Secretary-General visits Ukraine, announces head of Fact Finding Mission on Olenivka prison incident
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Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo accompanied Secretary-General António Guterres to Ukraine this week to meet with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. In Lviv on 18 August, the Secretary-General announced that he intends to name General Carlos dos Santos Cruz of Brazil to lead fact-finding mission to look into the 29 July incident at Olenivka prison.
Read the Secretary-General's statement in Lviv here
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Special Envoy Grundberg briefs Council, underscores need for durable ceasefire to avoid return to war
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On 15 August, Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg briefed the Security Council on the current status of the extended truce in Yemen. He said his aim is for an expanded agreement that would lead to a durable ceasefire, as well as the resumption of a Yemeni-led political process. “We all need to remind ourselves that failure to reach an agreement to extend the truce would lead to renewed cycles of escalation and violence, with predictable and devastating consequences for Yemen’s population. Yemen urgently needs to avoid this scenario,” he stressed, calling on the parties to “make the choice to build the necessary confidence to avoid a return to war and to begin to build a lasting peace.”
Read his full remarks here
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Special Envoy on Myanmar, in first country visit, meets with State Administration Council, urges de-escalation of conflict
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On 17 August, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General on Myanmar Noeleen Heyzer met with State Administration Council (SAC) Chairman Senior General Min Aung Hlaing in Nay Pyi Taw. In this, her first visit to Myanmar as Special Envoy, she spoke of the pragmatic steps needed to de-escalate the violence and advance unfettered humanitarian assistance to all people in need. “The United Nations Secretary-General is extremely concerned about the humanitarian, security, economic and political crisis,” Special Envoy Heyzer said. “My visit is to convey the concern of the United Nations and propose concrete steps needed to reduce the conflict and suffering of the people […} The people of Myanmar have the right to democracy and self-determination free from fear and want.”
Read her full statement here
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Mission marks one year since Taliban takeover of Afghanistan
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On 15 August, United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) wrote on Twitter that, “One year on, we urge the Taliban to reflect. A window of opportunity remains to take necessary steps to lift Afghanistan & give hope to its people. Without change, things can worsen. The Int Comm will engage with those that respect the rights and are representative of all Afghans.” In a statement on 18 August, the Secretary-General expressed his deep concern over “a series of explosions in Afghanistan that have killed and injured more than 250 people this month,” including the attack on 17 August at the Abu Bakar Mosque in Kabul.
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Special Representative for Iraq discusses the role of the judiciary and the country's political situation with officials
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On 15 August, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Iraq, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, met with the President of the Supreme Judicial Council, Judge Faiq Zaidan. They discussed the role of the judiciary in addressing legal issues pertaining to the current political crisis. On 16 August, the Special Representative met in Baghdad with the leader of the Fateh Alliance, Mr. Hadi Al-Amiri. They discussed the political situation in the country, including the need to find solutions to the ongoing crisis.
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Humanitarian workers celebrated in Iraq
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On World Humanitarian Day, the United Nations in Iraq recognized with appreciation and gratitude the efforts and contributions made by humanitarian workers in Iraq, working jointly with the Government of Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government to ensure a smooth transition from humanitarian assistance towards durable solutions efforts within the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF).
Read more here
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UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon discusses need to accelerate reforms
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Special Coordinator of the Secretary-General for Lebanon Joanna Wronecka held meetings this week with senior Lebanese government officials, parliamentarians, diplomats and members of civil society to discuss measures that could help Lebanon out of its prolonged socio-economic and financial crisis. With Lebanon’s Parliament Speaker and with Lebanon’s caretaker Deputy Prime Minister, the Special Coordinator highlighted in particular the need for the adoption of pro-reform legislation in Parliament required to conclude an agreement with the International Monetary Fund.
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Special Coordinator speaks at UNESCO media training event
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On 19 August, Special Coordinator Wronecka took part as a guest speaker in a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) training workshop for young journalists and filmmakers. She underlined the role of the media in helping make the 2023 elections a transparent and democratic process. She also noted that young journalists and filmmakers can play a key role in countering disinformation, hate speech and discrimination.
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SRSG Perthes meets with Sudan's Foreign Minister
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On August 18, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Sudan and Head of UN Integrated Transition Assistance Mission Sudan (UNITAMS), Volker Perthes, met with Sudan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mariam Alsadig Almahdi. They spoke about the way forward for Sudan, and how to ensure the effective cooperation of all forces supporting an inclusive, civilian-led transition to democracy.
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UN officials in Somaila meet with Foreign Minister, discuss international support and drought response
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On August 18, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) Kiki Gbeho, alongside Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia, Adam Abdelmoula, met for the first time with the country’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Abshir Omar Jama. They discussed UN support for state-building efforts, collaboration with international partners, and scaling up the response to the drought.
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Personal Envoy reports significant achievement in the peace process
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On 17 August, the Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General, Mirko Manzoni, announced the demobilisation of 444 former combatants, and the closure of the Renamo base in Montepuez district, Cabo Delgado province. This marks the thirteenth base closure in the disarmament, demobilisation, and reintegration (DDR) process, which has now reached 77% of all DDR beneficiaries.
Read his full statement here
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Former combatants open clothing shop in Tolima
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On 13 August, the UN Verification Mission in Colombia, together with UNDP, Agency for Reincorporation and Normalization (ARN), and local government accompanied 22 former combatants and their cooperative, Cooptejepaz, in the opening of a clothing shop, "Avanza", in Icononzo, Tolima, in central Colombia.
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