United Nations Meetings Coverage &Press Releases

Latest Noon Briefings

• Monday, 20 May 2013
  The Secretary-General arrived in Mozambique today to take part in an event on sustainable development and the Millennium Development Goals, after which he met with the country’s parliament leaders. Tomorrow, he will meet with the President of Mozambique, and visit and speak at several educational institutions.
• Friday, 17 May 2013
  As you may be aware, today is marked by millions of people around the world as the International Day against Homophobia. This year, the United Nations Human Rights Office has put out a short, compelling video, called The Riddle, which you can view on YouTube.
• Thursday, 16 May 2013
  The Secretary-General arrived in the Russian Federation earlier today. He is now in Sochi on Russia's Black Sea coast, and tomorrow he is scheduled to meet President Putin and Foreign Minister Lavrov there. After his visit ends on 19 May, he will travel to Mozambique.
• Wednesday, 15 May 2013
  At the launch of the Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction this morning, the Secretary-General said that trillions of dollars will be invested by the private sector in hazard-exposed regions in the years ahead, and such spending must address risk factors.
• Tuesday, 14 May 2013
  The UN Mission in South Sudan strongly condemns the violence, looting and displacement affecting civilians and humanitarian organizations in and around the town of Pibor in Jonglei State. The Mission has reinforced its presence there, and its peacekeepers have clear instructions to assist in protecting civilians.
• Monday, 13 May 2013
  The Secretary-General, addressing the General Assembly’s high-level meeting on human trafficking, said it devastates individuals and undermines national economies. Billions of dollars are generated through exploitation and abuse, and in turn, these funds support illegal drugs, corruption and other crimes, he said.
• Friday, 10 May 2013
  The High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, expressed alarm at reports of a major military build-up around the western Syrian town of Qusayr, fearing further atrocities. Reports of recent massacres by Syrian Government forces and pro-Government militias should spur the international community to find a solution.
• Thursday, 9 May 2013
  The Secretary-General hopes all eligible Pakistanis peacefully take part in the 11 May elections, regardless of their religion, ethnicity or gender, and commends the efforts to encourage voter turnout, particularly among women. Concerned about the violence that has targeted politicians, rallies and election offices, he conveys his heartfelt condolences to the families of all the victims, while acknowledging the efforts being made to ensure the safety and security of candidates and voters .
• Wednesday, 8 May 2013
  Of statements made Tuesday about Syria by Russia's Foreign Minister and the United States Secretary of State, Joint Special Representative Lakhdar Brahimi said this is the first hopeful news concerning that unhappy country in a very long time. He called on the Security Council and Secretary-General to carry the process forward.
• Tuesday, 7 May 2013
  The Secretary-General strongly condemns the detention of four peacekeepers, who were members of the Force monitoring the disengagement agreement between Israel and Syria and were taken by armed elements in the vicinity of Al Jamla in the area of limitation. He calls for their immediate release, and for all parties to respect the Force’s freedom of movement and safety.
• Monday, 6 May 2013
  The Security Council is receiving an update on the situation in Abyei from the Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations. The fatal attack and the wounding of two peacekeepers there this weekend prove again how vital it is for the Governments of Sudan and South Sudan to resolve the final status of the area.
• Friday, 3 May 2013
  The Secretary-General and the Israeli Justice Minister and Chief Negotiator in the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, Tzipi Livni, meeting yesterday, discussed the current state of play of the peace process, as well as regional developments, in particular, in Syria. The Secretary-General encouraged resumption of credible negotiations.
• Thursday, 2 May 2013
  On World Press Freedom Day, the Secretary-General, at a special event at Headquarters, highlighted the violence journalists faced worldwide - with many killed and hundreds detained – and said all journalists, across all media, needed to be able to do their vital work. “When it is safe to speak, the whole world benefits,” he said.
• Wednesday, 1 May 2013
  Following the surge in violence in Iraq this past week, with many people killed and hundreds injured, the Secretary-General calls on Iraqi Security Forces to exercise the utmost restraint in maintaining law and order, and demonstrators to preserve the peaceful nature of their protests. He also urges political leaders to engage in inclusive dialogue to overcome the deep political crisis the country is facing.
• Tuesday, 30 April 2013
  Palestine refugees in Syria are being killed, injured and displaced in greater numbers than ever. Amid reports that significant numbers of refugees may be trapped without adequate shelter near Aleppo, where intense fighting rages, the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine appeals for a halt to the human suffering.
