HIGHLIGHTS OF
U.N.
SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN KI-MOON'S
PRESS CONFERENCE
UN HEADQUARTERS,
Tuesday,
September 29, 2009
SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN KI-MOON: Good
morning. It is a great pleasure to see you.
I wanted to share some
perspectives on the 64th session of the General Assembly and the many
events of the past week.
It is still early days, of course,
but this has been one of the most engaged GA sessions in years.
There is a broad recognition of
the United Nations’ pivotal role in rising to the exceptional challenges of the
coming year.
Let me be specific.
First, climate change.
We convened the largest-ever
summit on the climate crisis -- 101 heads of state and government, from 163
countries.
We laid a solid foundation toward
Copenhagen.
All leaders said they wanted a
deal and are prepared to work for it. This gives the negotiations vital
political impetus.
Leaders confirmed the need to
limit global average temperature rise to a maximum of 2 degrees Celsius. Most
vulnerable countries like the small island developing states pushed for an even
more stringent 1.5 degree limit.
On the mitigation front, the
Japanese Prime Minister announced a bold and ambitious goal of 25 per cent
reduction by 2020, against the level of 1990, and the intent to create a
Japanese carbon market that would be linked into a global carbon market.
Also on the mitigation front, as
you know very well, the Chinese President announced China would be prepared to
take additional actions to reduce energy intensity in the context of an
international agreement.
On adaptation, the European Union
announced their support for a fast track funding facility for adaptation and
their readiness to provide 5-7 billion Euros to get it started.
At long last, leaders focused on
climate change financing and got more concrete, with many expressing support for
the proposal for $100 billion annually over the next decade for concrete
adaptation and mitigation actions. And I raised this issue again during my
participation in the G20 summit. There was very intensive discussion of
financing issues.
Given the important progress
achieved by leaders’ involvement at the Summit, I am committed to continuing to
engage them, individually and collectively, in coordination with the Prime
Minister of Denmark.
We need to maintain the new
momentum and solidify progress in the run up to Copenhagen.
That’s
the focus of my upcoming mission to Denmark, Sweden and Geneva, as it will be
for every one of my missions from now through December.
Second, disarmament.
Issues of disarmament and nuclear
non-proliferation are now front and center.
Not long ago, few challenged the
idea that nuclear weapons were here to stay. That is why, nearly a year ago, I
proposed a 5-point action plan for putting disarmament back on the global
agenda, including a special summit of the Security Council.
Resolution 1887, unanimously
adopted by the Security Council during its Thursday summit meeting last week, is
an important step. We continue the march for a world without nuclear weapons.
Going forward, we are focused on
the NPT Review Conference next May as well as achieving early entry into force
of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT).
Third, recovery and the financial
crisis.
As I said in my General Assembly
speech, markets may be bouncing back, but incomes, jobs and people are not.
That is why we have put forward a
Global Jobs Pact.
We are also creating a new Global
Impact Vulnerability Alert System, giving us real-time data and analysis on the
socio-economic picture around the world, so that governments can reach those who
most need it.
In
Pittsburgh, the G-20 leaders again promised to help the poorest countries. They
pledged more balanced and sustainable growth in the future. Now we must hold
them to their word.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Let me cite a few other notable events at this
General Assembly.
On Saturday of last week, Secretary of State of the
United States Clinton and I hosted an important meeting on food security,
designed to build on the July G8 summit in L’Aquila where leaders announced a
$20 billion food security fund.
For much of the past year, we have focused on
immediate needs—saving people from starving. Today we are moving more firmly
toward a longer term Phase 2—working a revolution in the way we do agricultural
development.
We are focusing particularly on small farmers, most
of them women. Our approach is about more than feeding the hungry. It’s about
empowering the poor.
The food crisis may have fallen off the front pages.
But it has not gone away, and I urge you to pay attention.
Regarding the flu pandemic: the UN System has
completed an assessment to help countries prioritize their needs.
In recent days, nine countries agreed to make 10% of
their pandemic vaccine supply available to countries in special need. This
represents approximately 50 million vaccines.
Two vaccine manufacturers have agreed to donate 150
million vaccines. Others have agreed to provide reduced pricing.
A number of donor-countries have pledged financial
and technical support, while others are exploring how they can help.
With respect to peace and
security:
The group of Friends of Myanmar
unanimously re-affirmed its support for the UN’s ongoing efforts, in particular
an active and direct engagement with the government.
