Routinely ‘written off,’ Eritrea is rebounding and keen to achieve Global Goals, Minister tells UN

Sep 27, 2016, at 04:36 am

New York, Sept 26 (Just Earth News): Telling the United Nations General Assembly that over the 25 years of Eritrea’s independence it has faced a “concerted onslaught” of difficulties – incessant hostility, occupation, and sanctions – the country’s Foreign Minister on Monday said that resilient Eritrea and Eritreans, at home and abroad, were nevertheless able to fend off the attacks on their nation and protect their hard-won freedom.

At Security Council, UN envoy appeals for Russia and US cooperation to pull Syria 'away from the brink'

Sep 26, 2016, at 12:58 pm

New York, Sept 26 (Just Earth News): Amid the unprecedented military assault on eastern Aleppo, where fireballs from incendiary bombs “light up the pitch darkness,” the United Nations Special Envoy for Syria on Sunday strongly appealed to the Security Council – particularly permanent members Russia and the United States – to rescue a recently collapsed cessation of hostilities, end the bloodshed and speed aid into the iconic city where, overall, some two million people remain under a de facto siege.

UN chief commends Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders on 'remarkable progress'

Sep 26, 2016, at 12:57 pm

New York, Sept 26 (Just Earth News): Following a “productive” meeting on Sunday with Mustafa Akýncý, Turkish Cypriot leader, and Nicos Anastasiades, Greek Cypriot leader, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomed their joint their joint commitment to intensify efforts even further, in line with their stated desire to achieve a comprehensive settlement in 2016.

As Gabon high court upholds results in presidential poll, Ban says UN will support democratic process

Sep 26, 2016, at 12:56 pm

New York, Sept 26 (Just Earth News): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has taken note of the ruling of the Constitutional Court of Gabon on the appeals lodged against the preliminary results of the 27 August 2016 presidential poll, as well as its confirmation of Ali Bongo Ondimba as President-elect, according to a statement issued by a UN spokesperson on Sunday, which adds that the Organization will continue to support the democratic process in the West African country.

Sudan is committed to dialogue and will ‘knock on every door in pursuit of peace,’ Minister tells UN

Sep 25, 2016, at 03:54 pm

New York, Sept 25 (Just Earth News): In his address to the General Assembly on Saturday, Ibrahim Ahmed Abd al-Aziz Ghandour, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sudan, said the 2030 Agenda and other frameworks before the United Nations are vital for all countries and he hopes that calls for reform will be heeded so the Organization becomes a true platform for implementing principles of international legality and “a bulwark for justice.”

At UN, Kyrgyz Minster cites ‘tangible blows’ to country’s economy due to climate change

Sep 25, 2016, at 03:52 pm

New York, Sept 25 (Just Earth News): Addressing the United Nations General Assembly on Saturday, Erlan Abdyldavev, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan, expressed support for the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which contain a number of targets that are priorities for his country, including poverty reduction, high-quality education, health care, economic growth and environmental protection.

Achieving Global Goals ‘not about ticking boxes,’ Dominica tells UN, urging action on climate, environment

Sep 25, 2016, at 03:50 pm

New York, Sept 25 (Just Earth News): As the world sharpened its focus on achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), it must recognize the stakes for small island developing States, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Dominica told the United Nations on Saturday, noting that the 2030 Agenda must drive action on climate change, environmental protection and access to clean energy, all critical concerns for Caribbean countries.

Philippines’ anti-drug fight ‘grabs headlines for wrong reasons,’ Foreign Secretary tells UN

Sep 25, 2016, at 03:49 pm

New York, Sept 25 (Just Earth News): Addressing the United Nations General Assembly, the Philippines’ Foreign Minister on Saturday said that the country’s fight against corruption, illegal drugs and crimes under the new President has been widely misunderstood.

United Arab Emirates, in UN debate, says Iran’s actions destabilized region

Sep 25, 2016, at 03:42 pm

New York, Sept 25 (Just Earth News): Addressing the United Nations General Assembly, the Foreign Minister of the United Arab Emirates on Saturday expressed concern over Iran’s actions that caused “tension and instability in the region.”

