Following are UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s opening remarks at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change COP15 High-Level Segment in Copenhagen today, 15 December:

Wrapping up its resumed 2009 substantive session, the Economic and Social Council today filled outstanding vacancies on a number of its subsidiary bodies, and heard briefings by key United Nations officials dealing with food security issues, as well as detailed review by its President on coordinated follow-up in response to the world economic and financial crisis.

Following is the statement by the Bureau of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People on Israel’s settlement activity in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem:

In paragraph 3 of Security Council resolution 1854 (2008) the Council, inter alia, directed the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1521 (2003) concerning Liberia to update the guidelines for the conduct of its work, particularly with regard to listing and delisting procedures. On 14 December 2009, the Committee adopted updated guidelines for the conduct of its work.

Urging the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia to take all possible measures to complete its work, the Security Council today allowed several judges to serve beyond the expiry of their term of office to enable them to complete work on cases in which they were involved.

The Security Council, while urging the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda to take all possible measures to complete its work, today allowed one of its judges to serve beyond the expiry of his term of office so he could complete work on cases in which he was involved.

Following are UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s remarks at the World Food Programme (WFP) “Safe Stoves” event in Copenhagen today, 16 December:

Progress in the coming year should allow the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) to hone its task of helping ensure the future stability of the vast central African country, Alan Doss, Special Representative of the Secretary-General, told the Security Council today.

Acting without a vote on the recommendations of its Sixth (Legal) Committee, the General Assembly this morning adopted 15 resolutions and two decisions on issues ranging from international terrorism to the rule of law, as it also adopted a text on assistance to the Palestinian people and continued its consideration of the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy.

If Member States accepted a lesser deal during the upcoming Copenhagen Climate Conference than what was scientifically needed to cut greenhouse gas emissions, they would be threatening the very existence of small island countries, the representative of the Federated States of Micronesia told the Second Committee (Economic and Financial) as it began its consideration of sustainable development today.