I met yesterday with Prime Minister Thein Sein. I
expect Myanmar to fully respond to the proposals I left with the senior
leadership during my last visit to the country.
The onus is on the Government to create the necessary
conditions for credible and inclusive elections. There should be
dialogue with all of the stakeholders in Myanmar.
And, of course, all political
prisoners must be released, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
I intend to
continue to work through my good offices for simultaneous progress on political,
humanitarian and development challenges.
I also met with the Prime Minister
of Sri Lanka yesterday. The government has re-affirmed its commitment to allow
displaced persons to return to their homes by January next year.
We need no further evidence for the need to move forward. Just this past
weekend, a confrontation took place between IDPs and Sri Lankan security forces
in the Menik Farms camps. Two children were shot and wounded.
There is clearly a great deal of pressure on people
on the ground.
In coordination with Member
States, I will continue to closely follow up on the implementation of the
government’s commitments—both personally and through my senior officials.
This includes outstanding issues
related to the freedom of movement and the return of IDPs, human rights
accountability and political reconciliation.
I also
had a chance to meet with the leaders on Cyprus, and encourage them to seize the
opportunity before them and to make full use of my Good Offices. There is
a reasonable expectation within the international community that the leaders can
soon arrive at a mutually acceptable settlement.
I am
deeply concerned about developments in Honduras. A state of emergency has
increased tensions. I note that the Congress of Honduras has rejected the
suspension of civil liberties and urge that Constitutional guarantees including
freedom of association, expression and movement be fully respected.
Threats
on the embassy of Brazil in Honduras are unacceptable. International law is
clear: sovereign immunity cannot be violated. Threats to the embassy staff and
premises are intolerable. The Security Council has condemned such acts of
intimidation. I do as well, in the strongest terms.
I once
again appeal for the safety of President Zelaya. I urge all political actors to
seriously commit to dialogue and regional mediation efforts. I reaffirm the
readiness of the United Nations to assist in every way.
I also met with the Vice Minister of the DPRK
[Democratic People’s Republic of Korea] and underscored my concern about the
humanitarian and human rights situation.
In addition, of course, I addressed nuclear and other
outstanding issues.
Important discussions also took place on the Middle East, Somalia and Pakistan.
Finally, on Iran: In my meeting
with President Ahmadinejad, I said clearly and directly that the burden of proof
is on Iran to demonstrate that its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes.
I urged him to open the country’s
new structure to prompt and full inspection, and to engage constructively in
negotiations.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The 64th General
Assembly shows a UN rising to the challenges of today’s world.
We are confronting the big issues
of the day – climate change, disarmament, the financial crisis and Millennium
Development Goals, key issues of peace and security.
No nation can solve these alone.
It takes nations united, which of
course was the main theme of my General Assembly address this year: Now is Our
Time.
Thank you very much. I will be
happy to answer your questions.
Q: Secretary-General, welcome again this month. This is
the second time, and we like to have you here as much as we can. The question
is this: You met with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, this is not the first time that you
meet him. This time talking directly to him or looking at his face, did you
realize that he has to understand that he has to come clean on Thursday?
SG: We discussed all the pending issues pertaining to Iran,
including recently disclosed nuclear structures, nuclear facilities. We
discussed all other pending issues including humanitarian issues, human rights
issues. I urged him that Iran as a historically rich and proud country should
take a constructive role in the international community by making very
transparent, direct involvement and engagement in negotiation to prove all the
pending issues. I made it quite clear that, when they argue that their nuclear
facilities are genuinely for peaceful purposes, the burden of proof is on their
side. They should fully cooperate with the IAEA [International Atomic Energy
Agency], provide access in a transparent way. That is their responsibility. Of
course, I realize that there is still a gap of positions and understandings. I
told him that, even with several rounds of meetings in person like this, we
still have a gap of understandings, but I urged him to bridge this gap by
sincerely engaging themselves in negotiation for nuclear issues and promoting,
protecting human rights. I will continue to do that. In fact, after this
meeting, I am going to meet the Foreign Minister of Iran again to follow up our
discussions with President Ahmadinejad, at 11:00 today.
Q: My question actually is a follow-up to Giampaolo’s. The
Iranian Mission put out a statement early this morning, saying that the
President expressed grave concern that you, the Secretary-General, instead of
waiting for the IAEA as the competent body to reflect on the issue of the
newly-discovered, or the newly-announced, facility, the new enrichment facility,
has chosen to repeat, and I quote, “the same allegations that a few Western
powers are making.” I wonder if you could respond to that, and could you also
tell us whether you expressed any direct concerns to him about the implications
of this new facility in terms of sanctions, possible military action?
