Press Release

Following is the text of UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ video message on the launch of the United Nations Policy Brief on the Impact of COVID-19 on Africa, in New York today:

Israel’s stated intention to annex parts of the occupied West Bank will deal a devastating blow to the two-State solution and close the door to fresh negotiations with the Palestinians towards peace in the Middle East, the top United Nations official for the peace process said during a videoconference meeting of the Security Council on 20 May. 

Venezuela is mired in a protracted crisis that only its people can resolve, the Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs told the Security Council during a 20 May videoconference meeting.

The General Assembly adopted two decisions since 15 May, one on counter-terrorism and the other on extending the world body’s “silence procedure” until the end of June so it can continue its work amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Following are UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed’s remarks, as prepared for delivery, to the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Operational Activities Segment today:

The new Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations, T. S. Tirumurti, presented his credentials to the Secretariat today.

Following are Secretary-General António Guterres’ remarks to the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Operational Activities Segment today:

Continued fighting in Libya threatens to worsen an already volatile situation, despite calls to end violence amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the Acting Special Representative of the Secretary‑General cautioned during a 19 May videoconference meeting of the Security Council.

A mix of increased cross-border and cross-line access is needed to sustain — and preferably increase — the delivery of aid into north-east Syria amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the senior United Nations humanitarian official in the country told the Security Council in a videoconference meeting on 19 May.

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General António Guterres: