Author Mark Leon Goldberg

Pakistan: in today’s GA meeting on Pakistan, the SG called the Pakistani floods a “slow-motion tsunami” and “one of the greatest tests of global solidarity” where needs are only expected to grow beyond the 15-20 million people already directly affected and in need of assistance. To date, nearly 1 million people have received a month’s food ration from the WFP and nearly the same have received emergency shelter and clean water from UNHCR, UNICEF, UNDP, IOM, WHO and others.

MONUC: in response to a deadly attack this morning which killed three UN Peacekeepers serving with MONUSCO in the DRC, the SG has called on the Government of the DRC to launch in immediate investigation.  The attack comes on the eve of World Humanitarian Day (Aug 19), which is also the seven year anniversary of the bombing of the  UN Headquarters in Baghdad, which claimed the lives of 22 UN staff in 2003.  Ambassador Rice issued this

Convention on Cluster Munitions: on Sunday, August 1 the Convention on Cluster Munitions will enter into force, a development welcomed by the SG.  The First Meeting of States Parties will be held in Lao People’s Democratic Republic, a country which has suffered from cluster munitions, in November 2010.

UNAMID: today the Security Council unanimously extended the mandate of UNAMID by 12 months, until July 31, 2011.  On Sunday, Russia assumes the rotating presidency of the Council from Nigeria.

USG OIOS: today the GA endorsed the SG’s appointment of Carman Lapointe-Young (Canada) as USG of OIOS.  Though approved without a vote, Egypt and Cuba expressed their disappointment that the selection was not from a developing country.  Ambassador Rice’s statement on her nomination is available here.  Ms.

ICJ: as you may have heard, today the International Court of Justice delivered its advisory opinion on the legality of Kosovo’s unilateral declaration of independence, which, by a vote of 10-4, decided that the declaration did not violate international law.  Secretary Clinton issued this positive statement in response.  Both the SG and Clinton have urged constructive dialogue in the wake of this decision.

SG: today the SG opened the International Conference on Afghanistan in Kabul (a follow-up to the London Conference in January), in which he appealed to Afghan citizens to unite in the national interest and told participants that they were there, not to revise strategies, but to support the Afghan government and its priorities. He also emphasized the need for Afghans to take greater responsibility for security, including accountability for human rights.

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 the