SG: To that argument, I responded by saying that this new
uranium enrichment facility is contrary to the Security Council resolution.
They have [to make] all the processes transparent, in a most transparent way,
and that they should receive the full inspections and they should give full
access to IAEA. This is what I told him. I know that according to their letter
they have informed the IAEA on 21 September about the existence of this. But
then what has happened before 21 September, while this facility was being
constructed? Therefore, there’s clearly a question of transparency. He told me
that he would be ready, their country would be ready, to accept these
inspections by the IAEA. I sincerely hope that all these questions pertaining to
this new facility and other facilities, all these pending issues concerning the
nuclear development programmes of Iran, should be resolved through dialogue in a
transparent and objective manner, with the International Atomic [Energy] Agency
involved.
Q: Did you raise the issue of additional sanctions and the
possibilities that Iran might face?
Q: I told him that this is contrary to the Security Council
resolution. Iran must fully comply with the relevant Security Council
resolutions. This is what I told him, and I was acting on my own behalf as
Secretary-General of the United Nations.
Q: Thank you. Let me change the subject. My question is
about North Korea. On Sunday, you met the Vice Foreign Minister of North Korea;
but on the contrary yesterday he criticized the sanctions against North Korea.
Could you get any positive sign to resume six-party talks or other kinds of
bilateral talks with North Korea about nuclear issues?
SG: I think Vice Foreign Minister Pak Kil Yon repeated the
basic positions of the DPRK Government, regarding the sanctions by the Security
Council as well as the six-party talks. I repeatedly urged him and his
Government that all the pending issues should be resolved through dialogue,
including within the framework of the six-party talks, and also using bilateral
talks with key parties participating in the six-party talks.
Q: Mr. Secretary-General, last time you were here, I asked
you whether Peter Galbraith will be going back to Afghanistan. Your office had
said that he was going to be here today to brief with Kai Eide on Afghanistan.
He appears to be on his farm in Vermont today. Can I ask you, is he still going
to be your Deputy Special Representative for Afghanistan, or are you going to
replace him as Deputy Special Representative to Afghanistan?
SG: He is still as Deputy Special Representative of UNAMA
[the UN Assistance Mission for Afghanistan], and as I told you, I have full
confidence and trust in my Special Representative, Mr. Kai Eide, and also he is
one of the integral staff of UNAMA.
Q: Sorry, sir my question was framed in the future tense.
I asked: will he remain your Special Representative? Will he be going back to
Afghanistan, Peter Galbraith?
SG: I think I don’t need to answer for that question for
anything which may happen in the future. We will have to assess the situation.
Q: Mr. Secretary-General, I’d like to follow up on that
Iranian announcement about your meeting. They also said that President
Ahmadinejad had asked you for your help with the treatment of Iranian prisoners
in the United States. Did he bring up anybody specifically on that matter? And
the overall tone of the message makes it seem like it might have been a tense
meeting, and I know you’re meeting the Foreign Minister today. So could you
characterize the sort of tone or the mood of your talks with the Iranians,
please?
SG: I hope you understand that it would be a little
sensitive to disclose what I have discussed in a private meeting. As you know,
I had some open, public meetings, and I had some minutes of engaging in private
talks with him, discussing some other sensitive issues, like humanitarian issues
and human rights issues. Maybe, I hope, one day we’ll be able to disclose it,
but for the time being I’m not in a position to comment on that question.
Q: Was there any particular prisoner the Iranian President
asked for your help with?
SG: I answered your question already.
Q: A follow-up: Did the President of Iran give you any
indication that he is willing to engage in this idea of freezing sanctions
simultaneously with freezing the enrichment of uranium? Because you speak about
the “burden of proof” and that was the language used with Iraq before the
military attacks. But my question has to do with you appointing a high-level
envoy to investigate what the Iraqis have called “terror across the border” into
their territory. Who will you appoint, and have you taken up this issue with
the Foreign Minister of Syria, Mr. Walid Moallem, when you met with him?
SG: On that issue, as you know, I have received a letter
from Prime Minister Maliki, and I have conveyed that letter to the Security
Council for their consideration. I have also expressed my concern over the
mounting tension between Iraq and some neighbouring countries, and we will do
whatever we can to reduce the tension, first of all. But at this time, I do not
have any answer at this time. I’m still reviewing the situation and considering
what action I should take, including the appointment of an envoy.
