The United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus announced today the clearance of nine suspected hazardous areas on both sides of the island, amounting to a total area of 210 square meters.  This confidence-building measure was agreed upon by both leaders on 26 February as part of their commitment towards a mine-free Cyprus.

The Independent Audit Advisory Committee of the United Nations held its forty-eighth session from 10 to 13 December at United Nations Headquarters in New York.

Following are UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ remarks at the opening of the Global Refugee Forum, in Geneva today:

Whereas the imposition of sanctions cannot be an end in itself, such measures can play a vital role in helping to restore peace and stability if Member States implement them in full, the outgoing chairs of Security Council subsidiary bodies told members today.

Following are UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed’s remarks, as prepared for delivery, at the Aswan Forum for Sustainable Peace and Development interactive session on “Twenty-One Strategies Later:  Why is Sustainable Peace and Development in the Sahel Still Elusive?”, in Aswan, Egypt, on 11 December:

At today’s Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) meeting, Japan’s delegate expressed her concerns with a Secretariat request to approve $64.5 million in new charges against the contingency fund set aside for the Organization’s upcoming 2020 regular budget.

The results of the 28 September presidential election in Afghanistan must be accepted by all stakeholders, especially the candidates, if it is to move forward along a path to sustainable peace, the top United Nations official in that country told the Security Council today.

The General Assembly today adopted five humanitarian‑focused resolutions, primarily on strengthening coordination of United Nations humanitarian and disaster relief assistance, while rejecting two amendments proposing to remove language related to reproductive and sexual health in emergency situations.

Following are UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed’s remarks (opening and closing), as prepared for delivery, at the opening session of the Aswan Forum for Sustainable Peace and Development:  “The Africa We Want:  Sustaining Peace, Security and Development”, in Aswan, Egypt, on 11 December:

The Qatar Fund for Development and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees signed an agreement yesterday under which Qatar will contribute $20.7 million to support Palestine refugees’ access to basic services in Syria.  This contribution brings the Qatar Fund’s total support to the Agency to $40 million.