The Secretary-General has appointed Professor Ǻke Sellström as head of the United Nations fact-finding mission to investigate allegations of chemical-weapons use in Syria. He was a Chief Inspector of the United Nations Special Commission and Senior Adviser to the Chairmen of the United Nations Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission for the disarmament of Iraq.
In progress at UNHQ
Noon Briefings
Owing to security incidents yesterday and today near the hotel in Damascus housing UN staff, the Security Management Team has decided to temporarily reduce the presence of international staff in Syria. Most Damascus-based staff from the Joint Special Representative’s office will be relocated to Beirut and Cairo.
The Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Kosovo spotlighted important political developments in a briefing to the Security Council today, saying that the high-level political dialogue facilitated by the European Union marks an essential new chapter in the collective effort to overcome the legacy of conflict.
Martin Kobler, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Iraq, briefed the Security Council this morning in an open meeting, saying that Iraqis face a complex set of interrelated problems, among them the very real potential for a spill-over of violence from Syria.
Christopher Ross, the Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for Western Sahara, is in Rabat, Morocco, today. It is the first leg of his trip to North Africa, aimed at preparing for the next phase in the negotiating process and a possible resumption of direct talks to achieve a mutually acceptable political solution.
The UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo has welcomed the surrender of the Congolese rebel Jean Bosco Ntaganda, and the decision by the United States to transfer him to The Hague, where he is wanted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes and crimes against humanity allegedly committed in Ituri between 2001 and 2003.
The Secretary-General told the Arms Trade Treaty Conference today that, after a very long journey, our final destination is in sight: a robust arms trade treaty. Poorly regulated arms affects every dimension of the UN’s work and it is time to overcome past setbacks in the treaty process and deliver.
The UN refugee agency is increasingly worried by the situation in south-eastern Central African Republic, where attacks this week are posing additional risks to the civilian population, including Congolese refugees. On Monday, Séléka rebels attacked and took over the town of Bangassou. As well as presenting a security risk, the Séléka advance is further compromising the refugee agency’s access to refugees and internally displaced populations.
The World Food Programme (WFP) said today that funding shortages were making it difficult for WFP to expand its emergency operation to feed millions of conflict-affected people. Executive Director Ertharin Cousin said that as the crisis enters its third year, now is not the time to reduce or stop WFP operations.
In Jordan today, UN High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres urged donors to approve extraordinary funds to help Syrian refugees and host countries. While praising Jordan’s efforts, he warned of devastating consequences — for both the Syrian people and for regional stability — if funding levels do not rise.