Following Egypt’s presidential election process, the Secretary-General says these historic elections, in which Egyptians will freely choose their President from among numerous candidates, are an important milestone in Egypt’s democratic transition.
In progress at UNHQ
Noon Briefings
The Independent International Commission of Inquiry dealing with Syria has issued a report to the Human Rights Council on gross human rights violations that have taken place there since this March, saying they continue unabated in an increasingly militarized context, despite the parties to the conflict having reached agreement on the Joint Special Envoy’s “six-point plan”.
Addressing the General Assembly today, the Secretary-General outlined the fundamentals of mediation, saying that consent is important, as are impartiality, preparedness and inclusivity. All mediation efforts must respect international laws and norms, and much more must be done to include women in peace processes.
The Secretary-General strongly condemns yesterday’s attack against Mali’s Interim President, which follows intense mediation efforts by ECOWAS to restore constitutional order. He urges the military and security institutions to fulfil their key function of protecting the State and its legitimate interim authorities.
The Secretary-General told the NATO meeting in Chicago that he had come with one central message: that the United Nations will continue to support the Afghan Government to the maximum of its ability. However, it cannot fill all the gaps. Thus, the enduring commitment of every leader gathered in Chicago was critical.
Addressing the closing session of the General Assembly’s debate on the world economy, the Secretary-General said another worldwide recession could be even more devastating since there are less resources and fiscal capacity to respond. This is a reason to recommit to sustainable development, not shrink from it, he said.
Addressing today’s General Assembly’s thematic debate on the world economy, the Secretary-General said the old economic model is broken, and we need to create a new one for dynamic growth. This, he said, would be the focus of the Rio+20 Conference, adding his concern with the pace and ambition of negotiations so far.
Speaking at the General Assembly’s thematic debate on security in Central America this morning, the Secretary-General noted that the armed conflicts that once burned through the region are no more, that political violence has been greatly reduced, and that democratic processes are being consolidated.
The Joint Special Envoy for Syria remains extremely concerned about the plight of 1 million Syrians in need of humanitarian assistance. He strongly urges the Government to accept the conditions for a scaling up of the humanitarian assistance without further delay. He underlines the need for a speedy agreement consistent with the Government’s commitment to allowing unimpeded access to and provision of assistance to Syrians in need.
The UN Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo reports that seven peacekeepers were wounded by gunfire in an area of South Kivu on Monday. Several other peacekeepers were also injured after being hit by stones when a group of some 1,000 people surrounded a base belonging to the Mission in the area.