Nepal, at UN, stresses national ownership and international partnership for success of Global Goals

Sep 25, 2016, at 03:36 pm

New York, Sept 25 (Just Earth News): Citing the enormity of global challenges, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Nepal, addressing the United Nations General Assembly, urged world leaders to undertake a solemn commitment to make the world “of tomorrow” better than the world “of on Saturday”.

Ireland’s migrant past ‘tragic present for so many,’ Foreign Minister tells UN

Sep 25, 2016, at 03:35 pm

New York, Sept 25 (Just Earth News): Addressing the United Nations General Assembly, Ireland’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade on Saturday highlighted his country’s response to the ongoing refugee and migrant crisis.

UN is key to achieving development goals and tackling terrorism, Tajikistan tells Assembly

Sep 25, 2016, at 03:34 pm

New York, Sept 25 (Just Earth News): From spurring momentum to achieve the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to combatting terrorism and drug trafficking, the United Nations is the crucial element for success, Tajikistan told the General Assembly on Saturday.

2030 Agenda should be on ‘the walls of every planning ministry,’ Iceland tells world leaders at UN

Sep 25, 2016, at 03:32 pm

New York, Sept 25 (Just Earth News): Emphasizing that the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is the world’s “common roadmap” to sustainability, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade of Iceland underlined the need to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on time.

Least developed countries will miss 2021 targets without world support – deputy UN chief

Sep 25, 2016, at 03:25 pm

New York, Sept 25 (Just Earth News): Unless progress speeds up considerably with full support from the international community, the world's least developed countries (LDCs) will miss the growth and productivity targets they have set themselves by the target date of 2021, United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson warned on Saturday.

Timor-Leste knows ‘all too well’ price of war, Prime Minister says at UN

Sep 25, 2016, at 05:02 am

New York, Sept 24 (Just Earth News):Addressing the United Nations General Assembly, the Prime Minister of Timor-Leste on Saturday stressed the concept of mutual dependence that without peace and stability, there is no development, and without development, there is no peace and stability.

Caribbean leaders at UN warn of region’s ‘economic collapse’ under US, EU decision on banking

Sep 25, 2016, at 05:01 am

New York, Sept 24 (Just Earth News): Given their size and limited choices for economic expansion, small island States like St Lucia have looked to the more advanced economies for innovative means of economic development, the tiny country’s Prime Minister told the United Nations on Saturday, among many speakers from the region who said they now find themselves being penalized as tax havens by the very architects of such strategies.

Development requires an end to colonialism, Nicaraguan Vice-President tells UN

Sep 24, 2016, at 02:42 pm

New York, Sept 24 (Just Earth News): Addressing the United Nations General Assembly, Nicaragua’s Vice-President on Friday warned that endemic poverty and inequality have become more noticeable than ever, both in developing and developed countries, especially in vulnerable and marginalized groups, including peoples living under colonial occupation and foreign intervention.

Hostile US polices have made Korean Peninsula 'world's most dangerous hotspot,' DPRK tells UN

Sep 24, 2016, at 02:39 pm

New York, Sept 24 (Just Earth News): The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) told the United Nations General Assembly on Friday that while the Organization aspires towards sustainable development, the world is besieged by terrorism and a refugee crisis due to war and increasing global hotspots.

Armenian Minister, at UN, highlights national efforts for social and economic development

Sep 24, 2016, at 02:35 pm

New York, Sept 24 (Just Earth News): Noting the progress made by Armenia in the past 25 years, including strengthening its democratic institutions, good governance, protection of human rights and advancing economic reforms, the country’s Minister of Foreign Affairs highlighted that the needs of the country’s most vulnerable groups form the core of its development strategy 2014-2025.

Deputy Secretary-General calls on development partners to boost aid for Lake Chad Basin

Sep 24, 2016, at 02:30 pm

New York, Sept 24 (Just Earth News): More support from donors is urgently needed to expand efforts seeking to improve the lives of those affected by the humanitarian crisis in the Lake Chad Basin region, the United Nations Deputy Secretary-General said today, imploring the international community to rally behind a new call for action.

