BAN URGES ISRAELI AND PALESTINIAN LEADERS TO TAKE ‘BOLD STEPS’ TOWARDS PEACE
With the coming weeks critical in moving towards direct Israeli-Palestinian talks, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today called on the leaders of both sides to surmount domestic political pressures and take “bold steps” to achieve peace in the region.
With proximity talks under way, “it is vital for the parties to refrain from provocations and seize this opportunity,” Mr. Ban said in a message to a United Nations meeting under way in Lisbon, Portugal.
A two-State solution is vital for Israel “to maintain its democratic character and identity and gain security and legitimacy throughout the region,” he stressed, adding that it is also essential for Palestinians “to achieve genuine freedom and national self-determination, and to end the occupation.”
In the address, delivered by Kiyo Akasaka, Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information, Mr. Ban cautioned that the clock is ticking for a two-State solution.
Earlier this month, in a move welcomed by the Secretary-General and other UN officials, the Israeli Government announced it was increasing the scope and quantity of materials allowed into Gaza. Since then, new food and productive items have entered the Strip and the volume of imports into the area has risen steadily.
Mr. Ban today welcomed recent Israeli moves towards a new policy on Gaza, but stressed that “full and swift implementation is crucial, as are further measures beyond those announced,” as well as an end to the blockade.
For its part, he emphasized, Hamas should enforce an extended ceasefire and move ahead with Egypt’s reconciliation proposals with the “legitimate Palestinian Authority of President [Mahmoud] Abbas.”
On the issue of prisoners, the Secretary-General said that he continues to call for the conclusion of a prisoner exchange agreement. “It serves no Palestinian interest to keep Corporal Gilad Shalit in captivity; access should be granted to him and he should be released,” Mr. Ban said about the Israeli soldier who has been detained for more than four years.
The media seminar being held in the Portuguese capital is the 18th such gathering organized by the UN Department of Public Information (DPI), and aims to sensitize public opinion on the issue of Palestine and the peace process.
“The growing use of new media in the Middle East offers truly exciting opportunities to reach wider audiences, particularly young people,” the Secretary-General said today.
“I encourage young Israelis and Palestinians to use these new tools to spread positive messages that will encourage a culture of peace, coexistence and better understanding between their people”
The focus of this year’s gathering is the role of women from both sides in achieving security in the Middle East, with this year marking the 10th anniversary of the adoption of the historic Security Council resolution 1325, which stresses the importance of giving women equal participation and full involvement in peace and security matters.
“The core message of that landmark text – sustainable peace is possible only with the perspectives, leadership and full participation of women – is one we must take to heart in all regions, including the Middle East,” Mr. Ban told the Lisbon event, voicing hope that both sides will step up women’s involvement in the search for peace.
Some 120 people from the region, including both Israelis and Palestinians, and from the rest of the world are expected to attend the two-day seminar which kicked off today, including Government officials, representatives of civil society organizations, academics and journalists.
Five panel sessions will be held during the seminar on topics such as the role of the Israeli and Palestinian media in reducing tensions and the part that mayors from both sides can play in advancing peace.
The participants include Jorge Sampaio, the former Portuguese president and Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations, set up under UN auspices to promote better cross-cultural relations worldwide, and Robert Serry, the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process.
(UN: New York, Jul 22 2010)
vrijdag 23 juli 2010
Kinderen uit Gaza willen wereldrecord basketball verbreken op zomerspelen
GAZA’S CHILDREN BOUNCE THEIR WAY INTO RECORD BOOKS AT UN SUMMER SPORTING EVENT
More than 7,200 children in Gaza today simultaneously bounced basketballs, putting them on track to set their second world record in as many years, as part of an annual summer sporting event organized by the United Nations agency assisting Palestinian refugees.
Today’s record of 7,203 balls dribbled more than doubles the previous record set in 2007 in the United States, where just over 3,000 balls were bounced.
John Ging, Director of the UN Relief and Works Agency UNRWA, took a cautious approach, noting that a final verdict from the Guinness Book of World Records is expected in the coming days.
“But certainly we know the figures and the chances look good,” he said.
Mr. Ging expressed his gratitude to the children of Gaza, “without whom this could never have happened.”
