Heads of the six main bodies of the UN meet to discuss reform, Lebanon, other issues

United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan and the heads of the organization’s five other Principal Organs discussed the situation in Lebanon, Security Council reform and a raft of other humanitarian, security and legal issues, at this year’s eighth annual meeting in New York.

The Secretary-General and the Presidents of the General Assembly, Security Council, Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), Trusteeship Council and the International Court of Justice (ICJ) met on Thursday to exchange views, facilitate coordination and improve efficiency in the workings of the Organization, according to a press release.

The meeting, which was initiated by Mr. Annan in 1998, also discussed progress made by the strengthened Human Rights Council and the recently established Peacebuilding Commission, as well as measures to expedite and enhance the workings of the ICJ.

Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Jan Egeland, briefed the gathering on the UN response to humanitarian crises, and highlighted that changes in the nature and magnitude of humanitarian challenges required more strategic resourcing and closer coordination with non-UN actors.

He also noted that the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), a key reform proposal of the Secretary-General, was a significant development that allowed the UN to deploy staff, goods and services immediately where needed, while also devoting much needed attention to forgotten crises.

The CERF, which was launched in March to jump-start relief operations for natural and man-made disasters, has so far committed $174 million to more than 250 projects in 26 countries, the UN said earlier this month.