In Copenhagen, the UN Climate Change Conference has entered the drafting phase for a final agreement. And according to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, there is a real eagerness among parties to sit down and get the work done as much as possible before Ministers arrive.
In progress at UNHQ
Noon Briefings
The Secretary-General condemns in the strongest terms the bomb attacks in Baghdad today that have left over 120 people dead and scores more injured. No cause can justify these attacks on civilians. The attacks appear to be aimed at undermining the election process, including the political progress in Iraq.
The United Nations Climate Change Conference started today in Copenhagen with what Yvo de Boer, the top UN Climate Change official, called “unprecedented political momentum for a deal”. De Boer called on negotiators to focus on solid and practical proposals that will unleash prompt action on mitigation, adaptation, finance, technology, reducing emissions from deforestation in developing countries and capacity-building.
Luis Moreno-Ocampo provided the Security Council with an update on his work dealing with Darfur. He said that all efforts in recent months have encouraged Sudan to respect its responsibilities as a UN Member State and to put an end to crimes and arrest people indicted by the Court. He noted that President Omar al-Bashir, one of the indicted suspects, has been unable to travel to certain States where he may be arrested.
The United Nations, the African Union Mission in Somalia, known as AMISOM, the European Union, the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development, the League of Arab States, Norway and the United States issued a joint statement in Nairobi today. They all condemned in the strongest terms the cowardly suicide bombing carried out which killed Transitional Federal Government officials, students, journalists and other civilians in Mogadishu.
The Secretary-General welcomes the new United States plan for Afghanistan announced by President Barack Obama yesterday evening.
Today is World AIDS Day. In a message, the Secretary-General says that more must be done, on an urgent basis, to uphold the commitment to reach universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support by 2010.
Secretary-General: "Michèle Montas was my first appointment, as you may recall. I wanted someone I could trust, and someone who believed in the United Nations as much as I do. Someone who embodied the highest standards of personal integrity and journalistic credibility. I found that Michèle Montas has all the qualities one could hope for in a Spokesperson."
The Secretary-General is travelling tomorrow to Trinidad and Tobago, for this year’s Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. During his three-day trip, the Secretary-General is expected to urge the leaders to attend next month’s Climate Change Summit in Copenhagen and seal a deal.
The Secretary-General is saddened by the reports of the brutal killing of more than 40 civilians in the Maguindanao Province, southern Philippines. He condemns this heinous crime committed in the context of a local election campaign. The Secretary-General extends heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and hopes that no effort will be spared to bring justice and to hold the perpetrators accountable.