Meetings Coverage

As the United Nations International Meeting in Support of Israeli-Palestinian Peace got under way in the capital city of Cyprus today, the focus was on “parliamentary diplomacy” as a means to shape public opinion and soften the ground for a resumption of political dialogue, both central to the pursuit of a peaceful settlement of the conflict.

The Security Council today expressed its concern over the current political crisis in Nepal and underscored the urgent need for the Nepalese Government and all political parties to continue to work together in the spirit of compromise.

The Security Council today expressed its deep concern over the resurgence of unconstitutional changes of Government in a few African countries, at the possible violence that might accompany such events, as well as at the negative impact on the economic and social welfare of the people and the development of affected countries.

As the Committee on Information continued its general debate today, many speakers urged the Department of Public Information to get the United Nations message out more effectively through better coordination and use of new technology, while others prioritized broader outreach through the wider use of a broader range of languages, more accessible media and a stronger network of information centres worldwide.

Resuming its comprehensive review of peacekeeping operations in all its aspects, the Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization Committee) approved this morning a draft resolution by which the General Assembly would endorse the proposals, recommendations and conclusions of the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations contained in a report adopted during that body’s last session, from 23 February to 20 March.

With countries around the world reeling from economic turmoil, food insecurity, and the threat of climate change, the Netherlands’ Minister of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality today told delegations “this is the time to act” to make sustainable agriculture and rural development central to achieving lasting development and poverty reduction, as the Commission on Sustainable Development opened its seventeenth session.

Jan McAlpine, Director of the United Nations Forum on Forests Secretariat, appealed to Member States this afternoon to increase support for the body’s Trust Fund, which had received only about one quarter of its $2.6 million budget for activities during the 2008-2009 period.

Although the Disarmament Commission had not been able to agree on elements of a draft declaration of the 2010s as the fourth disarmament decade -- the Commission’s main task this year -- a good basis for next year’s deliberations had been achieved, Commission Chairman Andrzej Towpik (Poland) told delegates today at the closing of its 2009 substantive session.

The General Assembly today overwhelmingly backed protections for the human rights of indigenous peoples, adopting a landmark declaration that brought to an end nearly 25 years of contentious negotiations over the rights of native people to protect their lands and resources, and to maintain their unique cultures and traditions.