Middle East

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

The Secretary-General is encouraged by progress in the implementation of the peace accord in Colombia, especially the recent delivery to the United Nations Mission of the first 30 per cent of the arms of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia—People's Army (FARC-EP).

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

While welcoming the United States President’s personal engagement in Israel-Palestine issues today, the Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process warned of an “explosive environment” developing on the ground, as the Security Council considered the situation in the region, including the Palestinian question.

Cooperation and multilateral approaches would be needed to address interlinked conflicts, cross-border humanitarian crises and violent extremism, the Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process told the Security Council today, as it held its quarterly open debate on that region.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has appointed Mohamed Ali Alhakim of Iraq as the next Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA).

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

The Secretary-General took notice with disappointment and alarm of the decision by Israel to build a new settlement in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.  He condemns all unilateral actions that, like the present one, threaten peace and undermine the two-State solution.

The last three months had seen a high rate of Israeli settlement plans and construction in the Occupied Palestinian Territory increased notably in the last three months, as did provocations from both sides, despite a call from the Security Council in late December 2016 to cease such activity, the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process said this afternoon.

The Secretary-General, in his first field visit, arrived in Somalia earlier today to highlight the ongoing risk of famine and cholera faced by millions in the country and appeal for international support.  More than half the population is in need of humanitarian aid and 300,000 children are acutely malnourished.