UN: Pakistan's Prime Minister proposes new peace initiative with India
Oct 01, 2015, at 02:32 pm
New York, Oct 1 (IBNS): Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly, Pakistan's Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif proposed on Wednesday renewed peace talks with India, aimed at defining the relationship between the Asian countries 'as one of cooperation, not confrontation.'
Lebanese Prime Minister calls on world powers to end 'ongoing massacres'
Oct 01, 2015, at 02:30 pm
New York, Oct 1 (IBNS): Holding up a photograph at the podium of the General Assembly of three-year old Aylan lying face down on a Turkish beach – the Syrian boy who drowned at the beginning of the month along with his mother and brother – the President of the Council of Ministers of Lebanon reiterated his country’s call to all powers in the world to "end the ongoing massacres."
President of Guyana urges UN to protect small States from foreign aggression
Sep 30, 2015, at 02:47 pm
New York, Sept 30 (IBNS): Reaffirming his country's commitment to international law and the primacy of the decisions of the United Nations, the President of Guyana on Tuesday called on the world body to stand by its commitment to protect small States from foreign aggression, in this case, attempts by Venezuela to "unravel borders which have been undisturbed for decades."
The only sustainable future is one that includes us all: Rwandan President
Sep 30, 2015, at 02:41 pm
New York, Sept 30 (IBNS): Change is coming and it is vitally necessary, the President of Rwanda told the General Assembly on Tuesday, urging United Nations Member States to not merely pledge commitment to the Global Goals but to acknowledge that the bold new targets will only be reached if all countries work together and acknowledge their mutual interdependence.
Mongolian President urges coordinated action to tackle pressing global issues
Sep 30, 2015, at 02:39 pm
New York, Sept 30 (IBNS): In his speech at the 70th United Nations General Assembly's annual General Debate, Mongolian President Tsakhia Elbegdorj urged his international counterparts to unite and exercise decisive leadership to fulfil UN's core missions.
African leaders highlight UN's ability to support countries and rid world of fear
Sep 30, 2015, at 02:35 pm
New York, Sept 29 (IBNS): The UN has played a significant role in reducing conflicts on the African continent and in other parts of the world was a message underlined by a number of African leaders who addressed the United Nations General Assembly today during the annual general debate.
Lethal use of force could worsen tensions, UN warns Israelis and Palestinians
Sep 30, 2015, at 02:26 pm
New York, Sept 30 (IBNS): The United Nations human rights office on Tuesday stressed the need for Israeli and Palestinian security forces to refrain from the use of excessive force amid the clashes and escalating tensions in East Jerusalem and in the West Bank, warning that such action could further inflame an already tense situation.
Breakthrough needed to ensure nuclear-test-ban treaty enters into force: Ban
Sep 30, 2015, at 02:24 pm
New York, Sept 30 (IBNS): Lamenting the fact that nearly two decades after its negotiation the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) has still not entered into force, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday urged world leaders gathered at the United Nations to demonstrate the necessary political will to usher in a nuclear-weapon-free world.
Japan announces major boost in assistance for Syrian and Iraqi refugees
Sep 30, 2015, at 02:16 pm
New York, Sept 30 (IBNS): In his address to the annual high-level meeting of the General Assembly, Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan, vowed to enhance his country's assistance to refugees and internally displaced persons from Syria and Iraq.
Kuwaiti leader affirms importance of scaling up aid as crises persist in Middle East
Sep 30, 2015, at 02:13 pm
New York, Sept 30 (IBNS): Addressing the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday, Sheikh Jaber Al Mubarak Al Hamad Al Sabah, the Prime Minister of Kuwait, affirmed his country's commitment to promoting the existence of peaceful societies and highlighted the "serious challenges" facing Yemen, Syria, Libya and Iraq.
Armenian President reports to General Assembly on increasing tension with Azerbaijan
Sep 30, 2015, at 02:11 pm
New York, Sept 30 (IBNS): The peaceful resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh problem remains one of the most salient issues in the South Caucasus, the President of Armenia on Tuesday told world leaders attending the General Assembly, while highlighting that the establishment of the UN has been one of the "greatest achievements of humankind" that consolidated nations around shared aspirations and principles.
Fighting terrorism is a priority Tajikistan, President tells UN Assembly
Sep 30, 2015, at 02:10 pm
New York, Sept 30 (IBNS): Taking the podium at the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday, Emomali Rahmon, the President of Tajikistan stressed that combating terrorism and extremism, and curbing drug trafficking are some of the top priorities for his country.
Brazilian President urges solidarity towards global goals, tackling refugee crisis
Sep 29, 2015, at 03:16 pm
New York, Sept 29 (IBNS): Following the tradition of being the first Head of State to address the annual General Debate of the United Nations General Assembly, Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff today, in a wide-ranging address, stressed, among other issues, her country’s improved economy after the 2008 economic crisis and its efforts to provide refuge for migrants stranded across Europe.
UN ideals point the way to solving the world's crises: Barack Obama
Sep 29, 2015, at 03:15 pm
New York, Sept 29 (IBNS): Warning against those who advocate authoritarianism and a return to the era of “might makes right†in the face of global disorder, United States President Barack Obama today gave a ringing endorsement of the lasting universality of the United Nations principles of freedom, prosperity and equality for all.
Russian President stresses national sovereignty within context of UN Charter
Sep 29, 2015, at 03:03 pm
New York, Sept 29 (IBNS): Stressing the unique legitimacy, representation and universality of the United Nations, Russian President Vladimir Putin warned on Monday that many of the crises facing the world have been exacerbated by countries acting against sovereign States outside the UN Charter.
