Meetings Coverage

Success in the global fight against trafficking in drugs and humans, as well as the associated problems of transnational organized crime and money-laundering, required interlocking national, regional and international strategies rooted in global cooperation, the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) was told today, as it wrapped up its discussion on crime prevention, criminal justice and international drug control.

In the face of the continued existence and spread of nuclear weapons by nuclear Powers, the world could profit from the current attention to nuclear disarmament only from sincere political will, real change in past policies and respect for disarmament obligations, and understanding of the new dynamics among nations, the First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) heard today.

Pressed to conclude their work by 2010, top officials from the war crimes Tribunals investigating atrocities committed during the 1994 Rwandan genocide and the Balkan wars of the 1990s, today appealed to the General Assembly for more time, resources and compensation for staff who were throwing their full weight behind the pursuit of justice for victims.

During its resumed substantive session for 2009, the Economic and Social Council this afternoon elected by secret ballot Jorge Montano (Mexico) to serve effective immediately as a member of the International Narcotics Control Board until 1 March 2012. Mr. Montano was elected to replace Maria Elena Medina-Mora Icaza (Mexico), who resigned. He received 40 of 46 votes. Two delegates who were present abstained from the voting.

The Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) continued its consideration of decolonization items this afternoon, hearing 22 petitioners on the questions of Gibraltar, Guam and Western Sahara.

Antonio Maria Costa, Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), this afternoon called on Governments to counter the sinister nexus of drugs, crime and terrorism by promoting health, justice and security.

The Sixth Committee (Legal) today continued its consideration of measures to eliminate international terrorism, with delegations focusing not just on the outstanding issues to the proposed comprehensive convention, but actions and initiatives taken to challenge the roots of terrorism.

Member States must ramp up efforts to stop global warming and make a just, comprehensive global deal on mitigation and adaptation measures during the upcoming United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, several speakers said today, as the Second Committee (Economic and Financial) concluded its general debate.

Highlighting the positive climate that had emerged for progress towards achieving the goal of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, the representative of the Russian Federation today told the First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) that it was noteworthy that, for the first time in recent years, the idea of a non-nuclear-weapon world had near-unanimous support from the leaders of all major industrialized countries.

Speakers in the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) this morning stressed the importance of effective oversight for the continued viability and effectiveness of the United Nations, as they considered reports of the Board of Auditors, Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) and newly-constituted Independent Audit Advisory Committee (IAAC).