Press Conference

The President of the association “Mothers of Srebrenica” said today that, while being removed from the General Assembly this morning, she had felt as powerless as she had when collecting the bones of her murdered son in Bosnia and Herzegovina some 18 years ago.

The political and security situation in the Central African Republic remained “highly, highly volatile” following the 24 March coup that ousted President François Bozizé, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General said at a Headquarters press conference today.

While emphasizing that the battle to rid the world of landmines “has largely been won”, increased global support was needed to sustain the United Nations wide-ranging assistance programmes, officials from the Organization said today during a press conference held in connection with the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action.

Maintaining peace and security, preventing conflict and ending sexual violence against women in Africa would be among the Security Council’s top priorities in April, the country’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations said at Headquarters today.

The landmark Arms Trade Treaty would save lives and reduce human suffering if it was properly implemented, the man who led negotiations told reporters at Headquarters today.

The ongoing response to a natural disaster by local authorities, as well as the central Government in the Philippines provided “a model of best practice” for partnership with the international community, a senior United Nations humanitarian official said at a Headquarters press conference today, following visits to Myanmar and the Philippines.

The Russian Federation’s March presidency of the Security Council had seen the 15-member organ take up a “very rich” programme of work, Permanent Representative Vitaly I. Churkin said today, highlighting the adoption of six resolutions, the issuance of eight press statements and discussions on diverse security situations around the world, from Mali and South Sudan to the Middle East and Kosovo.

An infusion of youth perspectives — drawn from such events as today’s Economic and Social Council Youth Forum on science and technology and a newly launched online campaign known as “Innovate Your Future” — would bring a “real renewal” to the work of the United Nations, said Council President Néstor Osorio of Colombia at a Headquarters press conference this afternoon.

Despite a recent “illegal” status referendum to the contrary, the Malvinas (Falkland Islands) — which had long been illegally colonized and militarized by the United Kingdom — rightfully belonged to Argentina, the country’s Foreign Minister said at a Headquarters press conference today.

Another high-ranking United Nations official added his voice to the growing concern over reports of increased violence between Myanmar’s Buddhist and Muslim communities, calling on the country’s leaders to bring the perpetrators of such intolerance to book.