Middle East

B. Lynne Pascoe, Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs (file photo)

UN political chief pledges continued support for transition in Egypt

28 February 2011
The United Nations stands ready to support Egypt’s political transition, the United Nation’s top political official has said, noting the world body understands that the process must be led by Egyptians.
Humanitarian chief Valerie Amos briefs press on situation in Libya

Amid reports of continued violence in Libya, UN ramps up humanitarian aid

28 February 2011
Faced with an exodus of refugees from Libya amid reported violence by President Muammar Al-Qadhafi’s loyalists, potential food and medical shortages and growing insecurity, the United Nations is ramping up aid efforts within the country, along the borders and inside its neighbours.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (left) and US President Barack Obama in the Oval Office

Ban discusses Libya with Obama; urges punishment of those responsible for violence

28 February 2011
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon held talks on Libya with United States President Barack Obama in Washington, D.C., today, later stating that Muammar Al-Qadhafi’s regime had declared war on its own people and must be brought to account for possible crimes against humanity.
UNIFIL-MTF and LAF navy conduct Maritime joint exercise off the coast of Lebanon in July 2009

UN and Lebanese forces conduct disaster preparedness exercises

27 February 2011
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and the Lebanese armed forces have carried out exercises in large-scale disaster response in the south of the country in an effort to strengthen their coordinated readiness to respond to emergencies.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon

UN chief greets the people of Kuwait on anniversary of end of Iraqi occupation

26 February 2011
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today congratulated the Government and the people of Kuwait as they marked 50 years as an independent State and celebrated the 20th anniversary of the country's liberation from occupation by forces of the former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.
Libyan people take part in a protest in Tobruk, 20 February 2011

Ban phones leaders of Saudi Arabia and Italy to discuss situation in Libya

26 February 2011
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today had telephone discussions with King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi on developments in Libya, as he continues to reach out to world leaders to urge them to support the international effort to stop the violence in the North African country.
Security Council unanimously adopts sanctions package against Libya

Security Council imposes sanctions on Libyan authorities in bid to stem violent repression

26 February 2011
The Security Council today voted unanimously to impose sanctions against the Libyan authorities, slapping the country with an arms embargo and freezing the assets of its leaders, while referring the ongoing violent repression of civilian demonstrators to the International Criminal Court (ICC).

UN rights council recommends suspending Libya, orders inquiry into abuses

25 February 2011
The United Nations Human Rights Council today strongly condemned the recent violence in Libya and ordered an international inquiry into alleged abuses, while also recommending that the country’s membership in the UN’s top human rights body be suspended.
Robert H. Serry, Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, briefs the Security Council

Concrete international intervention needed in Israeli-Palestinian conflict – UN envoy

24 February 2011
A senior United Nations official today called for “credible and effective international intervention” to break the impasse in peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians, noting that a negotiated solution would help stabilize a Middle East currently in ferment.
ILO Director-General Juan Somavia

UN labour chief joins in condemning violent Libyan repression of protesters

24 February 2011
The United Nations labour chief today added his voice to the chorus condemning Libya’s leaders for the deadly violence against mass protests, stressing that the North African country is a further example of the risks to those who fail to heed widespread unemployment and poverty.