General Assembly

General Assembly President Miguel d'Escoto Brockmann

UN peacekeeping missions overwhelmed, top officials warn on anniversary

7 November 2008
The bitter reality of conflicts in many countries dwarfs the ability of United Nations peacekeeping efforts to halt warring factions and maintain security despite their best intentions, General Assembly President Miguel D’Escoto said today.
General Assembly President Miguel d'Escoto Brockmann

General Assembly President calls for international response to financial crisis

30 October 2008
The international community must fundamentally reform the global financial system and help restore the trust lost as a result of the greed and corruption that caused the current economic crisis and untold suffering around the world, the President of the General Assembly stressed today.
Miguel D’Escoto Brockmann, President of the 63rd session of the General Assembly

Assembly President calls for power shift at UN

1 October 2008
Calling for the democratization of the United Nations, General Assembly President Miguel D’Escoto today stressed the need to restore power “usurped” by the Security Council to other organs of the world body.
Foreign Minister Rita Kieber-Beck of the Principality of Liechtenstein

Tackling impunity key to success of International Criminal Court – Liechtenstein

29 September 2008
The establishment of the International Criminal Court (ICC) is the most significant feat in international law in decades, Liechtenstein told the General Assembly’s annual high-level debate today, noting that the body’s legacy will be measured by its moves to address the issue of impunity.
Giadalla A. Ettalhi, Permanent Representative of the Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya

Corruption thwarts development in Africa, Libya says at UN debate

29 September 2008
Corruption, bribery, money-laundering and the transfer of illegally-derived funds all obstruct progress towards reaching the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), eight anti-poverty targets with a 2015 deadline, especially in Africa, a senior Libyan official told the General Assembly today.
U Nyan Win, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Union of Myanmar

Myanmar issues call at General Assembly for lifting of ‘immoral’ sanctions

29 September 2008
Myanmar could become the rice bowl of its region and provide energy to other countries if “immoral” sanctions against it were lifted, the country’s Foreign Minister told the General Assembly today.
Foreign Minister María Isabel Salvador Crespo of Ecuador

Ecuador, at UN, calls on European Union to reform migration policies

29 September 2008
Ecuador spoke out against the European Union’s policy on migration during the General Assembly’s annual high-level debate today, stressing the need to protect the right of people to move freely.
Foreign Minister Phandu T.C. Skelemani of Botswana

UN more necessary than ever, General Assembly hears during high-level debate

29 September 2008
The principles and the work of the United Nations are needed more than ever as the world confronts an array of major challenges and crises, several countries told the final day of the General Assembly’s annual General Debate today, urging stronger global leadership from individual States and continued UN reform.
Nkosazana C. Dlaminni Zuma, Minister for Foreign Affairs of South Africa

Security Council should have permanent African member, South Africa says

29 September 2008
The lack of a permanent African member on the Security Council, even though the continent represents a large amount of the 15-member panel’s work, “remains a travesty of justice,” South Africa’s Foreign Minister told the General Assembly today.
Basile Ikouébé, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Congo

Republic of Congo calls for increased support for joint UN-AU mission in Darfur

29 September 2008
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.