Xi Jinping urges General Assembly to put new development agenda into action
Sep 29, 2015, at 03:00 pm
New York, Sept 29 (IBNS): In his address to the United Nations General Assembly’s annual gathering of world leaders, the President of China warned that the security of all countries was interrelated and that no country could protect its security alone and none could find stability at the expense of another’s.
World leaders recommit to modernize 120,000-strong UN peacekeeping force
Sep 29, 2015, at 02:59 pm
New York, Sept 29 (IBNS): Leaders of more than 50 countries gathered for a summit on United Nations peacekeeping operations today to pledge new commitments and strengthen existing capabilities, with Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon saying "the demand for peacekeeping has never been greater."
Mexican President urges UN to step up action against world drug problem
Sep 29, 2015, at 02:55 pm
New York, Sept 29 (IBNS): Addressing the United Nations General Assembly on Monday, Enrique Peña Nieto spotlighted key issues facing the world body and urged the international community to promote sustainable development and combat climate change and also encouraged the reform and modernization of the UN Security Council.
UN: South African President calls for reform of Security Council
Sep 29, 2015, at 02:52 pm
New York, Sept 29 (IBNS): In his address to the United Nations General Assembly on Monday, South African President Jacob Zuma stressed on reforming and restructuring of the UN Security Council in order to resolve conflicts surrounding Middle East and African nations.
Syria: Hollande pledges to work towards political solution but not with Syrian leader
Sep 29, 2015, at 02:45 pm
New York, Sept 29 (IBNS): France is ready to work with all countries that want to find a political solution to the four-year crisis in Syria except for President Bashar Al-Assad, who cannot be part of the solution, French President François Hollande told the UN General Assembly on Monday at the annual general debate.
Renewed attacks in Central Africa prompt UN call for end to violence
Sep 29, 2015, at 02:41 pm
New York, Sept 29 (IBNS): Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the United Nations Security Council on Monday called for an immediate end to the sudden eruption of violence in the Central African Republic (CAR) which has led to more than 30 deaths and left over 100 wounded.
Ban tells crowd to stand up for a better world, make global goals a reality
Sep 28, 2015, at 01:57 pm
New York, Sept 28 (IBNS): "Take your passion and compassion – and let’s make the global goals a global reality," United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged a massive crowd at New York’s Central Park on Sunday night, where he joined a star-studded roster of the world's leading performers to kick-off the fourth annual Global Citizen Festival.
Talks on climate change reveal broad support for durable deal in Paris: Ban
Sep 28, 2015, at 01:51 pm
New York, Sept 28 (IBNS): Secretary General Ban Ki-moon reported on Sunday that ahead of an upcoming United Nations climate conference in Paris, world leaders have voiced broad support for reaching a durable agreement that will accelerate investments in clean energy and spur a global, low-carbon transformation well before the end of the century, consistent with a below 2 degrees Celsius pathway.
Central Africa: UN and relief agencies condemn renewed violence against civilians
Sep 28, 2015, at 01:46 pm
New York, Spet 28 (IBNS): The interim United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator, Marc Vandenberghe and the entire humanitarian community in the Central African Republic (CAR) on Sunday condemned renewed violence against civilians in the capital, Bangui, and called on all parties to respect international law, to protect civilians and ensure that they can relocate from insecure areas.
Global Goals provide opportunity for quicker action to end AIDS epidemic by 2030: UN
Sep 28, 2015, at 01:41 pm
New York, Sept 28 (IBNS): Speaking at United Nations Headquarters in New York, the leaders of Kenya and Malawi co-hosted on Sunday with the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) a high-level panel discussion on scaling up efforts to end the epidemic by 2030.
'Human security depends on health security,' Ban says, calling on nations to be proactive
Sep 27, 2015, at 03:38 pm
New York, Sept 27 (IBNS) United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Saturday warned that in the coming years, unexpected new disease outbreaks will hit, and societies that proactively address these challenges are at the heart of secure nations and a safer world.
'Many people have reached the end on the line in Iraq,' warns senior UN relief official
Sep 26, 2015, at 03:17 pm
New York, Sept 26 (IBNS) Ten million Iraqis, or a quarter of the population, are going to need humanitarian aid by year's end amid "dramatically" worsening conditions that are forcing many people to leave their homeland because they no longer see a future inside their country, a senior UN relief official said on Saturday.
Malala Yousafzai urges world leaders at UN to promise safe, quality education for every child
Sep 26, 2015, at 03:14 pm
New York, Sept 26 (IBNS) Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly alongside 193 youth representatives from the Organization’s 193 Member States, Pakistani education advocate Malala Yousafzai on Friday asked world leaders to promise that every child will have the right to safe, free and quality primary and secondary education.
Syria: UN cites utter desperation behind 'tsunami' of refugees into Europe
Sep 26, 2015, at 03:13 pm
New York, Sept 26 (IBNS) Despair at appalling living conditions among the 4 million Syrians who have already fled to neighbouring countries is fuelling the current flood of refugees to Europe as they flee once more, this time from restrictions and under-funded aid programmes that have led to child labour and even 'survival sex,' the United Nations said on Friday.
UN rights expert urges Brazil to introduce measures to 'fulfill promises of equality' for minorities
Sep 26, 2015, at 03:06 pm
New York, Sept 26 (IBNS) Warning that despite a wealth of legislation, minority groups in Brazil have not seen the promises of equality fulfilled, a United Nations human rights on Friday urged Brazilian authorities to introduce immediate measures to overcome serious structural challenges facing the country’s most vulnerable communities.