UN chief hopes for new agreement after Israel concludes international observation mission

UNRWA/Marwan Baghdadi


Checkpoint to Qurtoba School inside the closed Israeli Military zone in H2 area in Hebron, the West Bank.


2 February 2019

Peace and Security

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres expressed his gratitude to the Temporary International Presence in Hebron (TIPH), West Bank, after Israel decided not to renew its mandate.

Noting a joint statement issued by the Foreign Ministers of the TIPH’s contributing countries – Italy, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and Turkey – the Secretary-General conveyed his hope on Friday “that an agreement can be found by the parties to preserve the TIPH’s long-standing and valuable contribution to conflict prevention and the protection of Palestinians in Hebron”.


The UN chief said that he is “grateful” to them “and the service of their respective observers over the past 22 years”.


According to news reports, hundreds of Jewish settlers guarded by thousands of soldiers live in the heart of Hebron, which has a population of over 200,000 Palestinians.


The TIPH was established pursuant to the provisions of the 1995 Interim Agreement, known as the Oslo II Accord, between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization.


Mr. Guterres said that he continues to engage with relevant Member States and the parties on the ground "to ensure the protection, safety, and wellbeing of civilians".


He also reiterated his "commitment to the two-State solution" and to safeguarding the principles and vision enshrined in the Oslo framework, relevant UN resolutions, and other applicable agreements.



https://news.un.org/en/story/2019/02/1031892
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UN calls for support to implement Central Africa’s newly minted peace agreement

UN/MINUSCA


The head of the United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, and the African Union Commissioner for Peace and Security, Smail Chergui, are visiting the Central African Republic from 8 to 10 January 2019, in order to to relaunch international efforts for lasting peace in the country


2 February 2019

Peace and Security

After 10 days of negotiations, the Central African government and 14 armed groups reached a peace agreement on Saturday, according to a tweet from the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA).

Central African @GouvCF and 14 armed groups reached an agreement at Kharthoum peace talks – The meeting started on 24 January with @AU_Cherguifacilitation and @UNsupport #CARpeace#AfricanInitiativepic.twitter.com/mccJ8hN01L

— MINUSCA (@UN_CAR) February 2, 2019

"Let us mobilize to support the implementation of the peace agreement," Jean-Pierre Lacroix, UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, said on Twitter after the peace agreement was concluded in the Sudanese capital of Khartoum.

The agreement was made possible under the African Initiative for Peace and Reconciliation in the Central African Republic (CAR) led by the African Union (AU) and with UN support.


MINUSCA quoted Smail Chergui, the AU Commissioner for Peace and Security, as stressing the parties’ exemplary cooperation at the Khartoum talks, and saying on Twitter: "This is a great day for the CAR and for all the people of the Central African Republic" .


Agreement at CAR peace talks in #Khartoum: @AU_Chergui@_AfricanUnionfacilitator praised @Lacroix_UN USG for peace operation and SRSG @Parfait_OnangaHead of #MINUSCA , “our @UN colleagues who always supported us” #CARpeacepic.twitter.com/ZOnX9Kofhm

— MINUSCA (@UN_CAR) February 2, 2019


The Head of the Central African government’s delegation to the talks, Firmin Ngrebad, said he was determined to work with the Head of State and his government to respond to the concerns “of the brothers who took up arms."


He also underscored that Central Africans' support of the agreement will enable "the people of the Central African Republic to embark on the path of reconciliation, concord and development".


According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), in 2019, 2.9 million people, more than half of whom are children, will need humanitarian and protection assistance; more than 63 per cent of a population of 4.6 million.


Concerned with the security, humanitarian, human rights and political crisis within the country and its implications for the region, MINUSCA began operating in 2014 under Chapter VII of the UN Charter.


With the protection of civilians as its utmost priority, Chapter VII provides for the use of force – meaning, with Security Council authority, peacekeepers may respond to acts of aggression in kind.




https://news.un.org/en/story/2019/02/1031882
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Время для разрешения ситуации с ДРСМД еще есть - генсек ООН

18.01.2019 22:14:37
*** Гутерриш напомнил о важности переговоров по СНВ-3

Нью-Йорк (ООН). 18 января. ИНТЕРФАКС - У России и США все еще есть время, чтобы решить проблемы с ДРСМД, заявил в пятницу генсек ООН Антониу Гутерриш.

