Meetings Coverage

The Economic and Social Council today adopted a draft decision that established its working arrangements for its 2015 session.

Deploring the downing of Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 in eastern Ukraine on 17 July and voicing concern that armed groups had impeded access to the crash site, the Security Council this afternoon called for an independent international investigation and an immediate halt to military activities in the area.

The Economic and Social Council today opened it 2015 session, adopting a provisional agenda and taking action on two draft decisions.

In a meeting today to address the devastating impacts of the violence engulfing Gaza — claiming civilian lives and threatening an already troubled region — the United Nations senior political official told the Security Council the attacks and retaliations were frustrating hopes of any de-escalation.

Speakers at the Security Council this morning expressed deep sorrow over the loss of life that resulted from the downing of a commercial airliner over eastern Ukraine yesterday, calling for a credible investigation into the tragic incident and urging accelerated political efforts to end the country’s crisis.

Fighting between rival brigades in Libya’s capital and airport represented a sharp escalation that had forced withdrawal of United Nations staff and was threatening the country’s political transition, the world Organization’s top envoy to the country told the Security Council this morning.

The General Assembly today adopted a resolution by consensus that reaffirmed its support for the implementation of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development.

The Economic and Social Council concluded its resumed coordination and management segment today with the adoption of 14 draft resolutions, including a text aimed at addressing the economic and social repercussions of the Israeli occupation on the Palestinian people, and another calling for increased support of United Nations specialized agencies to non-self-governing territories.

The Security Council, considering the report of the Peacebuilding Commission’s seventh session, heard that building peace in post-conflict countries was a complex and challenging process, requiring national ownership and leadership, and strengthened responses to early warning signs of relapse.