Vitaly Churkin

Vitaly Churkin, 64, Russia’s Longtime Ambassador to the UN, Dies Suddenly

February 20, 2017

Vitaly Churkin, 64, the Russian ambassador to the United Nations since April 8, 2006, died on Feb. 20. A statement from the Russian mission to the UN said Churkin “died suddenly.” It added curtly: “A prominent Russian diplomat has passed away while at work. We’d like to express our sincere condolences to Vitaly Churkin’s family.” Churkin …

Security Council, UN Diplomats

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NIKKI HALEY WATCH

On a Light Note: 10 Tips for Nikki Haley, New US Ambassador to UN

February 9, 2017

by Laura E. Kirkpatrick

A recent email sent out by a member of the United States Mission to the United Nations, then tweeted and possibly subtweeted, contained the following statement: This is to let you know that Ambassador Haley will be spending her first few months learning about the UN and Security Council and its members. She will …

Journalists, Nikki Haley Watch, Security Council, US Foreign Relations, US-UN Relations

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Russian Spies Left Out in the Cold? New Details of the Country’s Oyster Bay Estate

January 10, 2017

by Dulcie Leimbach

UPPER BROOKVILLE, N.Y. — Not long after the United States abruptly ordered all Russians to leave an estate that Moscow owns in Upper Brookville, Long Island, the village was recovering from the whirlwind that swept through it right before New Year’s Eve. As to who was there and what they were exactly doing remains …

Security Council, UN Diplomats, US Foreign Relations, US-UN Relations

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You’ve Got to Be Kidding: A Twitter Account Takes Jabs at the UN Security Council

November 15, 2016

by Laura E. Kirkpatrick

Right off the bat, the profile avatar of the @eweNitedNations Twitter account lets readers know what to expect in its mordantly satirical jabs at the United Nations Security Council. A sheep, photoshopped into wearing the blue beret of UN peacekeepers, comes with a tagline that reads, “Member states are gregarious.” But what is eweNitedNations …

Security Council, US-UN Relations

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António Guterres, 67, Picked to Become the Next UN Secretary-General

October 5, 2016

by Dulcie Leimbach

António Guterres, a former Socialist prime minister of Portugal and until recently head of the United Nations refugee agency, has been selected by the Security Council to become the next secretary-general of the UN, starting a five-year term on Jan. 1. The decision is subject to two formal votes: one confirming acclamation in the …

Secretary-General

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UN’s Newest Vote to Pick the Next Secretary-General? Guterres Wins Again

September 26, 2016

by Dulcie Leimbach

António Guterres, a former prime minister of Portugal who most recently was the United Nations high commissioner for refugees, once more dominated the latest straw poll held by the UN Security Council on selecting the next secretary-general. The five-year term starts Jan. 1, 2017, when Ban Ki-moon, a Korean, leaves office. The fifth poll, …

Secretary-General

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The Heart of Pope Francis’s Speech at the UN: Don’t Look Past the Poor

September 25, 2015

by Dulcie Leimbach

Pope Francis spread his gospel of not forgetting the poor at the United Nations on Friday morning, where he spoke in his native Spanish to the 193 member delegations and heads of state gathered before him at the General Assembly Hall. It was his first appearance at the UN during his first trip to …

Development, General Assembly, Poverty, Secretary-General, Women

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The Nuances Behind Russia’s Use of the Veto on the UN Security Council

September 6, 2015

by Alexander Brotman

When Russia vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution in July that called for an international tribunal to prosecute who is responsible for the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine a year ago, it was the latest in a long string of vetoes exercised by the country as a permanent council member. …

Security Council, US-UN Relations

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GOINGS-ON

Recent Senior Appointments at the UN Show Stubborn Gender Gap

June 4, 2015

by Dulcie Leimbach

A roundup of new high-level appointments announced by the United Nations in the last three months runs the usual gamut from special envoys to new heads of agencies. These new senior appointments, made by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, show a continuing preponderance of men over women, with the latest roundup revealing a startling ratio of 18 …

GOINGS-ON

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Has Russia Dashed All Hopes for a Female Secretary-General?

April 30, 2015

by Dulcie Leimbach

Has Russia put the kibosh on the chances that the next secretary-general of the United Nations will be a woman? As Vitaly Churkin walked ramrod-straight in his dark suit to a working-group discussion at the UN on the process of selecting the next secretary-general, he acted as if he owned the place. Some might …

General Assembly, Secretary-General, US-UN Relations, Women

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In Synch, China and Russia Vote No on Syria Referral to ICC

May 22, 2014

by Dulcie Leimbach

Russia and China have once again blocked a United Nations Security Council resolution on Syria. The latest resolution, proposed with great consideration by France and co-sponsored by 65 countries, including the United States, was to take a long-awaited, assertive step forward by referring the situation in Syria to the International Criminal Court for investigation …

Security Council

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Russia Supplies the Single Vote Against UN Action on Ukraine

March 15, 2014

by Dulcie Leimbach

Facing near-unanimous Security Council support over the situation in Ukraine, Russia supplied the single veto needed to nix a resolution that aimed to de-legitimize the scheduled referendum on Crimea’s seceding from the country, to be held March 16, in a vote today in the United Nations Security Council. Russia’s veto on the resolution was …

Peace and Security, Security Council

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Susan Rice Leaves the UN as Samantha Power Is to Be Nominated

June 5, 2013

by PassBlue

Susan E. Rice, the United States ambassador to the United Nations and a member of President Obama’s Cabinet, will become the country’s national security adviser, replacing Tom Donilon, 58, who has resigned, as expected. Rice’s new position will not require approval from the Senate. Obama will announce that Samantha Power, 42, is to be …

GOINGS-ON

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The Recipe for a Better World? Ending Violence Against Women and Girls

March 7, 2013

by Dulcie Leimbach

Thousands of women worldwide flock to the Commission on the Status of Women’s conference at the United Nations every March, and this year is no exception, for good reason: the theme is eliminating and preventing all violence against women and girls. Violence is a phenomenon that all females can relate to day after day, …

Development, Gender-Based Violence, Human Rights, Women

UN Mission in Syria Renewed for 30 Days

July 20, 2012

by Dulcie Leimbach

A day after the United Nations Security Council refused to adopt a British-sponsored resolution that would have sanctioned the Syrian government if fighting persisted, the council agreed unanimously to renew the mandate of the UN mission in the country to monitor a cease-fire that never happened. The 400-member team, called the UN Supervision Mission …