The Secretary-General is now at a round-table meeting with heads of international organizations dealing with disarmament to discuss major challenges, existing gaps and ideas on how to foster greater understanding and cooperation towards the common goal of a world free of weapons of mass destruction.
In progress at UNHQ
Noon Briefings
The Secretary-General discussed the forthcoming two intensive rounds of substantive negotiations that the Cypriot leaders will have this month. And he encouraged both leaders to remain committed and to show flexibility and leadership. He is convinced that a win-win solution in many different areas is available, and he is confident that together both leaders have the political courage and vision required to make progress.
The Secretary-General expressed the hope that the tremendous political energy released during last year’s elections will now be directed towards forging a meaningful, realistic and renewed compact between the Afghan Government and its people. Kai Eide also briefed the Council, saying there was need for a transition strategy that could place Afghans in charge of their own future.
The World Food Programme has suspended its operations in much of southern Somalia due to rising security threats and attacks on humanitarian operations. WFP offices in half a dozen locations in the south have been temporarily closed, and food supplies and equipment have been moved out of these areas. Staff have also been moved to safer areas to ensure that food assistance reaches as many vulnerable people as possible.
The Secretary-General and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS have welcomed the removal of travel restrictions based on HIV status by the Republic of Korea and by the United States. The lifting of the restrictions took effect on 1 January in the Republic of Korea, and the United States change took effect today.
The General Assembly concluded the main part of its substantive session early this morning. The Secretary-General expressed his appreciation to Member States for the approval of the programme budget of $5.156 billion for the biennium 2010-2011.
This morning, the Security Council adopted a resolution imposing sanctions on Eritrea. The text bans weapons sales to and from the country and imposes travel restrictions on the country’s political and military leadership. It also freezes their assets.
The Secretary-General welcomes the General Assembly’s new resolution on next year’s planned Millennium Development Goals Summit. There has been progress towards the Goals and it has been mixed. The Summit will be a crucially important opportunity to redouble our efforts to meet the Goals by the agreed deadline of 2015.
The Secretary-General said that the Copenhagen Conference on Climate Change was a success that marked several advances, including by committing countries to work to limit global temperature rise to below 2° C. He also noted the Copenhagen Accord’s inclusion of mid-term mitigation targets by developed countries and mid-term mitigation actions by developing countries, and the agreement to provide comprehensive support to the most vulnerable to cope with climate change.
With just hours remaining to close the final gaps, the Secretary-General implored leaders to seize this opportunity. “Now is the time for common sense, compromise and courage.” The Secretary-General worked through most of last night and today with world leaders who are negotiating the final text of the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference.