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Bringing an end to the protracted conflict in Darfur, on Sudan’s western flank, would serve as a catalyst for peace across the wider region, a top official from the Republic of Congo said today, calling for stepped-up support for the joint United Nations-African Union peacekeeping mission known as UNAMID.

The diplomatic Quartet guiding international efforts to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict must step up its pressure on the two sides to fulfil pledges they have made towards a possible comprehensive settlement, Jordan’s Foreign Minister told the General Assembly’s annual high-level debate today.

There is growing recognition of the lead role played by the United Nations, and by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon himself, in finding solutions to some of today’s toughest challenges, including the food crisis and climate change, as well as peace and security issues, ranging from Darfur to the Middle East, two of his top aides said today.

A helicopter contracted by the United Nations crashed in the strife-torn Darfur region of Sudan, killing all four crew members, a spokesperson for the world body has confirmed.

Africa has been devastated by conflicts perpetuated by small arms and light weapons, Nigeria’s Foreign Minister told the General Assembly’s annual high-level debate today, calling for a global pact to rid the continent of the scourge.

Marking the fifth day of the United Nations treaty event to encourage collective participation in multilateral pacts, eight Member States today took 16 treaty actions by ratifying or signing separate conventions, agreements, treaties and optional protocols.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has stressed the important role played by universities around the world in shaping the next generation of global leaders, and the impact of education on efforts to achieve peace and sustainable development.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) today called for United Nations peacekeepers to be given a clear mandate and the resources necessary to impose peace by force if necessary on a rebel group that is the sole holdout on a disengagement plan in the east of the vast country.

The “misguided and domineering policies” of the United States are causing and exacerbating crises around the world, Eritrea’s Foreign Minister told the General Assembly today, calling for collective international action to check the power of Washington.

The most senior officials in the United Nations Secretariat should come from a much broader spread of countries, Belarus told the General Assembly’s annual high-level debate today, calling for wide-scale democratization of the entire Organization.