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon had earlier expressed his support in a video message. “I want to congratulate the children of Gaza for taking part in this great event. You are showing the world that if you are given the opportunity… you can be number one!”
But the area’s young people are not content with smashing one world record this summer.
Later this week, they are expected to set a separate world record for the number of kites flown simultaneously – a record they themselves set during last year’s Summer Games, when nearly 4,000 kites were hoisted in the air.
“Two world records in a week is surely another world record in itself,” Mr. Ging marvelled, calling on children around the world to send their support to their counterparts in Gaza as they gear up to best their performance from last summer.
For the past month, people from all corners of the globe have been invited to express their encouragement and hope on the website <"http://www.facebook.com/unrwa">www.facebook.com/unrwa.
UNRWA’s Summer Games, now in their fourth year, engage more than a quarter of a million refugee children across Gaza in such activities as sports, arts and crafts, theatre and drama. As the largest recreation programme for Gaza’s children, it is providing 1,200 summer camps for the duration of the Games, which run from 12 June through 5 August this year.
(VN: Jul 22 2010)
----------------
GAZA’S CHILDREN SET TO BREAK WORLD RECORDS AT UN-BACKED SUMMER RECREATION EVENT
Thousands of children in the Gaza Strip will attempt to smash the world record for the number of basketballs bounced simultaneously in one of the more novel activities that are part of an annual sporting event organized by the United Nations agency assisting Palestinian refugees.
Tomorrow, at the Summer Games, these children will seek to break the current world record, which was set in the United States in September 2007. The number of balls dribbled then was just over 3,000, a figure they hope to double.
“I have total confidence that the kids of Gaza will break this world record,” said John Ging, the Director in Gaza for the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East, in a press release issued by UNRWA. “With their extraordinary determination and capacity to rise to a challenge, the children here can do anything.”
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also expressed his support in a video message. “I want to congratulate the children of Gaza for taking part in this great event. You are showing the world that if you are given the opportunity… you can be number one!”
Later this week, the children are expected to set a separate world record for the number of kites flown simultaneously – a record they themselves set during the Games last year.
“Two world records in a week is surely another world record in itself,” said Mr. Ging, “and I invite children everywhere to go to our blog and send support.” He was referrring to a Facebook page set up by UNRWA where, for the past month, bloggers from around the world have been invited to send messages of support and hope to the children of Gaza.
UNRWA’s Summer Games, now in their fourth year, engage more than a quarter of a million refugee children across Gaza in such activities as sports, arts and crafts, theatre and drama. As the largest recreation programme for Gaza’s children, it is providing 1,200 summer camps for the duration of the Games, which run from 12 June through 5 August this year.
(VN: Jul 21 2010)
More than 7,200 children in Gaza today simultaneously bounced basketballs, putting them on track to set their second world record in as many years, as part of an annual summer sporting event organized by the United Nations agency assisting Palestinian refugees.
Today’s record of 7,203 balls dribbled more than doubles the previous record set in 2007 in the United States, where just over 3,000 balls were bounced.
John Ging, Director of the UN Relief and Works Agency UNRWA, took a cautious approach, noting that a final verdict from the Guinness Book of World Records is expected in the coming days.
“But certainly we know the figures and the chances look good,” he said.
Mr. Ging expressed his gratitude to the children of Gaza, “without whom this could never have happened.”
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon had earlier expressed his support in a video message. “I want to congratulate the children of Gaza for taking part in this great event. You are showing the world that if you are given the opportunity… you can be number one!”
But the area’s young people are not content with smashing one world record this summer.
Later this week, they are expected to set a separate world record for the number of kites flown simultaneously – a record they themselves set during last year’s Summer Games, when nearly 4,000 kites were hoisted in the air.
“Two world records in a week is surely another world record in itself,” Mr. Ging marvelled, calling on children around the world to send their support to their counterparts in Gaza as they gear up to best their performance from last summer.
For the past month, people from all corners of the globe have been invited to express their encouragement and hope on the website <"http://www.facebook.com/unrwa">www.facebook.com/unrwa.
