Meetings Coverage

As the Sixth Committee (Legal) today concluded its debate on measures to counter international terrorism, Sudan’s representative called for the convening of a high-level conference and establishment of the Saudi Arabian proposed centre as strong measures to counter attacks against Islam.

Food production must double by 2050 to meet the demand of the world’s growing population and innovative strategies are needed to help combat hunger, which already affects more than 1 billion people in the world, several experts today told the Second Committee (Economic and Financial) during a panel discussion on “New cooperation for global food security”.

New winds were blowing positively through the halls of disarmament, but notwithstanding the recent momentum in the area of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, the new weapons of mass destruction -– small arms and light weapons -– were destabilizing societies and imperilling people everywhere, the First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) heard today.

Expressing its strong concern over the increase in violence and criminality in Afghanistan, the Security Council today extended the authorization for the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) for 12 months beyond 13 October 2009. As its members unanimously adopted resolution 1890 (2009), the Council also called on Member States to contribute personnel, equipment and other resources in order to allow ISAF to meet security and assistance challenges.

Targeted sanctions could be an effective way to deal with “spoilers” in Somalia, but the approach must be flexible enough to allow them to change course and work for peace, B. Lynn Pascoe, Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, told the Security Council this morning.

The Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) continued its general debate on decolonization issues today, focusing solely on the question of Western Sahara and hearing 31 petitioners weigh the human rights, humanitarian, and political dimensions of the dispute.

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.