Martin Kobler, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Iraq, said that he was deeply shocked and utterly dismayed by the despicable attacks across Iraq today. Those attacks have claimed the lives of scores of Iraqis, including many pilgrims, and have injured dozens more. He urgently appealed to the Government to address the root causes of the violence and terrorism that are causing so much suffering and pain to the Iraqi people.
In progress at UNHQ
Noon Briefings
The UN Mission in Syria said today that observers trying to reach the town of al-Haffeh today were confronted with angry crowds that surrounded their vehicles, hurling stones and metal rods. The observers turned back and, as they were leaving the area, three vehicles heading towards Idlib were fired upon. The source of the fire is still unclear and the observers are now secure at their base.
The Secretary-General told the General Assembly today that HIV/AIDS prevention is critical to cut the number of new infections by 1 million by 2015. He said that goal would only be realized if people at risk are reached. Noting the drop in investment, he said funds are needed to reach prevention and treatment targets.
The General Assembly voted this morning to elect Vuk Jeremic, who is the Foreign Minister of Serbia, to be the President of the sixty-seventh session of the General Assembly. Mr. Jeremic received 99 of the 185 valid ballots cast.
The Secretary-General and Joint Special Envoy Kofi Annan spoke at the General Assembly’s informal meeting on Syria this morning, and they warned the Member States that the situation there continues to deteriorate.
The Secretary-General told the General Assembly this morning ahead of the G-20 meeting in Mexico this month that the world economy is in a precarious position. He said that beyond the current global anxiety there is opportunity, and that is the forthcoming Rio+20 Conference on sustainable development.
The Secretary-General will be returning to New York from Jeddah in Saudi Arabia overnight. Earlier today, he met the Saudi monarch, King Abdullah, and visited the Islamic Development Bank. On Sunday, he opened an advisory board meeting of the UN Counter-Terrorism Centre with the Saudi Foreign Minister.
The Secretary-General has been co-chairing the Istanbul conference on Somalia today. In his remarks, he said his message was for the world to commit to long-term assistance for Somalia, and the United Nations would lead in helping achieve peace, stability and prosperity.
In the Secretary-General’s remarks today to the Alliance of Civilizations Partners Forum in Istanbul today, he said the Alliance has emerged as an increasingly important voice on the global stage. The challenge now is how to enable it to play an even more constructive role on the issues that confront us.
The Secretary-General has arrived in Istanbul at the start of his trip to Turkey and Saudi Arabia. Tomorrow, he will take part in a Partners Forum for the Alliance of Civilizations, at the invitation of Turkey’s Prime Minister. He will also meet with the Forum’s co-chairs, the Foreign Ministers of Turkey and Spain.