With international support, a ‘new Yemen’ will emerge from catastrophic war, President tells UN

Sep 24, 2016, at 02:11 pm

New York, Sept 24 (Just Earth News): Thanking the United Nations Secretary-General and Special Envoy for all the efforts they have undertaken to ensure the peace process in Yemen and “break out of the suffocating crisis” that is plaguing his country, President Abdrabuh Mansour Hadi Mansour told the General Assembly on Friday that with international support, a “new Yemen” will emerge from the ruins of war.

African development needs structural changes, vibrant private sector, Guinea’s leader tells UN

Sep 24, 2016, at 02:10 pm

New York, Sept 24 (Just Earth News): Addressing the United Nations General Assembly, Guinea’s President on Friday stressed that Africa needs deep structural transformations and a vibrant private sector to reduce vulnerability and build up the continent’s resilience.

Security Council adopts resolution on nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear disarmament

Sep 24, 2016, at 02:08 pm

New York, Sept 24 (Just Earth News): Reaffirming that proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and their means of delivery, threatens international peace and security, the United Nations Security Council on Friday adopted a resolution urging all States who haven’t done so to sign the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty.

Central African Republic has ‘turned its back on past dark days,’ President tells UN

Sep 24, 2016, at 04:26 am

New York, Sept 23 (Just Earth News): Taking the podium on Friday at the General Assembly, Faustin Archange Touadera, President of the Central African Republic (CAR), paid tribute to the entire United Nations system and all those in the wider international community that helped his country return to stability and constitutional legality, as he set out his four-pronged framework to continue the momentum towards lasting peace.

‘World is at a crossroads,’ President of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia tells UN

Sep 23, 2016, at 02:42 pm

New York, Sept 23 (Just Earth News): The world is at a crossroads of numerous crises, with the international community having entered a phase of fundamental changes in the global order and being faced with transformations that are both hard to stop and to control, the President of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Gjorge Ivanov, told the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday.

West African nations committed to fighting terrorism in subregion, Liberian President tells UN

Sep 23, 2016, at 02:36 pm

New York, Sept 23 (Just Earth News): Noting that the United Nations General Assembly is taking place at a time when there is escalation of conflicts engulfing millions of people in many parts of the world, Liberia’s President on Thursday stressed that West African States are collectively demonstrating their commitment and preparedness to combat terrorism affecting the subregion.

Holy See calls on international community to ensure UN sustainability agenda has ‘human face’

Sep 23, 2016, at 02:31 pm

New York, Sept 23 (Just Earth News): Recalling Pope Francis’ message to the General Assembly, last year, where he defined the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development as an important sign of hope, Pietro Parolin, Observer of the Holy See, said that the Pope reiterated his appreciation for the actions taken by the United Nations and encouraged all to put these ambitious objectives into practice.

Effective border controls make Australia successful 'immigration nation,' Prime Minister tells UN

Sep 23, 2016, at 05:26 am

New York, Sept 22 (Just Earth News): Addressing the United Nations General Assembly, Australia’s Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, stressed the need to resist “the rising tide of protectionism” but most importantly “the threat of conflict and instability.”

Despite progress on Global Goals, Bangladesh faces ‘new wave of terrorism,’ Prime Minister tells UN

Sep 23, 2016, at 05:24 am

New York, Sept 22 (Just Earth News): Addressing the United Nations General Assembly, the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, on Thursday said that her country has already mainstreamed most Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into its national development plans.

‘A wall is not the solution’ for migration crisis, El Salvador’s President tells UN

Sep 23, 2016, at 05:19 am

New York, Sept 22 (Just Earth News): In his address to the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday, Salvador Sánchez Cerén, the President of El Salvador, urged the international community to meet the complex challenges posed by mass migration with courage and to strengthen the activities of regional and global organizations dealing with the issue, especially to ensure the protection of the human rights of all people on the move.