Q: Did you discuss that with the Foreign Minister of Syria?
SG: I have discussed this matter with President Talabani of
Iraq and Foreign Minister al-Moallem of Syria. But it would not be proper for
me to disclose all the contents of our discussions.
Q: Don’t you think that by declaring right now that the new
installation is contrary to Security Council resolutions, that you are taking a
position? My question is: why don’t you wait until the inspectors go? Because
the Iranians are saying we already informed, ourselves; so you’re already
judging that they’ve violated Security Council resolutions, like the Western
countries do. Don’t you think you should have a different position from the
United States and others?
SG: This is a question of when you should inform your
intention or the existence of such facilities, or a plan to be transparent and
credible -- when you have such intent to build these facilities. They should
have informed, notified the IAEA a long time before. Not just before everything
would be completed. That’s what I am raising. So there is clearly a question
of transparency. That is why the world leaders have expressed their deep
concern, and that is why I have also expressed my concern.
Q: But not all world leaders, sir.
SG: Of course.
Q: Mr. Secretary-General, even though allegations of fraud
in the Afghan elections are being investigated and votes recounted, the United
States and its NATO allies meeting here at the UN have said that they believe
President Karzai has won and decided to support his anti-insurgency plan. Now,
sir, since the United Nations is also involved in the electoral process in
Afghanistan, what is the status of this election? And sir, do you believe that
President Karzai has actually won this election?
SG: The official position of the United Nations is that,
first of all, we have to wait for the official outcome of the counting by the
Independent Election Commission and the Electoral Complaints Commission. We
have to wait. Before that, I’m not in a position to say who would be the winner
of this election. We have full confidence and trust in the Independent Election
Commission, as well as the Electoral Complaints Commission. So I understand
that the final results may be available on or around 7 October. So until then,
we have to wait.
Q: I’m sorry, unless I missed it, what was your response to
Libyan leader Muammar Al-Qadhafi’s remarks and his
ripping of the UN Charter? And why didn’t you come out publicly and denounce
his attack on the institution that you are the leader of , coming into your
house and doing this? Your Spokeswoman had a quote, I saw, but unless I missed
something from you, what is your opinion of what happened?
SG: I understand that my Spokesperson, Michele Montas, has
already answered and made some comments on that.
The Charter of the United Nations is the very foundation of
our Organization, the United Nations, and it is a symbol of the legitimacy of
the United Nations. Any behaviour to denigrate this Charter is unacceptable.
Q: I have a follow up surrounding Iran - if you are to
have a meeting again later today, what do you expect to come out of that meeting
if you already said the niceties about bridging the gap? What do you hope to
[achieve], and when is the meeting?
SG: This is going to be part of my ongoing efforts to,
first of all bridge this gap and urge Iranian authorities to fully cooperate
with the international community to resolve all pending issues. There are so
many issues: nuclear, humanitarian and human rights issues.
Q: Mr. Secretary-General, yesterday, your
Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs discussed a positive feeling in
the meeting between you and the Vice Foreign Minister of the DPRK. I just want
to get a better sense of what was positive about that meeting, and do you see
the UN playing a role in the disarmament talks any time soon? Thank you.
SG: We discussed how we can further strengthen the
cooperation between the United Nations and the DPRK. We discussed the idea of
opening the communication channel. I think the DPRK showed a positive attitude
towards my proposal, but that will have to be discussed later. As you may know,
earlier this year we had discussed with the DPRK Government to dispatch some
senior officials from the United Nations to discuss this cooperative
relationship with the DPRK and the United Nations. They also appreciated the
United Nations assistance in humanitarian areas, by OCHA [Office for
Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs] and UNICEF [UN Children’s Fund] and UNDP
[UN Development Programme], and I assured him that the United Nations will
continue to provide such humanitarian assistance to address all the
difficulties, particularly the food security issues and other areas.
Q: Was disarmament cooperation discussed at all in this
meeting?
SG: We discussed in general about the need to address the
nuclear issue of DPRK, in fully complying with Security Council resolutions and
the importance of returning to the six-party talks, resolving this issue through
dialogue within the six-party talks. And I also advised, urged him to improve
their bilateral relationships with countries in the region, particularly with
Japan.
Q: Japan had raised to you the issue of the abductees, but
then in the readout of your meeting with the DPRK, it didn’t seem that the issue
came up. Could you explain if that is the case? And I also just wanted to ask,
on this thing of children shot in Sri Lanka, did you get a commitment from the
Government not to shoot unarmed civilians who leave the camp?
