UN News & Updates
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ManilaBoy45
Junior Member
UN, US Warn of ‘Maximum Volatility’ in Golan Heights if Philippines Peacekeepers Withdraw
By Associated Press, Published: June 19
MANILA, Philippines — The United Nations and the U.S. have separately asked the Philippines not to withdraw its more than 300 peacekeepers from the Golan Heights, warning of “maximum volatility” in the region after several other countries decided to pull out their peacekeeping forces amid escalating violence, the Philippines’ top diplomat said Wednesday.
Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario said U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry appealed to him in recent talks. He said he told them security for the forces should be bolstered for the Philippines to consider keeping them in the volatile buffer zone between Syria and Israel.
Last month, del Rosario recommended to Philippine President Benigno Aquino III that the peacekeepers be withdrawn from the Golan Heights following two separate abductions of Filipino peacekeepers and the wounding of another in fighting between Syrian government and rebel forces.
By Associated Press, Published: June 19
MANILA, Philippines — The United Nations and the U.S. have separately asked the Philippines not to withdraw its more than 300 peacekeepers from the Golan Heights, warning of “maximum volatility” in the region after several other countries decided to pull out their peacekeeping forces amid escalating violence, the Philippines’ top diplomat said Wednesday.
Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario said U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry appealed to him in recent talks. He said he told them security for the forces should be bolstered for the Philippines to consider keeping them in the volatile buffer zone between Syria and Israel.
Last month, del Rosario recommended to Philippine President Benigno Aquino III that the peacekeepers be withdrawn from the Golan Heights following two separate abductions of Filipino peacekeepers and the wounding of another in fighting between Syrian government and rebel forces.
ManilaBoy45
Junior Member
UN Presses Case for Syria Cross-Border Aid Operation
AFP June 21, 2013, 9:34 am
UNITED NATIONS (AFP) - The UN Security Council must consider backing cross-border supplies into Syria because of the mounting suffering from the civil war, the UN humanitarian chief said.Valerie Amos, head of the UN relief agency, Thursday slammed the "increasing violence and complete disregard for human life and dignity which has reached unprecedented levels during past weeks."President Bashar al-Assad's government strongly opposes any international cross-border operation. Any Security Council backing is likely to be resisted by Russia, Assad's key ally, according to diplomats.Amos said after briefing the 15-nation Security Council that she had reaffirmed a call "that we should look at every single way to help 6.8 million people who are in need in Syria, including not just cross-line but also across borders."
"I have to put it to the council the fact that if we were able to bring in supplies from the Turkish border it is only 56 kilometers (35 miles) to Aleppo," Amos told reporters."I also have to put it to the council that the Syrian government is against this because theye see this as a border which is controlled by the opposition."Amos insisted she was not making a "political statement," however.The humanitarian chief said she was trying to tell all United Nations members "we need to look at a mix of options to help the Syrian people, some of them require the council to act, others require the government and the opposition groups to act."The UN was also looking at getting the government and opposition to agree safe routes for convoys or for temporary cessation of hostilities, the official added.
AFP June 21, 2013, 9:34 am
UNITED NATIONS (AFP) - The UN Security Council must consider backing cross-border supplies into Syria because of the mounting suffering from the civil war, the UN humanitarian chief said.Valerie Amos, head of the UN relief agency, Thursday slammed the "increasing violence and complete disregard for human life and dignity which has reached unprecedented levels during past weeks."President Bashar al-Assad's government strongly opposes any international cross-border operation. Any Security Council backing is likely to be resisted by Russia, Assad's key ally, according to diplomats.Amos said after briefing the 15-nation Security Council that she had reaffirmed a call "that we should look at every single way to help 6.8 million people who are in need in Syria, including not just cross-line but also across borders."
"I have to put it to the council the fact that if we were able to bring in supplies from the Turkish border it is only 56 kilometers (35 miles) to Aleppo," Amos told reporters."I also have to put it to the council that the Syrian government is against this because theye see this as a border which is controlled by the opposition."Amos insisted she was not making a "political statement," however.The humanitarian chief said she was trying to tell all United Nations members "we need to look at a mix of options to help the Syrian people, some of them require the council to act, others require the government and the opposition groups to act."The UN was also looking at getting the government and opposition to agree safe routes for convoys or for temporary cessation of hostilities, the official added.
ManilaBoy45
Junior Member
UN Chief Hails China's Peacekeepers
( Source: China Daily ) 2013-June-20 09:12
The courage and solidarity of Chinese troops on UN peacekeeping missions around the world has been praised by the organization's chief.UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon arrived in Beijing on Wednesday for his sixth visit to China. He said xie xie — thank you in Chinese — many times at the peacekeeping center of the Ministry of National Defense, noting that China has made great contributions to world peace and security.It was Ban's first visit to the peacekeeping center, which was established in 2009."I have seen the bravery of Chinese blue helmets in helping struggling communities around the world," Ban said.
"China provides more peacekeepers to the United Nations than all four other permanent members (of the Security Council) combined. I applaud this solidarity."Ban said he counted on China's continued contribution to world peace, and discussed the issue when he met President Xi Jinping in the afternoon.Xi said China attaches importance to the UN and will firmly support it. As a permanent member of the Security Council, China has rights as well as responsibilities and will continue to promote peaceful settlement of international disputes and support the UN in promoting the Millennium Development Goals.
( Source: China Daily ) 2013-June-20 09:12
The courage and solidarity of Chinese troops on UN peacekeeping missions around the world has been praised by the organization's chief.UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon arrived in Beijing on Wednesday for his sixth visit to China. He said xie xie — thank you in Chinese — many times at the peacekeeping center of the Ministry of National Defense, noting that China has made great contributions to world peace and security.It was Ban's first visit to the peacekeeping center, which was established in 2009."I have seen the bravery of Chinese blue helmets in helping struggling communities around the world," Ban said.
"China provides more peacekeepers to the United Nations than all four other permanent members (of the Security Council) combined. I applaud this solidarity."Ban said he counted on China's continued contribution to world peace, and discussed the issue when he met President Xi Jinping in the afternoon.Xi said China attaches importance to the UN and will firmly support it. As a permanent member of the Security Council, China has rights as well as responsibilities and will continue to promote peaceful settlement of international disputes and support the UN in promoting the Millennium Development Goals.