"Мы понимаем, что есть некоторые вопросы, которые нужно решить. Все еще есть время для этого. И мы решительно призываем стороны рассмотреть эти вопросы и прийти к общей интерпретации того, что на самом деле говорится в договоре, чтобы сохранить договор", - заявил А.Гутерриш на пресс-конференции в Нью-Йорке.

Генсек ООН подчеркнул, что считает очень важным сохранение ДРСМД.

Также А.Гутерриш призвал Россию и США своевременно провести переговоры для сохранения Договора о Сокращении стратегических наступательных вооружений от 2010 года (СНВ-3).

"Также есть еще одно важное соглашение - СНВ-3... И я думаю, что очень важно, чтобы Россия и США своевременно провели переговоры, которые необходимы, чтобы обеспечить продление этого договора", - сказал генсек ООН.

"Очень важно, чтобы существующая архитектура ядерного разоружения по возможности улучшалась и, насколько это возможно, сохранялась", - подчеркнул он.

Президент США Дональд Трамп объявил 20 октября о намерении выйти из Договора о ликвидации ракет средней и меньшей дальности (ДРСМД) в связи с тем, что российская сторона якобы нарушает положения этого соглашения. 

Вслед за этим 4 декабря госсекретарь США Майк Помпео выдвинул ультиматум России с требованием в течение 60 дней уничтожить или модифицировать ракету 9М729, которая, как утверждают в Вашингтоне, по своим показателями нарушает договор. Ультиматум истекает 2 февраля, после чего США, как заявил М.Помпео, приостановят своё участие в ДРСМД, если Россия не выполнит требование.

Россия эти обвинения отвергает и выдвигает встречные претензии к США, заявляя, что Вашингтон нарушает ДРСМД, размещая на объектах ПРО в Европе универсальные пусковые установки МК-41, которые разработаны для пусков крылатых ракет типа Tomahawk дальностью в 2,4 тыс. километров, подпадающих под запрет ДРСМД. Также российская сторона считает нарушающими договор американские беспилотные летательные аппараты (БПЛА), имеющие ударный потенциал, и ракеты-мишени, имитирующие баллистические ракеты средней и меньшей дальности для тестирования систем ПРО.



http://www.militarynews.ru/story.asp?rid=1&nid=499916
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‘No other possibility but to leave’: UN News special report from the Nigeria-Cameroon border as 35,000 newly-displaced seek safety

UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe

Some 35,000 Nigerians have fled across the north-eastern border into Cameroon in the last two weeks of January. (1 February 2019)



1 February 2019

Small shelters, some covered in the ubiquitous white sheeting provided by the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), dot the dusty grey sun-bleached plain around the village of Goura, in the far north-east of Cameroon.


Hebibi Toudjum‘s shelter is so low to the ground she needs to crawl into it.

She arrived from the village of Rann 7km across the border in Nigeria six days ago after fleeing a killing spree perpetrated by the terrorist group Boko Haram.

“They came and killed many people and set the town alight,’ she told UN News, which has a team on assignment in the region. ‘Everyone was scared, so we came here where it is safe,” she added.

Hebibi Toudjum is one of around 35,000 people who have fled Rann in the last two weeks after Boko Haram extremist fighters, repeatedly attacked the town.

Regional insurgency

The outlawed terrorist group has been active in this impoverished corner of north-east Nigeria for over a decade. Thousands of people not just in Nigeria but over the border in Cameroon and Chad, have been killed, many summarily executed. The livelihoods of tens of thousands of others have been destroyed in the insurgency, as regional governments struggle to put an end to the ongoing violence.


This is where they need to be now if they want to stay alive - Allegra Baiocchi, UN Coordinator, Cameroon.

The refugees left Rann following the recent withdrawal of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) which came to secure the city after an attack on January 14. The MNJTF was set up by the affected countries - Cameroon, Chad, Nigeria, Niger and Benin - to counter Boko Haram, and other terrorist groups which are gaining ground across the Lake Chad region.

“When the military left,” said Kellou Maloum Modu, “we had no other possibility but to leave. My own brother died. I pray that God will keep Boko Haram away from me and my family.”





Nigerian refugees from Borno state in the northeast, flee to Cameroon after Boko Haram kills “many people” in repeated attacks through January.

UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe

Fearful to return

For now, the 35,000 Nigerian refugees are safe in Cameroon, although many are once again putting themselves at risk by returning to Rann on foot, to collect a few personal possessions which were not looted or burnt.

