Island nations beg for help: they’re disappearing underwater

Source: The Washington Post | By Associated Press

UNITED NATIONS — The Palestinians want the United Nations to recognize a state. And the island nation of Tuvalu wants the United Nations to act — now — to keep their state above water. The high drama surrounding the historic Palestinian bid for statehood has to a degree overshadowed other issues facing the U.N. General Assembly, which Saturday heard from the leaders of island nations where the impact of climate change is already having a profound effect.

Still far from a real UN Security Council reform?

Here’s a great analysis on the current situation surrounding the UN Security Council reform process. As the writer points, the two main factions are still far from a two-third majority vote required to reshape the Council’s membership… And much needs to be discussed on veto power!

Ban Ki-moon wins Security Council backing for second term as UN chief

Source: Associated Press

The U.N. Security Council approved Friday a second five-year term for Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, a critical last step before the 192-member General Assembly holds the definitive vote next week. The vote by acclamation came after a one-day delay due to what U.N. diplomats described as procedural and technical hold ups from some Latin American countries.

A Second Chance for Ban Ki-moon

Source: German Council on Foreign Relations | by Richard Gowan

A strategy to maintain UN relevance in a shifting geopolitical climate

Although Ban Ki-moon faces no challengers in his bid for a second term, he will have to demonstrate an improved instinct for running the United Nations. Without better leadership, the UN runs the risk of becoming irrelevant, as Western governments’ austerity cuts constrict an already tight budget and rising powers seek to limit UN interference.

New diplomatic push for Security Council reform

By the Gstaad Project

“The beginning of the 21st century needs a global governance system that is efficient, inclusive and representative – a governance system that combines, in a coherent manner, legitimacy, leadership and expertise. Time was needed for reflection, but now we have to move to action.” This is how Joseph Deiss, President of the United Nations General Assembly, opened yesterday’s Rome Conference on Global Governance and Security Council Reform, sponsored by the Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs Franco Frattini and the Uniting for Consensus movement.

UN upgrades EU status: what does it mean for Europe?

by the Gsaad Project

On May 3, 2011, the United Nations General Assembly passed Resolution A/RES/65/276 on the participation of the European Union in the work of the UN, formally upgrading the status of the EU participation at the UN 192-member body.

On a practical point of view, the Resolution — rejected by only 10 countries and abstained by only Syria and Zimbabwe — allows senior EU representatives to present to the Assembly the common positions of the European bloc.

New UN Women Agency Needs Strong Leader

Source: Voice of America | by Joe DeCapua

On July 2nd, the U.N. General Assembly voted unanimously to create a new agency dedicated to promoting the rights and needs of women and girls around the world. The U.N. Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women is more commonly known as UN Women. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called it a “major step forward.”

United Nations appoints new spokesman

Source: Reuters | By Patrick Worsnip

It’s not uncommon for journalists at some point in their careers to cross the barricades and become the people who dish out the news as spokespersons for an organization or firm, rather than being on the receiving end. It requires a different set of skills that can make the transition tough, and a stern test confronts former Reuters correspondent Martin Nesirky, who has just been appointed spokesman for U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. After a high-flying career at Reuters that saw him fill senior editorial positions in London, Berlin, Moscow and Seoul, Nesirky has had some time to acclimatize to his new role by working for more than three years as spokesman for the 56-nation Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), based in Vienna. But the move to New York brings much more formidable challenges.