General Assembly

9 May 2011

DEV/2883

Support for Informal Sector in Least Developed Nations Crucial to Growing National Economies, Thematic Debate Hears at Istanbul Conference

ISTANBUL, 9 May — While the private sector was the main force behind diversifying national economies and spurring integration into the global economy, in least developed countries, it was dominated by small and informal enterprises, making the creation of an enabling business environment essential for their advancement over the next decade, said participants in the first of six high-level thematic debates to be held during the Fourth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries.

9 May 2011

DEV/2882

Least Developed Nations Declare They Lived Up to Their End of Bargain, Say Donors Must Live Up to Theirs, as Istanbul Conference Continues

ISTANBUL, 9 May — Declaring that they had lived up to their end of the development partnership bargain, leaders from developing nations called for renewed political will from donors to help them stimulate economic activity, create jobs, participate as equals in global trade and turn back the ravages of poverty, as talks on a new 10-year development programme for the world’s poorest countries got under way in Istanbul this afternoon.

9 May 2011

DEV/2880

As Istanbul Conference Opens, Secretary-General Urges Recognition of Least Developed Countries as ‘Vast Reservoirs of Untapped Potential’

ISTANBUL, 9 May — As the Fourth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries opened this morning, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, other senior international officials and Heads of State and Government called for a new vision to reverse the profound poverty of the people living in the world’s 48 poorest countries and lay a firm foundation for their integration into the world economy.

6 May 2011

PI/1983

Committee on Information Unanimously Approves Text Calling for Enhancing Multilingualism, Partnerships, Local Outreach as Session Concludes

The Committee on Information today called on the United Nations Department of Public Information to bolster multilingualism, partnerships, efficiency and local outreach in order to heighten awareness of critical international issues.

5 May 2011

GA/AB/3987

Fifth Committee Considers Financing for 13 Peacekeeping Missions, Hears Proposals for Disposition of Unspent Funds, Deficits from 23 Closed Operations

The Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) this morning heard the budgetary reports of 13 United Nations peacekeeping missions, as well as proposals for the disposition of $230.7 million of unspent funds from 18 closed operations and deficits of $86.7 million from 5 others.

5 May 2011

DEV/2877

Poor Countries Bid to Halt Cycle of Poverty at United Nations Conference on Least Developed Countries in Istanbul, 9-13 May

Talks on a new 10-year programme for the world’s poorest nations are under way as Heads of State and Government, lawmakers, civil society organizations, the private sector and chiefs of international agencies gather in Istanbul, Turkey, early this month.

3 May 2011

GA/AB/3986

As United Nations Peacekeeping Portfolio Continues to Grow, Speakers in Fifth Committee Welcome Efforts to ‘Do More with Less’

Speakers lauded last year’s launch of the global field support strategy and called for its further implementation as the General Assembly’s Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) this morning considered cross-cutting administrative and budgetary aspects of financing United Nations peacekeeping operations.

3 May 2011

GA/11079/Rev. 1

General Assembly, in Recorded Vote, Adopts Resolution Granting European Union Right of Reply, Ability to Present Oral Amendments

Recognizing the importance of cooperation between the United Nations and regional organizations, as well as its benefits to the world body, the General Assembly today adopted a set of modalities granting the delegation of the European Union the right to make interventions, as well as the right of reply and the ability to present oral proposals and amendments.

2 May 2011

GA/AB/3985

In Resumed Session, Budget Committee Reviews Funding for Peacekeeping Operations, Underlining Need to Sustain Adequate, Efficient, Accountable Support

Speakers affirmed the importance of adequately, efficiently and accountably funding United Nations peacekeeping operations as the General Assembly’s Fifth Committee opened the second part of its resumed session this morning.

29 April 2011

GA/PAL/1201

Palestinian Rights Committee Chair Urges Quartet to ‘Help Sun Set on Occupation’, Finalize Permanent Status Parameters, So Peace Talks Can Proceed without Delay

HELSINKI, 29 April — With plans nearly complete for welcoming a sovereign, independent Palestinian State into the community of nations this September, the Chairman of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People today urged the Quartet of Middle East peace mediators to “help make the sun set on the occupation permanently”, by rapidly finalizing the permanent status parameters so that direct Israeli-Palestinian negotiations could proceed without delay.