SG: This abductee issue of Japan has been a long pending
issue. I have made my points clear on many occasions, that this should also be
resolved within a bilateral context. We said yesterday that the relationship
with Japan, which is one of the important participants of the six-party talks,
as well as one of the important regional countries, it would be desirable to
engage in bilateral talks to improve their bilateral relations.
Now, on Sri Lanka, yesterday we had an extensive discussion
with the Prime Minister. And the Foreign Minister and Defence Secretary were
also present in the meeting. They were the key people in managing this
situation. I made three points clearly again, which I did during my visit, and
which was repeated and urged again during Mr. [B. Lynn] Pascoe’s visit earlier
this month. First, that all IDPs should be resettled, as they had promised, by
the end of January. There should be extra measures taken, particularly during
this monsoon season, because their suffering will be much, much more serious
during this wet season. They should immediately begin to reach out to minority
ethnic groups, including Tamils. Then, I emphasized the importance of
instituting immediately this judiciary accountability process for violations of
international humanitarian law and international human rights law. Those were
three points, and they committed that they will do as we have agreed. But we
have to have a close watch and monitor this process.
Thank you very much for all your active participation and
for covering all the very many important events. Thank you very much.
OTHER DEVELOPMENTS IN THE U.N. SYSTEM
SECURITY COUNCIL INFORMED OF STEPS TO
DEAL WITH FRAUD, IRREGULARITIES IN AFGHANISTAN ELECTIONS
Kai Eide, the
Secretary-General’s Special Representative for
Afghanistan, told the
Security Council in an open meeting that this is decision-time in
Afghanistan and for Afghanistan. He emphasized that doing more of the same
simply is not an option any more.
Eide said that
there has been fraud and irregularities committed by election officials,
candidates and their supporters as well as government officials.
With the
assistance of experts brought in from abroad, he added, an audit procedure
has been agreed to determine the level of fraud and the final results. The
ballot boxes will now be brought to Kabul and the final audit can take
place. This process is at every stage in accordance with international
standards, the Special Representative stressed.
When the final
results have been certified important decisions must be taken by the future
Afghan president, he added, including appointing a government which can
inspire the people and its confidence.
Eide noted that
there have been a number of calls for a new international conference on
Afghanistan, adding that he supports such calls. However, if security
persists, he believes that the first such conference should take place in
Kabul.
HUMAN RIGHTS BODY BRIEFED BY GAZA
FACT-FINDING MISSION CHIEF
This morning in
Geneva, the Human Rights Council
discussed the
report of the UN Fact-Finding
Mission on the Gaza Conflict. It heard a
presentation by the head of the Mission, Richard Goldstone, as well as
statements by Israel and Palestine. It then held an interactive dialogue.
“Now is the
time for action,” Justice Goldstone told the Human Rights Council, “A
culture of impunity in the region has existed for too long. The lack of
accountability for war crimes and possible crimes against humanity has
reached a crisis point; the ongoing lack of justice is undermining any hope
for a successful peace process and reinforcing an environment that fosters
violence. Time and again, experience has taught us that overlooking justice
only leads to increased conflict and violence.”
Following its
three-month investigation, the four-person Mission concluded that serious
violations of international human rights and humanitarian law were committed
by Israel in the context of its military operations in Gaza from December
27, 2008 to January 18, 2009, and that Israel committed actions amounting to
war crimes, and possibly crimes against humanity.
The Mission
also found that Palestinian armed groups had committed war crimes, as well
as possibly crimes against humanity.
As neither the
Government of Israel nor the responsible Palestinian authorities had to date
carried out any credible investigations into alleged violations, Justice
Goldstone urged the 47 Member States of the Human Rights Council to
implement a number of measures, including referral of the Mission’s report
to the UN Security Council.
Also briefing
the Human Rights Council today in Geneva was High Commissioner for Human
Rights Navi Pillay. She was there to present her first periodic report as
requested by the Human Rights Council in its resolution S-9/1, entitled “The
Grave Violations of Human Rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,
particularly Due to the Recent Israeli Military Attacks against the Occupied
Gaza Strip.”
SECURITY COUNCIL ADOPTS PRESIDENTIAL
STATEMENT SUPPORTING ELECTORAL TIMELINE FOR COTE D’IVOIRE
Earlier this morning, the
Security Council adopted a Presidential Statement reiterating its full
support for the Ouagadougou political process and for the electoral timeline
leading to elections in Cote d’Ivoire on 29 November 2009.
