ASTANA – Senegalese President Macky Sall confirmed his country will vote for Kazakhstan in the nation’s bid for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for 2017-18. The vote will be held in June as part of the 70th session of the UN General Assembly. Sall came to Kazakhstan May 20 and President Nursultan Nazarbayev said his first visit to the country laid a foundation for future cooperation.
Sall is the chairman of the authoritative and most advanced regional organisation in Africa – Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). It is the only association in Africa that has union peacekeeping forces, a joint Parliament, court of justice and the investment bank. The free trade zone is functioning within the framework of the community as well.
The strategic geographic position of Senegal is defined by the presence of the vast Atlantic coast. The world’s most important shipping lanes pass along this coast. The Senegalese naval base also located in the largest commercial seaport of Dakar in the coastal zone of the Atlantic Ocean.
Ban Ki-moon Appoints Patricia Espinosa to Head UNFCCC
NEW YORK – United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on May 19 appointed Patricia Espinosa Cantellano of Mexico as Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The appointment has been made after consultation with the Conference of Parties through its Bureau.
She will succeed Christiana Figueres of Costa Rica to whom the Secretary-General expressed his sincere gratitude for her invaluable support and dedication in restoring confidence in the international climate negotiations, successfully catalysing cooperation among Governments and all sectors of society in bringing forward commitments and climate action plans, supported by a modernised Climate Secretariat. Playing a pivotal role, her leadership and personal commitment contributed in supporting the Secretary-General, the UN System and Parties to the Framework Convention in securing the historic and universal UN Climate Agreement in Paris in 2015.
Currently Ambassador of Mexico to Germany (since 2012 and from 2001 to 2002), Ms. Espinosa Cantellano was Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mexico from 2006 to 2012, bringing more than 30 years of experience at highest levels in international relations, specialized in climate change, global governance, sustainable development, gender equality and protection of human rights.
Ban Announces Intention to Appoint Erik Solheim as UNEP Executive Director
NEW YORK – Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, following consultations with the Chairpersons of the regional groups of Member States, has informed the General Assembly of his intention to appoint Erik Solheim of Norway as the new Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
Solheim is currently Chair of the Development Assistance Committee of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), a post he has held since 2013. From 2007 to 2012, he was Norway’s Minister for the Environment and International Development. He also served as Norway’s Minister for International Development from 2005 to 2007.
Achim Steiner, UNEP’s outgoing Executive Director welcomed the Secretary General’s announcement. “I congratulate Erik Solheim on his nomination to become the sixth Executive Director in UNEP’s 44-year history. Solheim was a strong supporter of UNEP during his tenure as Minister of Environment and International Development of Norway and continued to offer his good offices in later years”, said Steiner. [IDN-InDepthNews – 23 May 2016]
IDN is flagship agency of the International Press Syndicate.
Photo: Senegalese President Macky Sall (L) and Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev (R)