UNRWA’s Summer Games, now in their fourth year, engage more than a quarter of a million refugee children across Gaza in such activities as sports, arts and crafts, theatre and drama. As the largest recreation programme for Gaza’s children, it is providing 1,200 summer camps for the duration of the Games, which run from 12 June through 5 August this year.
(VN: Jul 22 2010)
----------------
GAZA’S CHILDREN SET TO BREAK WORLD RECORDS AT UN-BACKED SUMMER RECREATION EVENT
Thousands of children in the Gaza Strip will attempt to smash the world record for the number of basketballs bounced simultaneously in one of the more novel activities that are part of an annual sporting event organized by the United Nations agency assisting Palestinian refugees.
Tomorrow, at the Summer Games, these children will seek to break the current world record, which was set in the United States in September 2007. The number of balls dribbled then was just over 3,000, a figure they hope to double.
“I have total confidence that the kids of Gaza will break this world record,” said John Ging, the Director in Gaza for the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East, in a press release issued by UNRWA. “With their extraordinary determination and capacity to rise to a challenge, the children here can do anything.”
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also expressed his support in a video message. “I want to congratulate the children of Gaza for taking part in this great event. You are showing the world that if you are given the opportunity… you can be number one!”
Later this week, the children are expected to set a separate world record for the number of kites flown simultaneously – a record they themselves set during the Games last year.
“Two world records in a week is surely another world record in itself,” said Mr. Ging, “and I invite children everywhere to go to our blog and send support.” He was referrring to a Facebook page set up by UNRWA where, for the past month, bloggers from around the world have been invited to send messages of support and hope to the children of Gaza.
UNRWA’s Summer Games, now in their fourth year, engage more than a quarter of a million refugee children across Gaza in such activities as sports, arts and crafts, theatre and drama. As the largest recreation programme for Gaza’s children, it is providing 1,200 summer camps for the duration of the Games, which run from 12 June through 5 August this year.
(VN: Jul 21 2010)
Ban en Netanyahu bespreken Gaza en vrede in Midden-Oosten
Eerder deze maand hebben VN-secrataris-generaal Ban Ki-moon en de Israelische minsiter-president Netanyahu gepraat over vrede in het Midden-Oosten en de situatie in Gaza.
De verklaring van de VN over deze ontmoeting:
GAZA AND MIDDLE EAST PEACE AMONG ISSUES DISCUSSED BY BAN AND ISRAELI LEADER
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met today at United Nations Headquarters in New York, where they discussed a number of issues including the Middle East peace process and the situation in Gaza.
The UN chief has welcomed the additional measures announced this week by Israel in increasing the scope and quantity of materials allowed into Gaza, and said he hoped they will lead to an improvement in the situation of the 1.5 million Palestinians living in the territory.
He and other UN officials have repeatedly called for ending the blockade against Gaza, which Israel imposed on the territory for what it called security reasons after Hamas, which does not recognize Israel’s right to exist, ousted the Fatah movement in the Strip in 2007.
Mr. Ban and Mr. Netanyahu also covered, among other topics, Lebanon and Security Council (2006) resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 conflict between Israel and Hizbollah.
Their meeting also included a one-on-one discussion, according to the Secretary-General’s spokesperson.
(VN, 7 juli 2010)
De verklaring van de VN over deze ontmoeting:
GAZA AND MIDDLE EAST PEACE AMONG ISSUES DISCUSSED BY BAN AND ISRAELI LEADER
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met today at United Nations Headquarters in New York, where they discussed a number of issues including the Middle East peace process and the situation in Gaza.
The UN chief has welcomed the additional measures announced this week by Israel in increasing the scope and quantity of materials allowed into Gaza, and said he hoped they will lead to an improvement in the situation of the 1.5 million Palestinians living in the territory.
He and other UN officials have repeatedly called for ending the blockade against Gaza, which Israel imposed on the territory for what it called security reasons after Hamas, which does not recognize Israel’s right to exist, ousted the Fatah movement in the Strip in 2007.
Mr. Ban and Mr. Netanyahu also covered, among other topics, Lebanon and Security Council (2006) resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 conflict between Israel and Hizbollah.
Their meeting also included a one-on-one discussion, according to the Secretary-General’s spokesperson.
(VN, 7 juli 2010)
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