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.
As the United Nations approached its seventieth anniversary, the Charter tenet of national sovereignty remained valid, but a State’s responsibility for its people and its participation in global cooperation were also increasingly vital, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon stressed as he opened a day-long Security Council debate this morning.
At today’s ministerial-level Security Council open debate on maintaining international peace and security, the Secretary-General said that the three opening words of the United Nations Charter make clear who is the driving force behind the United Nations: “We the peoples”. He called for a re-affirmation to serve in that spirit.
The Independent Audit Advisory Committee of the United Nations (IAAC) held its twenty-ninth session from 18 to 20 February 2015.