The Council reiterated that the Ivorian
political actors are bound to respect the electoral timeline. The Council
stressed that it has extended the mandate and maintained the troop level of
the UN Operation in Cote d’Ivoire (UNOCI).
BAN KI-MOON SUGGESTS ESTABLISHMENT OF
MONITORING MECHANISM ON WOMEN, PEACE AND SECURITY
The latest
report of the Secretary-General on Women and Peace and Security is out
as a document. In it, the Secretary-General recommends that the Members not
only condemn violations of the rights of women and girls during armed
conflict but also take swift action in prosecuting those who commit
gender-based violence.
He also says the Security Council should
vigorously pursue a strategy to ensure an increase in women’s participation
in all peace processes, particularly in negotiation and mediation, as well
as in post-conflict governance and reconstruction.
The Secretary-General adds that the
Security Council should establish, as a matter of urgency, a monitoring
mechanism for the implementation of resolution 1325 at the global, regional
and national levels.
Finally, he suggest that the Security
Council use the commemoration of the tenth anniversary of resolution 1325,
next year, to organize a high-level ministerial event to direct the
attention of the international community towards the full implementation of
the resolution and to generate renewed and revitalized international
momentum for concerted action.
UN RIGHTS ENVOY EXPRESSES CONCERN FOR
DISPLACED TRAPPED IN CAMPS IN SRI LANKA
The Representative of the United Nations
Secretary-General on the Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons,
Walter Kaelin, said restoration of freedom of movement for more than 250,000
internally displaced persons held in closed camps in Northern Sri Lanka is
becoming a matter of urgency.
Kaelin, who just returned from a 3-day
return visit to Sri Lanka, welcomed the Government’s stated intention that
up to 80 per cent of the displaced will be allowed to return by the end of
the year. He added however, that he remains very concerned about the slow
pace of releases and stressed that it is imperative to immediately take all
measures necessary to decongest the overcrowded camps with their difficult
and risky living conditions.
During his recent visit the Representative
followed up on the discussions of Undersecretary-General for Political
Affairs, B. Lynn Pascoe, with the Government of Sri Lanka in order to
explore how the protection of the human rights of the displaced could be
strengthened and the present delays in camp releases addressed.
Stressing that the IDPs should be allowed
to leave these camps and return voluntarily and in freedom, safety and
dignity to their homes, Kaelin also said if this is not possible in the near
future, the displaced must be allowed to stay with host families or in open
transit sites.
To address obstacles to the Government’s
stated goal of decongesting these camps and allow for the return to their
homes of the large majority of displaced families who do not pose a security
threat, the Representative made several concrete suggestions.
First, he called for an improvement of the
screening procedures, second, he recommended to pursue in parallel different
options of returning displaced persons to their homes, releasing IDPs to
host families, and establishing open relief centres in transit areas for
those with nowhere else to go. He also recalled the fate of those IDPs,
including many Muslims, who have been displaced 20 or more years ago, and
the need to include them into reconstruction programmes.
NEPALESE POLICE
OFFICERS JOIN DARFUR MISSION: One hundred and five
Nepalese police officers have joined the ranks of the UN-African Union Mission
in Darfur (UNAMID)
in El Fasher. The deployment, which includes 4 female officers, brings to 2,663
the total number of police officers now serving with the Mission. That, in turn,
represents some 70 per cent of the authorized police force. The Nepalese
peacekeepers will be deployed across North, South and West Darfur.
MISSION IN SUDAN
WELCOMES PRESIDENTIAL ORDER TO LIFT CENSORSHIP:
The Mission in Sudan (UNMIS)
has welcomed President Omar Al-Bashir’s reported executive order to suspend
censorship laws and regulation for Sudanese newspapers with immediate effect.
The Mission believes that, if applied, the decision will advance the
implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) between the north and
the south of the country. It will also mark an important step towards an
environment conducive to planned multi-party elections in April 2010.
GREATER ACTION URGED TO HELP CITIES BUILD
RESILIENCE TO CLIMATE CHANGE: As Manila
battles the most severe flooding in 40 years, climate change
negotiators are meeting in Bangkok in hopes of advancing a climate change deal.
The UN Economic and Social Commission
for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)
is urging greater action to help cities adapt to the risks posed by climate
change, in association with the Rockefeller Foundation and City Leaders from
India, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines.
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