Brahimi in NY; Violence in the Sudans; Small Arms Trade; Syria; Backlash vs. the SG in Tehran; This Week at the UN

Brahimi in NY: The SG met with the new Joint Representative for Syria, Algerian diplomat Lakhdar Brahimi, on Friday in New York, ensuring him that he has the full support of the international community for this important task. Mr. Brahimi assumes his new post on September 1.

Violence in the Sudans: OCHA has expressed deep concern over reports that fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) in the South Kordofan State is causing significant civilian displacement. South of the border, the head of UNMISS, Hilde Johnson, condemned an attack by armed insurgents in the country’s eastern Jonglei state, noting that the violence was a deliberate attempt to undermine the country’s progress towards peace and reconciliation in a press statement released today.

Small Arms Trade: This morning during the Second -Review Conference of the UN Program of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons, the DSG delivered remarks on behalf of Ban Ki-moon, urging sustained efforts be made to tackle the illegal trade in small arms. After limited cooperation by members states on the issue, the SG calls on delegates to agree on a strong and forward-looking outcome of the conference, being held at UN HQ until September 7.

Syria: SG Ban Ki-moon “strongly condemns” the killing of hundreds of civilians in the town of Daraya in Syria, calling for an immediate investigation into the report by opposition groups claiming that more than 200 bodies had been found after Syrian Government troops stormed the town on Saturday. UNICEF also issued an urgen appeal this morning for over $50 million to help the growing number of Syrian refugee children and their families arriving in Jordan.

Backlash vs. the SG in Tehran: After the SG’s decision to attend this week’s meeting of the NAM in Tehran was announced last week, there has already been criticism voiced regarding the potential implications of the trip, as noted in two posts in Turtle Bay.

This week at the UN:

Wednesday, August 29: International Day against Nuclear Tests; the SG leaves for Tehran where he will participate in the 16th Summit the NAM.

Thursday, August 30: International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances; SC is expected to adopt a resolution on the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL)