The SG: The SG is concerned about recent fighting in Kidal, Mali and emphasizes the importance of a sincere peace dialogue with those involved in the Ouagadougou Preliminary Agreement. In an address at the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA), the SG noted Asia’s economic rise and potential but called for rifts and territorial disputes in the region to be settled through cooperation and common interest.
Security Council: Ivan Simonovic, Assistant SG for Human Rights, briefed the security council today on his recent visit to Ukraine and on the second report of the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission.
Syria: Navi Pillay, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, condemns the disregard for international human rights and humanitarian law in Aleppo.
South Sudan: Despite President Salva Kiir’s promise to the SG last month to cooperate with UNMISS, UNMISS continues to be concerned about the assault, harassment and detention of UN staff there, which is in violation of the Status of Forces Agreement. Also in South Sudan, cholera cases continue to rise in Juba. OCHA reports 266 cases and 13 deaths so far. Overcrowding of UN bases has become an issue and relocating civilians to “decongest” bases is now a priority.
Balkans: The DSG today will call the heads of the Balkan countries impacted by recent floods. So far, 16 countries are involved in the flood response and the UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination Team is on the ground in Serbia. The President of Serbia will meet with the SG in New York next week.
Iran: The IAEA and Iran have agreed on a framework for cooperation to include exchange of information with the International Atomic Energy Agency, namely regarding the conduct of large scale high explosive experimentation in Iran, and arranging a technical visit to a centrifuge research and development center.