About: United Nations

Afghanistan faces near universal poverty within a year

Without major financial and logistical support, the people of Afghanistan face a future of poverty and humanitarian crisis, warns Achim Steiner.

Georgia is striving to relaunch the machinery of world diplomacy

Since COVID-19 changed our lives, the larger powers are virtually alone in meeting global challenges, while smaller countries like Georgia are striving to re-launch the machinery of the larger debates, Salome Zourabishvili, the President of Georgia, writes in an exclusive...

Nothing to celebrate in 2020? 20 years of UNSC 1325

2020 did not bring significant progress for the agenda of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security (WPS) and the COVID19 pandemic even caused significant setbacks for women's rights, writes Brigitta von Messling.

How third parties’ neutrality protracts the Armenia–Azerbaijan conflict

The so-called “balanced approach” under which Armenia and Azerbaijan take equal blame for the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict has only perpetuated and protracted the antagonism, writes Farid Shafiyev.

To build back better, international cooperation on climate change is needed

The havoc caused by COVID-19 is yet another wake-up call that demonstrates nature’s ultimate power over our lives and societies, and the urgent need for us to better respect and protect the environment upon which we depend, Helga Maria Schmid writes.

EU’s trade deals can put an end to deforestation

The EU must take an aggressive “stick and carrot” approach to trade deals in order to put an end to deforestation and avert a next pandemic, writes Fazlun Khalid.

UN Peacekeepers must stay the course

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, overstretched UN peacekeepers—civilian, military,  and police —were a thin blue line helping to protect civilians, support peace agreements and contain conflicts in hot spots and war zones across the globe, write Atul Khare and Jean-Pierre Lacroix.

Can the coronavirus crisis impact on Nagorno-Karabakh conflict resolution?

Now, when the world is immersed in an enduring coronavirus crisis, it will be quite difficult for Armenia to carry this additional burden, writes Gulshan Pashayeva. Dr Gulshan Pashayeva is Board member of the Center of Analysis of International Relations...

Simulation of ‘democracy’ in occupied Nagorno-Karabakh

The simulation of “democracy” in occupied territories of Nagorno-Karabakh unrecognized by the international community fooled no one, writes Vasif Huseynov.

Avoiding the world another terrible contamination

In the light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the EU should introduce a range measures including a common human health protection policy aimed at reducing the risk of future epidemics arising from poor sanitary or phytosanitary conditions that would have to be met by countries exporting product to the EU, writes Dick Roche.

Lessons in leadership… for the EU

South Korea is an inspiration for fighting the coronavirus and the UN chief is exemplary for global leadership, at a time when the US is incapacitated, and the EU -- still in need of unity, writes Stavros Papagianneas.

Puppet policy won’t solve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict

The recent assertions by the Armenian Prime Minister to involve the illegal puppet regime established in the seized lands of Azerbaijan, in the Nagorno-Karabakh negotiations, can only paralyse the whole process, writes Hikmat Hajiev.

Ice is melting for Nagorno-Karabakh

Several indications signal a thaw in relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and hopes for peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, writes Ilgar Gurbanov.

A day to reflect on our nuclear weapon-free future

29 August was chosen by the United Nations to commemorate the anniversary of the closure of the Semapalatinsk nuclear test site, and to promote the initiative for a nuclear weapon-free world, writes the Astana Times in an editorial article.

European Parliament sounds the alarm over developing world debt crisis

The number of poor countries facing major debt crises has doubled since 2013, and only 1 in 5 are now considered to be at low risk of crisis. With some countries in the midst of crisis and others on the brink, meeting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) remains a pipe dream, writes Mark Perera.

An inefficient truth

It’s time for the G20 to give energy efficiency the respect it deserves, writes Rachel Kyte.

Another environmental catastrophe is looming in Central Asia

The EU as a soft power should convince other donors to make the funds available to decontaminate old uranium mines in Central Asia, writes Adrian De Meer.

They talk of war but it’s their own citizens these ‘strong’ men fear most

In the current geopolitical context, European support for those fighting for human dignity is more important than ever, writes Shada Islam.

Child immigration detention: Why EU states must cut it out

European governments are treating children like criminals by detaining them because of their migration status. It’s time to care for them as the children they are, writes Lavinia Liardo.