SG to Kabul: after much media speculation, the SG’s spokesperson confirmed today that he has traveled to Kabul to co-chair the International Conference on Afghanistan tomorrow with President Karzai. In his opening remarks, he is expected to call on the Afghan people to achieve peace through reconciliation and build a future based on economic development and cooperation. He is expected to hold a joint press conference with Karzai as well. In his remarks this morning at the World Conference of Speakers of Parliament, he called on them to ratify treaties on climate change, non-proliferation and economic development. On the sidelines of the meeting he met with the Speaker of the Islamic Parliament of Iran and stressed the need for early resolution to the nuclear issue.
USUN: today U.S. DPR DiCarlo issued this statement at ECOSOC’s debate on accrediting the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission, fervently defending IGLHRC’s application for consultative status.
DPKO: USG DPKO Le Roy traveled to Khartoum over the weekend to co-chair the first Sudan Consultative Forum, designed to provide support to ongoing processes in Sudan (transition to democracy, CPA implementation and reconciliation in Darfur).
UNAIDS: the XVIII International AIDS Conference opened yesterday in Vienna with an estimated 20,000 delegates who will meet through Friday on the theme “ Rights Here, Right Now”. UNAIDS’ vision, as emphasized by Executive Director Sidibé is “Zero discrimination. Zero new HIV infections. Zero AIDS-related deaths”, and the four pillars to achieve this are 1) a prevention revolution, 2) treatment 2.0 (a new model which simplifies approaches to maximize the number of beneficiaries, 3) ending discrimination, and 4) gender equality.