A regional workshop on implementing United Nations Security Council resolution 1540 (2004) will be held from 27 to 29 September in Astana, Kazakhstan. Officials from Central Asian States (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan), as well as representatives from several international, regional and subregional organizations have been invited to participate in the workshop.

With some 64 million people living in absolute poverty and the gap between rich and poor nations as wide as ever, global development was at a critical juncture, making it imperative to assist least developed countries meet their most basic needs, whether by opening markets, closing protracted trade agreements or scaling up badly needed humanitarian assistance, senior Government officials said today as the General Assembly continued its general debate.

By raising the voices of persons with disabilities to the highest levels of Government and decision-making, their participation in political and public life — a critical human right in itself — also formed the bedrock for many other rights, participants in the Fourth Conference of States Parties to the Rights of Persons with Disabilities said today.

The following statement by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was issued today:

More than 2,000 delegates from over 100 countries — representing a multi-stakeholder community of Governments, the private sector, civil society, the Internet community, international organizations and the media — converged on Nairobi, Kenya, today for the sixth meeting of the Internet Governance Forum, which runs until 30 September.

The Security Council today decided to refer the application of Palestine for admission to United Nations membership to its Committee on the Admission of New Members for “examination and report”.

Following are UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s remarks at the Counter-Terrorism Committee Event in New York on 28 September:

Following is UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s message for the International Day of Non-Violence, observed 2 October:

In a brief organizational meeting, the Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) today approved its work programme for the current session, containing more than a dozen topics for consideration, including a review of peacekeeping operations, assistance in mine action, and the granting of independence to colonial countries and peoples.

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon: