About: Ban Ki-Moon
Cyprus talks hit impasse over territory
Crucial talks on Cyprus reunification held in Switzerland hit an impasse in the night of 21 to 22 November, the Cypriot press announced.
AidEx opens in Brussels, with ‘localisation’ top of the agenda
AidEx, the second-biggest event in the development calendar in Brussels, opens today (16 November), for 48 hours, in which the international aid community, NGOs, professionals come together to share experiences and expertise.
Cyprus talks relocate to Switzerland, hopes for deal by year-end
The Cyprus peace negotiations will be relocating to Switzerland this week, as the island nation’s Greek and Turkish leaders look to make progress on some of the most difficult issues hampering reunification. EURACTIV Spain reports.
Paris climate accord to take effect on 4 November
A global agreement to combat climate change will take force after support from European nations sent the accord across an important threshold on Wednesday (5 October), prompting US President Barack Obama to hail it as a "historic day" for protecting the planet.
Afghanistan seeks aid to rebuild at Brussels talks
World powers meet in Brussels yesterday (4 October) to pledge billions of dollars for Afghanistan until 2020, as fresh Taliban violence underscores the challenges 15 years after the US toppled the Islamist movement.
Colombia peace deal in tatters, EU stance on FARC group unclear
Colombia is struggling to save a peace deal that stumbled at the last hurdle, when the country’s citizens voted to reject an agreement that would have put an end to decades of conflict.
Helen Clark: UN needs a well-established leader, not a technocrat
The United Nations need a "well-established leader" capable of working across divisions, and able to mobilise people around the aspirations the member states themselves have expressed for a more inclusive, sustainable world, Helen Clark said in a wide-ranging interview with EURACTIV.com's editor-in-chief Daniela Vincenti.
Georgieva close to UN nomination, but obstacle remains
European Commission Vice President Kristalina Georgieva, who doesn’t make a secret of her ambition to run for the post of UN Secretary General, has never been closer to obtaining the nomination of her government. But an important obstacle remains.
US, European allies call on Russia to save Syria truce
EU foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini joined the foreign ministers of France, Italy, Germany, the UK and the US on Saturday (24 September) in ordering Russia to take "extraordinary steps" to bring about a truce in its ally Syria. But renewed attacks by Syrian forces on Sunday prompted stronger criticism by the US.
Cyprus meeting yields ‘roadmap’ to reunification
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon pledged yesterday (25 September) to play a greater role in stepped-up efforts to reach a deal on settling the decades-old conflict in Cyprus before the end of the year.
Slovakia becomes fourth EU country to ratify the Paris Agreement
The Slovak parliament today voted today (21 September) to ratify the Paris Agreement, the landmark international treaty in the fight against climate change. After France, Hungary and Austria, Slovakia, who holds the rotating presidency of the EU, is the fourth country to ratify the deal.
The strongest candidate from Eastern Europe for UN top job is a woman
Bulgarian MEP Ilhan Kyuchyuk calls for the United Nations to recognise that nominating Irina Bokova to be the next Secretary-General is the best way to fulfil principles that the UN agreed upon almost 20 years ago.
Fico lobbies Putin for Lajcak as UN chief
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, who had dinner with Russian President Vladimir Putin yesterday (25 August), has lobbied for Russian support for his Minister of Foreign Affairs, Miroslav Lajcak, to become the next UN Secretary-General.
Report: Cyprus reunification deal taking shape
A website in Cyprus has published what looks like the blueprint of an agreement for the reunification of the island, divided since 1974.
How the UN could support SDGs with shared value
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) make little sense if the purchasing power of the farmers who produce coffee, cocoa or tea is disregarded, writes Fernando Morales-de la Cruz in an open letter to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.
Will the UN glass ceiling be shattered this time?
While the contest to select the next UN Secretary-General may not be on a par with the slugging match for the White House, it is beginning to heat up - with some decidedly undiplomatic tactics evident in the campaign to replace Ban Ki-moon, writes Dick Roche.
EU, US reject UN plan to resettle refugees
The European Union and the United States among other heavy-weight countries have rejected a UN proposal to resettle 10% of the world's refugees annually as part of a new global effort to tackle the worst refugee crisis since World War II.
Gebrselassie calls for more help for El Niño-hit Africa
Haile Gebrselassie, the world’s greatest-ever long-distance runner, has warned that the world is in danger of “forgetting a huge emergency” in Ethiopia and other African states struggling to respond to shortages after the most extreme El Nino in half a century.
African Union seeks own solution to South Sudan crisis
The UN is rapidly running out of patience with the president and vice-president of South Sudan, but the Northeast African country's neighbours have still not imposed any new sanctions on it. EURACTIV's partner Der Tagesspiegel reports.
Israel approves hundreds of new settler homes after attacks
Israel has approved hundreds of new settler homes in the occupied West Bank, an official said yesterday (4 July), in a move denounced by UN chief Ban Ki-moon and likely to further raise tensions following a series of Palestinian attacks.
Quartet: Israel settlements and Palestinian incitement must stop
Israel should stop building settlements and the Palestinians should cease incitement to violence, the Middle East diplomatic quartet said in a much-awaited report Friday aimed at reviving peace talks.
Turkish court frees 2 press freedom campaigners, third still in jail
Turkey released two prominent press-freedom activists from prison on Thursday (30 June) following international condemnation of their detention, but their prosecution on terrorism-related charges will proceed, a lawyer said.
International emergency assistance requires reform
The present demand for emergency assistance is almost unprecedented, and the World Humanitarian Summit is a golden opportunity to push for much-needed systemic reforms, write Jörn Grävingholt and Benjamin Schraven.