General Assembly

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon

Ban welcomes approval of UN budget for next two years

24 December 2009
The General Assembly today approved a budget of $5.16 billion for the 2010-2011 period, in a move immediately welcomed by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
Amb. Camillo Gonsalves, Chairman of the Delegation of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Saint Vincent speaks out at UN debate on efforts to clamp down on tax havens

29 September 2009
The efforts of major and industrialized economies to crack down on so-called tax havens are just an excuse to spread the blame for the global financial crisis on small nations’ legitimate attempts at development, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines told the General Assembly today.
Amb. Alexandru Cujba of Moldova

Moldova spotlights breakaway region in address to UN Assembly

29 September 2009
Hope for a peaceful solution to the separatist conflict in Moldova’s Transdniestrian region lies in its demilitarization and democratization, the country’s ambassador to the United Nations told the General Assembly today.
Amb. Roble Olhaye of Djibouti

Djibouti calls on Security Council to act to resolve border dispute with Eritrea

29 September 2009
The Security Council must take steps to solve the border dispute between Djibouti and Eritrea, Djibouti said today, warning that if the row is allowed to fester it will set a dangerous precedent for other crises around the world.
Foreign Minister of Namibia Addresses UN General Assembly

Namibia urges UN Member States to take harder line against coups d’état

28 September 2009
Governments that come to power through coups d’état should be banned from participating in all United Nations institutions, Namibia’s Foreign Minister told the General Assembly today, urging Member States to take a tougher line against undemocratic transfers of power.
Foreign Minister of Tunisia Addresses General Assembly

More efforts needed to promote rights of youth, Tunisia tells UN debate

28 September 2009
Calling for 2010 to be proclaimed the International Year of the Youth, Tunisia’s Foreign Minister today urged the United Nations and its Member States to boost their efforts to ensure that young people do not feel marginalized and become attracted to extremism.
Foreign Minister Péter Balázs of Hungary

Hungary champions rights of minorities during address to General Assembly

28 September 2009
Vibrant minority groups strengthen countries rather than undermine them, Hungary’s Foreign Minister told the General Assembly today as he warned of “alarming tendencies” to curtail the political, cultural and educational opportunities worldwide in the wake of the financial crisis.
Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan of Armenia

Dialogue vital to resolving Nagorno-Karabakh dispute, Armenia tells UN

28 September 2009
The ongoing dispute over the Nagorno-Karabakh region, which is part of Azerbaijan’s territory but is occupied by Armenian forces, could be settled as long as both sides refrain from taking action that hampers the peace process, Armenia’s Foreign Minister told the General Assembly today.
Elmar Maharram oglu Mammadyarov, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan

Some hope of end to stalemate over Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijan tells UN

26 September 2009
Hopes are rising for a potential end to the years of deadlock in the conflict over the Nagorno-Karabakh region, which is part of Azerbaijan’s territory but is occupied by Armenian forces, Azerbaijan has told the General Assembly’s high-level debate.
Prime Minister Josaia V. Bainimarama of the Republic of the Fiji Islands

At UN, Fijian regime asks critics to have patience during reform period

26 September 2009
International critics of the current regime in Fiji, which came to power after a coup in 2006, need to show patience as political and constitutional reforms are introduced to overcome years of “mismanagement, corruption and nepotism,” the country’s Prime Minister told the General Assembly today.