Noon Briefings

The Secretary-General welcomes President Obama’s announcement to start the drawdown of American forces in Afghanistan as of July 2011. The United Nations views this decision as the beginning of a transition to greater responsibilities of the Afghan Government and ultimately to full Afghan leadership and ownership.

The General Assembly yesterday agreed on a second term for Ban Ki-moon as UN Secretary-General. He was sworn in, after placing his hand on the original copy of the UN Charter. Vowing to build bridges among nations, he said: “Together, no challenge is too large. Together, nothing is impossible.”

The General Assembly expects to take up the agenda item “Appointment of the Secretary-General of the United Nations” this afternoon. The Assembly’s action comes after the Security Council’s adoption of resolution 1987 (2011) last Friday. The Secretary-General will attend the General Assembly meeting.

The Security Council heard briefings today, via videoconference, on the situation in Sudan, from the Head of the UN Mission there, Haile Menkerios, as well as from the African Union envoy and former South African President Thabo Mbeki. The Secretary-General welcomes today’s agreement on Abyei.

The Security Council, in a closed meeting this morning, approved by acclamation a resolution in which the Security Council recommends to the General Assembly that Ban Ki-moon be appointed Secretary-General of the United Nations for a second term of office, from 1 January 2012 to 31 December 2016.

The Secretary-General told Uruguay’s Parliament yesterday that people in the Middle East and North Africa are raising their voices in a once-in-a-generation moment for freedom and democracy. He said he had again urged Syria’s President to protect his people, respect their rights, listen, and facilitate refugee returns.

Reporting to the Human Rights Council, High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay says the information received by the fact-finding mission on Syria reflects a dire human rights situation. The alleged breaches of basic rights on such a broad scale require a thorough investigation and full accountability.

The United Nations Mission in Sudan reports that the intensive bombing by the Sudanese Armed Forces in the past week is continuing in the surroundings of Kadugli and Kauda, in Southern Kordofan. The Mission is extremely concerned about a bombing campaign which often appears to be indiscriminate, causing huge suffering to civilian populations and which endangers humanitarian assistance.

In a statement issued over the weekend, the Secretary-General expressed alarm at the escalation of fighting in Southern Kordofan, Sudan, which has left thousands homeless. He called on all concerned to cease hostilities and provide their full cooperation to the United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS).

the Secretary-General welcomes the “Kampala Accord” signed yesterday concerning Somalia, which will enable the Transitional Federal Institutions to work constructively in the interest of the Somali people. He calls on the Somali parties to act resolutely to complete the outstanding transitional tasks.