• Monday, 29 April 2013
  The Secretary-General condemns the terrorist attack on the convoy of Syrian Prime Minister Wael al-Halqi in Damascus earlier today, which resulted in deaths and injuries. He expresses his deepest condolences to the families of the victims and wishes those injured a speedy recovery. He has consistently condemned all acts of terrorism, and says the targeting of civilians by anyone is unacceptable.
• Friday, 26 April 2013
  The Secretary-General has asked the head of the Syrian chemical weapons investigation team to visit New York for consultations on Monday. Because of serious allegations about possible chemical weapons use, the mission must be allowed immediate and unfettered access by the Syrian Government.
• Thursday, 25 April 2013
  The Security Council today authorized the establishment of a United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali. With up to 11,200 military personnel and 1,440 police personnel, its core task will be to support the political process. Authority will be transferred to it from the existing African force, AFISMA, on 1 July.
• Wednesday, 24 April 2013
  Jeffrey Feltman, the Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, told the Security Council this morning that it is a moment of increased risk and instability across the Middle East, with a need for quick and concerted action to address the humanitarian situation, both inside and outside Syria.
• Tuesday, 23 April 2013
  Strongly condemning today’s attacks on the French Embassy in Tripoli, Libya, the Secretary-General said the targeting of diplomatic missions and staffs was never justifiable. He reaffirmed the United Nations’ commitment to assist the Libyan Government and its people in building a democratic state based on the rule of law.
• Monday, 22 April 2013
  Jeffrey Feltman, the Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, visited the Central African Republic today and appealed for urgent efforts to establish security and stop abuses against civilians. He reiterated international calls for a full return to constitutional rule.
• Friday, 19 April 2013
  The Security Council today received an update on Syria from Joint Special Representative Lakhdar Brahimi. Last night the Council, following yesterday’s briefings on Syria’s humanitarian situation, expressed the view that the escalating violence must end immediately and urged all parties to ensure safe, unimpeded access for aid organizations in all areas of the country.
• Thursday, 18 April 2013
  The Security Council today was briefed by four senior UN officials – the Emergency Relief Coordinator, the refugee commissioner, and the envoys on sexual violence in conflict and children in armed conflict – on the humanitarian crisis in Syria. The Relief Coordinator appealed to the Council to act to end the brutal conflict, saying those working to assist the Syrian people ‘are losing hope’.
• Tuesday, 16 April 2013
  The Secretary-General is alarmed by the rapidly deteriorating security situation in the Central African Republic. He strongly condemns the Séléka movement’s acts of violence against the civilian population, and urges the de facto authorities to restore law and order throughout the country and to ensure the protection of civilians.
• Friday, 12 April 2013
  At Headquarters today, the Secretary-General led the ceremony and call to action that aims to spur accelerated progress in achieving the eight anti-poverty Millennium Development Goals in the thousand days leading to the 2015 target date. He highlighted the successes so far, and urged: “Over the next 1,000 days let us give 1,000 per cent.”
• Thursday, 11 April 2013
  This afternoon, the Secretary-General will meet President Barack Obama at the White House, where he will thank the President for the strong support the United States has provided to the Organization, and they will discuss a broad range of pressing as well as longer-term global issues.
• Wednesday, 10 April 2013
  In the General Assembly today the Secretary-General noted the work of the international criminal tribunals and the International Criminal Court, and said these new instruments of justice have ushered in an ‘age of accountability’. Today impunity for war crimes is no longer acceptable, nor is it tolerated.
• Tuesday, 9 April 2013
  The Secretary-General met in the Vatican with His Holiness Pope Francis today. He said afterwards that they had discussed the need to advance social justice and accelerate work to meet the Millennium Development Goals. The Secretary-General added that he was very heartened by the commitment of Pope Francis to build bridges among communities of faith. The Secretary-General also met with the Italian President and Prime Minister, and the Speakers of both houses.
• Monday, 8 April 2013
  Speaking to reporters in The Hague, the Secretary-General called the late Margaret Thatcher a pioneering leader for her contribution to peace and security, particularly at the height of the cold war, and a great model as the first woman Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, and he expressed his deepest condolences to the Government and to her family.
• Friday, 5 April 2013
  Today marks 1,000 days in the push to meet the Millennium Development Goals and the Secretary-General had a conversation, using Skype, with Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani teenager who survived an assassination attempt some months ago and became a world symbol for the rights of girls to have a decent education. He said Malala — who is in good health and wants to be a leader to serve the world — is a “symbol of hope and a daughter of the United Nations”.