent and the remaining 400 million dollar would be used to leverage another 1 billion dollar in support of the United Nations in the coming years, the foundation said.

Projects have focused on the environment, women, children, health, peace, human rights and promoting the United Nations in the United States.

''Ted's act was perhaps most important for the message it sent to his fellow Americans, his fellow businessmen and women, and to the world,'' Annan said in remarks prepared for the annual UN Association-USA dinner where Turner nine years ago announced his 1 billion dollar donation to UN causes.

''Here was an iconic businessman standing up for the United Nations, and saying to the world that the UN and its work were worthy of support,'' Annan said yesterday.

Former US Sen Timothy Wirth, president of the UN Foundation, said the group had received donations from such companies and charities as the American Red Cross, Coca-Cola, Expedia, Nike, Rotary International and Vodafone.

REUTERS DH RAI0426