The Security Council today called for an international investigation into last week’s downing of a Malaysia Airlines passenger flight in eastern Ukraine, and demanded that armed groups allow unfettered access to the crash site and ensure that its integrity is maintained.
The apparent deliberate downing of a Malaysian passenger plane over eastern Ukraine highlights the need for an urgent resumption of a ceasefire and a serious effort to end the ongoing crisis, the United Nations political chief told an emergency meeting of the Security Council today.
The world does not have to choose between job creation and preserving the environment, the head of the United Nations International Labour Organization (ILO) declared today at the first-ever joint meeting of European Union ministers of the environment and labour.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today strongly condemned the “continued, unlawful” acts of armed fighters in Ukraine after reports that they are regrouping in eastern provinces, and urged Ukrainian authorities to exercise maximum restraint and protect civilians.
Amid fresh deadly clashes in eastern Ukraine, destruction of civilian infrastructure and “utterly reprehensible” incitement to violence targeting women and underage girls, the United Nations human rights chief today urged all sides to engage in dialogue and “turn away from the destructive path” towards which they are leading the crisis-torn region.
The head of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Irina Bokova, condemned today the killing of Russian television journalist Anatoli Klian, who was shot to death last night in crisis-torn eastern Ukraine.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has welcomed the extension of a cease-fire in eastern Ukraine and, with continued deep concern about the situation there, urged all sides to honour their commitments and work within a political process.
Some 16,400 people fled their homes in crisis-riven eastern Ukraine during the past week, bringing the number of displaced within the country to 54,000, according the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR).
While there have been several steps recently to help de-escalate tensions in Ukraine, including a ceasefire that seems to be holding and the start of peace talks, the situation on the ground remains deeply worrying, senior United Nations officials reported to the Security Council today.
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has hailed a peace plan put forward by Ukraine's President, Petro Poroshenko, and said he hopes it will reduce violence and tensions in the eastern part of the country.
