Libya: The USG for Political Affairs, B. Lynn Pascoe, represented the Secretary-General in Istanbul today at a meeting of the International Contact Group on Libya. The meeting also heard briefings by the SG’s Special Envoy for Libya, Abdul-Ilah Al-Khatib, and his Special Adviser for Post-Conflict Planning, Ian Martin. In his message to the meeting, the Secretary-General appealed to the international community to support the efforts of Special Envoy Al-Khatib and send a unified message to both parties, urging them to engage in direct negotiations through the Secretary-General’s “good offices” to break the current impasse. As in the past, the SG said, there is no military solution to the crisis. There must be a political solution. He also expressed serious concern about severe shortages in food, medical supplies and fuel, as well as lack of access to water services in Libya.
Egypt, Tunisia: Mr. Pascoe will next travel from 16-18 July to Egypt to hear from Government and NGO groups, including youth, about the state of the democratic transition and to discuss how the UN can support further progress in that transition. Mr. Pascoe will then travel to Tunisia from 18-19 July for discussions on the democratic transition in that country and UN assistance, including on elections.
Somalia: The SRSG for Somalia, Augustine Mahiga, has congratulated Somalia’s political leadership, and, in particular, the President, the Speaker as well as the Parliament, for demonstrating their commitment to peace through the Kampala Accord and the quick parliamentary ratification of that Accord. Mahiga said he looked forward to the nomination and endorsement of a representative, efficient and widely accepted Cabinet in the near future.
Sustainable Development: Speaking at a forum on sustainable development in Finland today, the SG reiterated that humanity must give sustainable development greater attention, saying that the current model of using resources was putting a strain on ecosystems and exacerbating global warming, even as climate change remained a growing threat to people and economies worldwide. “Our old model of growth is not only obsolete, it is also dangerous,” Mr. Ban said, calling for a revolution in favor of sustainable development in which a green economy is driven by business, supported by governments, and embraced by the people.
South Kordofan: This morning, the USG for Humanitarian Affairs, Valerie Amos, briefed the Security Council in consultations and expressed concern about the situation of people in South Kordofan. Asked about a UN report on violence in South Kordofan, the Spokesperson said that the report was not yet finalized or public. The Spokesperson added that this was a report from the Human Rights division of the former UN Mission in Sudan and covered the period between 4 June and the end of that month.
Kenya: The High Commissioner for Refugees, António Guterres, has welcomed Kenya’s decision to open two refugee camp near its border with Somalia. The UN Refugee Agency says that this move will ease congestion at the Dadaab Refugee Complex, where some 1,300 Somalis fleeing drought and conflict have been arriving each day.
Week Ahead: On Monday UNDP’s Clark will speak at the Third Global Review of Aid for Trade of the WTO, which the SG will attend on Tuesday. Clark will begin a trip to Guinea and Niger on Tuesday, where she will highlight lessons learned in transitioning from crisis to recovery. On Wednesday, the Security Council will hold a debate on the impact of climate change.