UN

May 4, 2007 -- PARTICIPANTS:

Dr. Harlan Watson, U.S. Senior Climate Negotiator And Special Representative, U.S. Department Of State

Jim Connaughton, Chairman, White House Council On Environmental Quality

Stephen Eule, Director Of The Climate Change Technology Program, U.S. Department Of State

6:13 A.M. EDT

DR. WATSON: Just on a rundown for those of you who are not familiar with the IPCC working group three, this is the group that assesses the technological and economic aspects of the mitigation of climate change, primarily focused on reductions of greenhouse gas emissions.    » read more »

3 May 2007 -- Following is the text of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s remarks at the launch of the International Compact with Iraq, delivered in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, on 3 May:

"I would like to thank all of you for participating in the launch of the International Compact with Iraq. Your presence is a clear sign of your commitment to stand in solidarity with the people and Government of Iraq at a time when they need our support.    » read more »

26 April 2007 -- Addressing correspondents at a Headquarters press conference this afternoon, David Morrison, Communications Director for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), made clear that former UNDP assets, now in the possession of the authorities of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, did not contain United Nations financial data or other information that might be needed for an upcoming audit of UNDP operations in that country.    » read more »

Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Briefs Council

While the long-stalled Middle East peace process was beginning to stir, with both Israel and Arab States showing interest in holding talks, the top United Nations political official told the Security Council today that forward momentum could be threatened in the wake of the sharp escalation of Israeli-Palestinian violence in the West Bank and Gaza.    » read more »

Calling the recent violence in Mogadishu “some of the worst that’s been seen in that city for the last 16 years”, John Holmes, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, said the country’s Transitional Federal Government must give humanitarian aid workers access to the capital, so they could distribute desperately needed food and water to the estimated 320,000 people forced to flee the fighting -- about one-third of the country’s population.    » read more »

Plans unveiled by New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg yesterday on Earth Day to reduce the strain on natural resources, such as water, air and land, were warmly embraced by officials with the United Nations department that promotes sustainable development.    » read more »

Congress considers effects of global warming

23 April 2007 -- Washington – Leading U.S. government scientists tell Congress that, given the evidence, now is the time to provide adequate resources to prepare for the potential impact of changes in the earth’s climate.    » read more »

20 April 2007 -- The following is a near-verbatim transcript of today’s noon briefing by Michèle Montas, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, and Ashraf Kamal, Spokesperson for the President of the General Assembly.

Briefing by Spokesperson for the Secretary-General

**Statement on Mission to Fiji

Good afternoon. First, a statement attributable to the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General:    » read more »

20 April 2007 -- Five countries have offered to supply soldiers and police for a United Nations mission to support a beleaguered African Union peacekeeping force in Darfur. From U.N. headquarters, VOA's Peter Heinlein reports diplomats are hoping to have a full support package in operation by September.    » read more »

On June 26, 1945, in San Francisco, the United Nations was established. Article 111 of its charter indicated that "The present Charter, of which the Chinese, French, Russian, English, and Spanish texts are equally authentic, shall remain deposited in the archives of the Government of the United States of America. Duly certified copies thereof shall be transmitted by that Government to the Governments of the other signatory states."    » read more »