UN News

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon named four new top officials to his cabinet last week. "Mr. Ban named a United States diplomat as chief political officer, a Chinese veteran of international organizations to head economic and social affairs, a Japanese international civil servant to manage public information and an Egyptian diplomat to oversee General Assembly management." More

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki met in Nairobi this week; their conversation focused on the conflict in Sudan and problems involving Somali refugees. "Mr. Ban and Mr. Kibaki also discussed the partnership between the UN and Kenya, which is home to one of the Organization's larger duty stations, during their morning meeting, UN spokesperson Michele Montas told reporters in New York." More

To draw attention to the highly anticipated report of the Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change, on-going in Paris, the French government announced that it will turn off the 336 projectors that illuminate the Eiffel Tower at night. The lights will be off for a full five minutes tomorrow evening in advance of the report's release on Friday. For an excellent insiders' account of the Panel's race to finish the report by Friday's deadline, read this dispatch by AP science writer Seth Borenstein.

The United Nations marked the annual International Day of Commemoration yesterday, in remembrance of the victims of the Holocaust. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said, "The Holocaust was a unique and undeniable tragedy...The work of remembrance pays tribute to those who perished. But it also plays a vital role in our efforts to stem the tide of human cruelty. It keeps us vigilant for new outbreaks of anti-Semitism and other forms of intolerance. And it is an essential response to those misguided individuals who claim that the Holocaust never happened, or has been exaggerated." More

Yesterday Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon kicked off his first overseas trip since becoming UN chief, meeting in Brussels with European Union (EU) leaders. "The European Union and the United Nations have maintained a very strong partnership and I regard the European Union's contribution as vitally important for the work of the United Nations," said Ban. More

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said yesterday that he has called on U.S. President George W. Bush and Congressional leaders to drop their spending cap on UN peacekeeping, noting that the limited funding creates "very difficult constraints in smoothly carrying out peacekeeping operations." "The US Government is the largest financial contributor to the regular budget, as well as the peacekeeping operations budget. The US Congress has imposed a cap of 25 percent in peacekeeping operations...I have raised this issue in my meetings with President Bush and all the Congressional leaders. I strongly appealed and requested that the US Congress lift this spending cap...They said they will discuss this matter." More For a transcript of Ban's remarks to the press, click here.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said that his first meeting with United States President George W. Bush since assuming office was "a very good, very useful meeting." "The United Nations needs the strong and active participation and strong support of the United States, as the UN and the US have a shared objective of promoting human rights, democracy and freedom and peace and security, as well as mutual prosperity," said Ban. More Click here to read remarks from both Ban and Bush.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will meet with U.S. President George Bush next Tuesday in Washington, D.C. Michele Montas, spokesperson for Ban, said "I can confirm that the visit will take place next Tuesday, the 16th of January. In addition to meeting with the President, the Secretary-General will also meet with leaders of the US Congress." More

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon spoke yesterday about the recent US military operations in Somalia, noting that diplomatic efforts should be redoubled "to have some political process for the realization of a peaceful resolution of this issue." "While I fully understand the necessity behind this [U.S.] attack [on Somalia], we should be cautious enough [that this kind of situation will not] lead to unwanted directions." More