Press Release

The General Assembly adopted two decisions since 15 May, one on counter-terrorism and the other on extending the world body’s “silence procedure” until the end of June so it can continue its work amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Venezuela is mired in a protracted crisis that only its people can resolve, the Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs told the Security Council during a 20 May videoconference meeting.

Following are Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed’s remarks, as prepared for delivery, to Session 2 of the Africa Dialogues Series 2020 on COVID-19 and Silencing the Guns in Africa: Challenges and Opportunities; Global Solidarity and Stronger Partnerships for Africa’s response to COVID-19 and Silencing the Guns:

A mix of increased cross-border and cross-line access is needed to sustain — and preferably increase — the delivery of aid into north-east Syria amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the senior United Nations humanitarian official in the country told the Security Council in a videoconference meeting on 19 May.

Following is UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ message on the International Day for Biological Diversity, observed on 22 May:

Following are Secretary-General António Guterres’ remarks to the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Operational Activities Segment today:

Continued fighting in Libya threatens to worsen an already volatile situation, despite calls to end violence amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the Acting Special Representative of the Secretary‑General cautioned during a 19 May videoconference meeting of the Security Council.

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General António Guterres:

Too many “fleeting opportunities” have been lost to turn dynamics in Syria towards a political path, the Special Envoy told the Security Council in an 18 May videoconference meeting, as he urged international parties and Syrians alike to take advantage of “some calm” in the near decade of fighting to build trust and unlock progress.

The SDG Media Compact, an alliance of news and entertainment companies convened by the United Nations to drive coverage and mobilize action for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), welcomed its 100^th member.