Recent escalation in the Middle East — particularly between Israel and Hizbullah along the Blue Line — is concerning, the head of United Nations peace efforts in the region told the Security Council today, as he also warned that ongoing hostilities in Gaza are further fuelling regional instability.
Following are UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ remarks at a press conference to launch the Global Principles for Information Integrity, in New York today:
Urging a return to nuclear diplomacy, senior UN and Government officials briefing the Security Council today called on the United States and Iran to reanimate dialogue towards reimplementing the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action on Iran’s nuclear programme — while the Plan’s erstwhile participants traded charges and sparred over the parameters of any such return to engagement.
The General Assembly today urged accelerated action to reduce deaths and injuries from traffic accidents worldwide by implementing the Global Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021–2030.
In its journey from conflict to recovery, Somalia continues to pursue its key national priorities — including the adoption of constitutional amendments to the first four chapters of its 2012 Provisional Constitution, introducing a “one-person, one-vote” electoral model — a senior official told the Security Council today, as members warned that Al-Shabaab continues to pose a serious threat to the country’s peace and security.
The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General António Guterres:
Following is UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ message for Peacebuilding Day, observed on 23 June:
The Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) today approved nearly $5.6 billion to keep 14 peacekeeping missions, two service centres and support staff at Headquarters in operation for the coming year, as it concluded its second resumed session.
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) today said it is stepping up support to assist some 8,000 Rohingya refugees who were affected on Wednesday by landslides in the Cox’s Bazar refugee settlement in Bangladesh.
With preparations under way for a United Nations-hosted meeting between the Taliban, Member State envoys and other stakeholders, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan, briefing the Security Council today, called for greater flexibility while stressing that engagement is not normalization.
