Following are UN Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson’s remarks, as delivered, at the General Assembly Debate on Integrating Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice in the Post-2015 Development Agenda, today, in New York:

Following is Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson’s remarks, as delivered, at the panel discussion on “A Transformative Approach to Transitional Justice:  Building a Sustainable Peace for All”, today, in New York:

While “sprinting towards the last mile” in achieving targets set out under the Millennium Development Goals, the United Nations must also prepare for the “marathon” challenge of improving life for the most vulnerable in the post-2015 era, said the heads of the Organization’s Funds and Programmes in a dialogue with the Economic and Social Council today.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon arrived in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday evening, 18 February, to attend the Summit on Countering Violent Extremism, hosted by the United States Government.

Foreseeing little progress in upcoming peace talks on South Sudan due to continued fighting and lack of political will, the United Nations peacekeeping head this afternoon urged the Security Council to impose consequences if the parties did not immediately cease fire and make necessary compromises in negotiation.

The Security Council today adopted a resolution reaffirming its commitment to the unity, sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Yemen.  They expressed concern over the ongoing political, security, economic and humanitarian challenges in the country, and called on all parties to resolve their differences through dialogue.

Noting that the ongoing political crisis and escalating violence in eastern Ukraine was a top priority for the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), its newly installed Chairperson-in-Office today urged full adherence to the ceasefire between Ukraine and pro-separatist Russian forces to facilitate the withdrawal by both sides of heavy weapons and equipment from the area and other steps agreed to earlier in the month.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today announced the appointment of Ján Kubiš of Slovakia as his Special Representative for Iraq and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI).

The Security Council this morning extended for one year sanctions on those threatening stability in Yemen, as well as the mandate of the Panel of Experts who assist the committee that oversees those measures.

While huge efforts had been made to adapt the development system to evolving country needs, the United Nations must use its credibility, impartiality and access to specialized knowledge more effectively in order to deliver fit-for-purpose results over the next 15 years, the Economic and Social Council heard today, as it opened its 2015 operational activities segment.