The Secretary-General, in remarks to reporters this morning, warmly welcomed the statement today by Afghan President Hamid Karzai, making it clear that the constitutional process regarding the Afghan elections must be fully respected. He said that the United Nations will do its utmost for the conduct of the second round of elections, scheduled for 7 November 2009, in a free, fair, transparent and secure environment.
In progress at UNHQ
Noon Briefings
The Secretary-General strongly condemns yesterday’s terrorist attacks in the Sistan-Baluchistan province of Iran which resulted in the death of a large number of people and many injured.
The twelfth Special Session of the Human Rights Council, on the human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and East Jerusalem, wrapped up this morning.
Today in Geneva, the Human Rights Council began its special session on the “human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and East Jerusalem”.
The Security Council is holding its periodic debate on the Middle East today. Briefing Council members this morning, Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs B. Lynn Pascoe said that, over the past month, there has been no significant progress, and some worrying developments on the ground.
Some 500 diplomats, Pakistani Government officials, senior UN officials and staff, and family and friends, gathered for a memorial today to pay respects to the World Food Programme (WFP) staff members who were killed or injured in the suicide attack on the WFP headquarters in Islamabad on 5 October.
United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, John Holmes, arrived in the Philippines today on a 2-day mission to see first-hand the strong emergency response to tropical storm Ketsana and typhoon Parma.
The Secretary-General wholeheartedly welcomes and congratulates US President Barack Obama on winning the Nobel Peace Prize for 2009.
The Secretary-General strongly condemns the senseless attack that took place in Kabul today, which reportedly killed 17 individuals and injured 80 more, and offers his deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of those killed, and his best wishes for a swift recovery to those injured.
The guests at noon today will discuss what we have been doing to assist the Afghan authorities in holding the elections and responding to complaints of fraud.