MaximsNewsNetwork: 28 October 2009 - UNTV: United Nations: Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon comments on security for UN staff in Afghanistan, the IAEA talks with Iran, the special envoy to Iraq, the upcoming climate change conference in Copenhagen and the latest on the Goldstone report.
Condemning todays attack on United Nations (UN) employees in Afghanistan, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said that, the world has lost women and men committed to the values of peace, dignity and respect for all.
Speaking to reporters at headquarters in New York, Mr. Ban said that the attack on a guest house in Kabul that claimed the lives of at least five UN staff members and injured several others was a, shocking and shameless act and, unjustifiable by any standards.
Commenting on Iraqs double bombing that killed an estimated 150 people in Baghdad on Sunday, he said that he would dispatch an envoy, Assistant Secretary-General Oscar Fernandez-Taranco, to Iraq to consult with the government on security and sovereignty issues.
Ban also welcomed the draft agreement circulated by the IAEA last Friday (23 Oct) related to the supply of fuel for Teherans research reactor for medical radioisotopes for therapeutic and diagnostic procedures.
He said that that agreement would constitute an important confidence building measure and could set the stage further advances in the negotiations between Iran and the EU 3 + 3.
On climate change, Ban said that although there was still a lot of work to be done ahead of Decembers climate change conference in Copenhagen, he was optimistic that world leaders would reach an ambitious agreement.
The Secretary-General said that if four key benchmarks were decided upon, the gathering will be a success. The four criteria are: emissions reductions targets by both developed and developing nations, adaptation measures, the provision of financing and technology for poorer nations and the creation of an equitable global governance structure.
Asked whether the Goldstone findings should at some point reach the Security Council or the International criminal Court (ICC), Ban said that he had clearly stated his support for the Goldstone mission.
He added that now that the Goldstone report had been adopted by the Human Rights Council and was in the hands of the General Assembly, he was waiting for the debate next week among member states to decide his own course of action.
Commenting on a report today by the New York Times about allegations that President Karzais brother was involved with the CIA and drug trafficking, Ban said he repeatedly urged whenever he had an opportunity of meeting President Karzai in the past that he must make it sure to, eliminate, eradicate these corruptive practices including opium cultivation and opium trafficking.
Asked how the UN could continue to work in Afghanistan through a second round of elections with any sense of legitimacy if they are now confined to their offices following the attacks, Ban said the UN needed to get the full support of the Afghan government and national security forces, as well as the allied ISAF [International Security Assistance Force] forces there.
He added that of course, it is quite an unfortunate fact of life that we cannot ensure one hundred percent security, because of these suicidal terrorist attacks, but we must take all necessary precautionary measures in terms of our security.
Asked about the United States plan possibly increase the military operation in Afghanistan, Ban said that military augmentation would be one of the effective means to ensure peace and stability there, but that at the same time there was need for a political reconciliatory dialogue between President Karzai other ethnic group leaders.
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UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon addresses Model UN studentsby UNAUSA0115,283 views
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