The mission under Åke Sellström that is looking into allegations of chemical weapons use has returned to Syria to complete its fact-finding activities for all pending credible allegations, including the 19 March incident at Khan al-Asal and two others previously identified by the mission as warranting an investigation.
In progress at UNHQ
Noon Briefings
The Secretary-General spoke at various events today to boost achievement of the Millennium Development Goals and to shape the post-2015 agenda, including on disability and development, partnering for the Goals, and improving maternal health. He also addressed a meeting on oversight in the Great Lakes region.
The Secretary-General is saddened by the loss of life in Mexico, and the damage to homes and infrastructure caused by Hurricanes Ingrid and Manuel since 17 September, which have affected some 1.2 million people. The United Nations stands ready to lend its assistance to efforts to respond to humanitarian needs.
The Secretary-General spoke at the Peace Bell Ceremony today to mark the International Day of Peace. He said the International Day is a day when we reiterate our belief in non-violence and call for a global ceasefire. He said that perhaps nowhere in the world is this more desperately needed than in Syria.
The Secretary-General yesterday said he was informed by the Syrian Government that Syria’s President has signed the legislative decree providing for Syria’s accession to the Chemical Weapons Convention. Authorities expressed their commitment to observe the Convention even before its entry into force for Syria.
In consultations this morning, the Security Council is expected to be briefed on the Democratic Republic of the Congo by Mary Robinson, the Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Region of Africa, and Martin Kobler, the head of the UN Mission in that country. Later, members will meet formally on Somalia.
The Commission of Inquiry dealing with human rights violations in Syria issued its latest report today, in which it says that civilians continue to pay the price for the failure to negotiate an end to this conflict. Tens of thousands of lives have been lost and more than 6 million Syrians have fled their homes.
Briefing the Security Council today, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Liberia, Karin Landgren, said that as that country celebrated 10 years of uninterrupted peace, a sense of a unified nationhood was still a work in progress and small-scale outbreaks of violence were still routine.
The UN refugee agency said today it is increasingly worried about the safety of civilians in the Central African Republic after its staff reported widespread lawlessness during a field trip to the north of the country. They found seven villages burned to the ground and deserted — and an eighth village partially burned — with villagers hiding in the bush.
The Secretary-General is attending the opening sessions of the G-20 Summit in Saint Petersburg after a day of meetings with a range of leaders and officials. At the working dinner the Secretary-General briefed world leaders on developments in Syria.