Meetings Coverage

The Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) today recommended 23 entities for consultative status with the Economic and Social Council and postponed its consideration of 39 applications.

After intense negotiations and, at times, heated controversy, States parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) today concluded the 2010 Conference to review and advance the landmark 1968 accord with the unanimous adoption of an outcome document that contained steps to speed progress on nuclear disarmament, advance non-proliferation and work towards a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East.

Participants in the Review Conference for the landmark 1995 Fish Stocks Agreement today examined draft outcomes for the five-day meeting in preparation for its final report tomorrow, with some praising the text as reflective of consensual elements raised throughout the week, and others anticipating a “bumpy ride ahead” for achieving agreement on recommendations to be made along four key themes.

The Security Council today decided to extend the mandate of the United Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI) until 30 June 2010, in its current configuration pending consideration of recommendations for its revision.

ISTANBUL, Turkey, 27 May — With tensions high in Jerusalem, and public criticism growing worldwide over the lack of action to alleviate the desperate situation of Palestinians clinging to survival there, experts, students and representatives of non-governmental organizations attending a United Nations Forum called today for an end to Israel’s repressive policies in that city, urging fellow members of civil society to mobilize a coordinated, rights-based response.

Approaching the end of its four-week second resumed session, the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) today took up the proposed budget for the United Nations Office to the African Union, estimated to require $10.6 million, with speakers expressing regret at its late submission by the Secretary-General, leaving barely a day to consider possible gaps, as described by the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions.

Recommending special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council for two groups today, the Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations also postponed consideration of 62 other applications pending receipt of additional information.

Amid high stakes and intense negotiations to bring the 2010 Review Conference for the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) to a successful conclusion, delegations of States parties to the landmark 1968 accord began pouring over the details of a draft final document distributed early this evening, with a view to adopting it by consensus on 28 May, the last day of the Conference.

Government officials and environmental experts alike weighed in on the effectiveness of the 1995 Fish Stocks Agreement and put forward diverse — sometimes divergent — ideas for improving its implementation, as the Conference to review the landmark global instrument continued into its third day.

Intercultural dialogue was crucial in preventing and ending conflicts, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told the Security Council today as he opened a meeting on that subject, with Prime Minister Saad Hariri of Lebanon presiding.