A team from the United Nations and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) has arrived in Damascus, following endorsement by the OPCW and Security Council of a plan to oversee destruction of Syria’s chemical weapons. Initial efforts will focus on verifying information provided by Syrian authorities.
In progress at UNHQ
Noon Briefings
The Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Iraq has expressed his shock at the series of car bomb explosions that hit the city of Erbil yesterday and caused a number of casualties. He urged regional and national authorities to ensure that those responsible will be brought to justice.
The Secretary-General is deeply concerned by the conclusions of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which state that human influence on the climate system is now evident in most regions and that it is extremely likely that that has been the dominant cause of the observed warming since the mid-twentieth century.
The Secretary-General today welcomed the judgment by the Appeals Chamber of the Special Court for Sierra Leone in the case of Charles Taylor, Liberia’s former President, calling it a milestone in international criminal justice and a historic and momentous day for the people of Sierra Leone and the region.
The mission under Åke Sellström that is looking into allegations of chemical weapons use has returned to Syria to complete its fact-finding activities for all pending credible allegations, including the 19 March incident at Khan al-Asal and two others previously identified by the mission as warranting an investigation.
The Secretary-General spoke at various events today to boost achievement of the Millennium Development Goals and to shape the post-2015 agenda, including on disability and development, partnering for the Goals, and improving maternal health. He also addressed a meeting on oversight in the Great Lakes region.
The Secretary-General is saddened by the loss of life in Mexico, and the damage to homes and infrastructure caused by Hurricanes Ingrid and Manuel since 17 September, which have affected some 1.2 million people. The United Nations stands ready to lend its assistance to efforts to respond to humanitarian needs.
The Secretary-General spoke at the Peace Bell Ceremony today to mark the International Day of Peace. He said the International Day is a day when we reiterate our belief in non-violence and call for a global ceasefire. He said that perhaps nowhere in the world is this more desperately needed than in Syria.
The Secretary-General yesterday said he was informed by the Syrian Government that Syria’s President has signed the legislative decree providing for Syria’s accession to the Chemical Weapons Convention. Authorities expressed their commitment to observe the Convention even before its entry into force for Syria.
In consultations this morning, the Security Council is expected to be briefed on the Democratic Republic of the Congo by Mary Robinson, the Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Region of Africa, and Martin Kobler, the head of the UN Mission in that country. Later, members will meet formally on Somalia.