Speaking to UN News on a visit to Goura on Friday, the UN Resident Coordinator in Cameroon, Allegra Baiocchi said, “I have seen many fearful people here. whose lives have been destroyed by Boko Haram.” The people who came here really had no choice. This is where they need to be now if they want to stay alive.”

UN response needs more funding to scale up

The United Nations and its partners have responded to the sudden influx into Goura by providing basic services in what is now a makeshift refugee settlement. Some 13,000 people have received food rations and each registered refugee is getting six litres of clean water a day, some way below the recommended 15 litre minimum.

“The response from humanitarian workers here has been impressive in what is an extremely challenging environment,” the UNHCR, or UN refugee agency’s top official in Cameroon Geert Van de Casteele said in Goura. “We need to scale up the response keeping in mind the local population; that is the next step and I am hopeful we can achieve, with increased funding.”

In January, the UN, in coordination with the Government and aid partners, announced its 2019 Humanitarian Response Plan which focuses on the whole of the country, including areas affected by Boko Haram. Around 4.3 million Cameroonians, mostly women and children, are now in need of lifesaving assistance.



https://news.un.org/en/story/2019/02/1031822
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UN chief welcomes new Government in Lebanon, after eight-month impasse

© UNHCR/Diego Ibarra Sánchez

9 years old Syrian refugee from Deir el Zor sits sit outside his flooded tent at Dalhamiya informal settlement camp in Lebanon. 9 January 2019.


1 February 2019

Law and Crime Prevention


United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres welcomed, on Friday, the announcement of a new Government in Lebanon; the result of eight months of negotiation, following general elections last May.


He congratulated Prime Minister Saad Hariri and Lebanon’s political leadership, saying that he looks forward “to working closely with the new Government to continue to address urgent political, security, humanitarian and economic challenges, including in the follow-up to the international conferences of support to Lebanon, held last year”.

Lebanon is governed by a complex power-sharing system aimed at representing all its religious and political communities. The new 30-member cabinet has four women, including the interior minister, which is a first for Lebanon.

According to news reports, Mr. Hariri's new government is a balanced composition of Lebanon’s rival factions. The most pressing challenge for the cabinet is to revive the country’s economy and cut the national debt, which stands at about 150 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Mr. Guterres reiterated the UN’s commitment to “support Lebanon in strengthening its sovereignty, stability and political independence in accordance with the Taif Accord and the Baabda Declaration”, and its effective implementation of Security Council resolutions 1701 (2006), 1559 (2004) and other relevant resolutions that remain essential “to the stability of Lebanon and the region”.




https://news.un.org/en/story/2019/02/1031862
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Госдеп США: Выход из ДРСМД начнется 2 февраля

16 января 2019, 19:39


© FreeImages.com Content License


Вашингтон официально объявил начало выхода из ракетного договора, подписанного США и СССР.

По словам замгоссекретаря по контролю над вооружениями Андреа Томпсон, этот процесс стартует 2 февраля.

Дипломат в очередной раз обвинила Москву в нарушении Договора о ликвидации ракет средней и меньшей дальности.

Вчерашние женевские консультации прорыва не принесли, заявила журналистам замглавы Госдепартамента.


http://www.rosbalt.ru/world/2019/01/16/1758314.html
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Американо-российские консультации по судьбе договора о РСМД закончились безрезультатно

15 Январь, 2019 21:26




Сергей Рябков


Американо-российские дипломатические консультации о судьбе договора о ракетах средней и малой дальности окончились безрезультатно. Это подтвердил в интервью российским СМИ заместитель министра иностранных дел РФ Сергей Рябков после встречи с заместителем государственного секретаря США. Андреа Томпсон в Женеве.


Ранее сообщалось, что американский и российский дипломаты во вторник обсудят ситуацию с договором о контроле над вооружениями, заключенным в годы «холодной войны».


Договор, заключенный США и Советским Союзом в 1987 году, запрещает производство, испытания и развертывание крылатых и баллистических ракет наземного базирования радиусом действия от 500 до 5500 километров.


Президент США Дональд Трамп в октябре объявил о намерении выйти из договора, объяснив это нарушениями со стороны России.


США дали России срок до февраля, чтобы рассмотреть их претензии и вернуться к соблюдению договора.



https://www.golos-ameriki.ru/a/us-russian-top-diplomats-to-discuss-arms-control/4743328.html
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