The many challenges now facing the international community called for stronger and more innovative cooperation between developing countries -– particularly neighbouring States -- as well as between them and developed countries, United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro said today as she helped to open the most significant United Nations meeting on the subject in decades, in Nairobi, Kenya.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has appointed Corinne Momal-Vanian as the Director of the United Nations Information Service in Geneva.

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

Officials from dynamic emerging economies asserted today that their Governments were ready to improve socio-economic conditions at home and help raise development prospects across the global South, proof that many developing countries were now capable of taking the lead in designing and implementing their own long-term development plans.

Following are UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon’s remarks at the launch of the Report of the Commission on AIDS in the Pacific in New York, 2 December:

Describing the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) as a lifeline for millions of Palestinians affected by recurring regional violence, and expressing concern over its current funding shortfall, 19 donors this morning pledged roughly $91.4 million to UNRWA for 2010, with several more indicating their contributions would be forthcoming.

On Friday, 4 December, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navanethem Pillay, will address high school students from Latin America and the Caribbean, Europe and North America who will participate in a videoconference at United Nations Headquarters.

The General Assembly, acting on the recommendation of its First Committee (Disarmament and International Security), today adopted 54 texts, including one new resolution adopted by consensus in the nuclear weapons sphere -– naming 29 August as the international day against nuclear tests.

Fresh from observing the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, the General Assembly this morning concluded two days of plenary debate on the question of Palestine and the broader situation in the Middle East with the adoption, by recorded vote, of six resolutions aimed at promoting the inalienable rights of Palestinians -– particularly to statehood –- and permanently ending Israel’s “illegal” actions in Jerusalem and Syrian Golan.

The Secretary-General has appointed Ameerah Haq of Bangladesh as his Special Representative for Timor-Leste and Head of the United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste.