Press Conference

Despite a recent “illegal” status referendum to the contrary, the Malvinas (Falkland Islands) — which had long been illegally colonized and militarized by the United Kingdom — rightfully belonged to Argentina, the country’s Foreign Minister said at a Headquarters press conference today.

Another high-ranking United Nations official added his voice to the growing concern over reports of increased violence between Myanmar’s Buddhist and Muslim communities, calling on the country’s leaders to bring the perpetrators of such intolerance to book.

It would be wrong to discuss the sovereignty claim “over the heads” and expressed wishes of the people of the Falkland Islands (Malvinas) following their overwhelming referendum vote to remain a part of the United Kingdom, the country’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations said at a Headquarters press conference today.

At a Headquarters press conference today, Members of national parliaments from around the world called for delegations to the arms trade treaty conference to negotiate a strong treaty, amid concerns that a new draft text to be presented Wednesday would be weaker and “lack teeth” in monitoring and compliance.

With only four days left to conclude a strong, robust instrument, the President of the Final United Nations Conference on the Arms Trade Treaty should not succumb to pressure from major weapons exporters seeking to weaken its provisions, civil society representatives said at a Headquarters press conference today.

Universal water security should be one of the post-2015 international development targets, experts said at a Headquarters press conference held today in observance of World Water Day.

Defecating in the open is a fact of life for 1.1 billion people on the planet, United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson said at Headquarters today.

The largest youth population ever seen faces tremendous challenges and complex difficulties, the Secretary-General’s first Envoy on Youth said at Headquarters today.

While reaching consensus on the Final United Nations Conference on the Arms Trade Treaty was a laudable aim, the main focus of the resumed negotiations should be “getting it right” and ensuring that a strong treaty emerged from the discussions, a civil society representative said at a Headquarters press conference today.

Amid the prevailing historic change and unprecedented political, economic and social challenges, it was more important than ever to promote cooperative and constructive dialogue among peoples of different faiths, religions and ethnic groups, the United Nations High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations said at Headquarters today.