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| UN general assembly: Ban Ki-moon says Syria aid convoy attack was sickening – live | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 2.36pm BST | |
| 14:36 | |
| I did say Bocelli would be a hard act to follow. | |
| No standing ovation for Ban Ki moon. Andrea Bocelli still the only person to get one | |
| 2.34pm BST | |
| 14:34 | |
| Ban suggests that the UN president and his successor should look into ways to improve decision making. | |
| He refers to countries exercising vetoes and “holding the world to hostage on so many important issues”. | |
| There have been a number of vetoes on Syria, by Russia and China. | |
| Ban says that when he came to office a smartphone was not available but now it is a “lifeline” for many people. | |
| Despite being misused by extremists smartphones they can be of great value in making the world a better place, he says. | |
| Our phones and social media have connected the world. | |
| Ban concludes. | |
| 2.26pm BST | |
| 14:26 | |
| My colleague Julian Borger questions Ban’s claim about appointing more women than ever before to senior problems: | |
| At #UNGA, Ban Ki-moon claims to have appointed more women to senior positions than ever before. Fact-check: https://t.co/dNIWEQsdce | |
| 2.25pm BST | |
| 14:25 | |
| Ban says he has appointed more women to senior positions than ever before. To applause he says: | |
| I’m proud to call myself a feminist. Women hold up half the sky. | |
| More must be done to tackle chronic violence against women and improve their participation in decision-making. | |
| He is talking about a range of achievements, including in-roads against the death penalty, the international criminal court. | |
| Ban urges those present to say “No” to cracking down against freedom of assembly and expression. One would imagine Turkey is on the list of countries he is thinking of. | |
| 2.18pm BST | |
| 14:18 | |
| Here is the quote that could be seen as criticism of Donald Trump, as well as other right wing politicians: | |
| "All too often, refugees and migrants face hatred." Ban Ki-moon to world leaders at #UNGA https://t.co/D17Ok7Vo6h pic.twitter.com/48g0opywDp | |
| 2.17pm BST | |
| 14:17 | |
| Ban calls on all with influence to end the fighting. | |
| The future of Syria should not rest on the fate of a single man. | |
| He says the prospects of a two-state solution in Israel/Palestine diminish by the day. | |
| Ban also cites problems in North Korea, Ukraine, South Sudan, and urges leaders to serve their people and not pilfer resources. | |
| In comments that seem aimed at Donald Trump, he refers to the demonisation of Muslims that he says has haunting echoes of the past, urging politicians to be wary of hateful rhetoric. | |
| Ban also cites places where he says prospects are more positive, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Colombia and Cyprus. | |
| Updated | |
| at 2.38pm BST | |
| 2.10pm BST | |
| 14:10 | |
| Ban calls attack on aid convoy 'sickening' | |
| Ban says he stands before the assembly with “deep concern” despite many achievements since he entered office eight years ago. | |
| He refers to “gulfs” between leaders and their citizens and the danger posed by extremists and climate change. | |
| Nevertheless he remains optimistic that the gap between rich and poor can be bridged. He urges leaders to bring the Paris agreement on climate change into effect before the end of the year. | |
| There are “great security threats”, he says, citing radicalisation. The consequences are on display from Yemen to Syria. On Syria, he says “powerful patrons” of both sides in the conflict “have blood on their hands”. | |
| Present in this hall today are representatives of governments that have ignored, facilitated, funded, participated in or even planned and carried out atrocities inflicted by all sides of the Syria conflict against Syrian civilians. | |
| Many groups have killed innocent civilians, none more so than the government of Syria.” | |
| He calls yesterday’s attack on a UN aid convoy sickening. | |
| Updated | |
| at 2.39pm BST | |
| 2.05pm BST | 2.05pm BST |
| 14:05 | 14:05 |
| The general debate is about to begin. Before that, opera singer Andrea Bocelli serenaded heads of state with a rousing version of Nessun Dorma. It’s a hard act for Ban Ki-moon to follow. | The general debate is about to begin. Before that, opera singer Andrea Bocelli serenaded heads of state with a rousing version of Nessun Dorma. It’s a hard act for Ban Ki-moon to follow. |
| Now it's Andrea Bocelli singing Nessun Dorma at the UN pic.twitter.com/YVohrmj4cY | Now it's Andrea Bocelli singing Nessun Dorma at the UN pic.twitter.com/YVohrmj4cY |
| 1.52pm BST | 1.52pm BST |
| 13:52 | 13:52 |
| My colleague Julian Borger is at the hotel where the meeting of the International Syria Support Group is taking place. There is a lot for its members to discuss. | My colleague Julian Borger is at the hotel where the meeting of the International Syria Support Group is taking place. There is a lot for its members to discuss. |
| Kerry and Lavrov went past deep in conversation on way to #syria meeting | Kerry and Lavrov went past deep in conversation on way to #syria meeting |
| Lavrov and Kerry on way to Syria meeting in NYC. Lavrov spokeswoman came by but said nothing on convoy bombing pic.twitter.com/79K6vpck2S | Lavrov and Kerry on way to Syria meeting in NYC. Lavrov spokeswoman came by but said nothing on convoy bombing pic.twitter.com/79K6vpck2S |
| Reuters quotes the German foreign minister, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, as saying they must see if there is a way back to a truce in Syria or if “this has already become hopeless”. | Reuters quotes the German foreign minister, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, as saying they must see if there is a way back to a truce in Syria or if “this has already become hopeless”. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 1.54pm BST | at 1.54pm BST |
| 1.46pm BST | 1.46pm BST |
| 13:46 | 13:46 |
| Interested in the types of seats the heads of state will be sitting on? The UN thinks you are: | Interested in the types of seats the heads of state will be sitting on? The UN thinks you are: |
| Shortly these chairs will be moved into the #UNGA hall for use by heads of states. Watch: https://t.co/YDghrBCyDr pic.twitter.com/IpSzNyFW0o | Shortly these chairs will be moved into the #UNGA hall for use by heads of states. Watch: https://t.co/YDghrBCyDr pic.twitter.com/IpSzNyFW0o |
| And if that’s not exciting enough for you: | And if that’s not exciting enough for you: |
| The UN is live streaming "VIP Arrivals" at #UNGA today like it's the Oscars or something https://t.co/4pHKwsSATQ …. Mesmerizing | The UN is live streaming "VIP Arrivals" at #UNGA today like it's the Oscars or something https://t.co/4pHKwsSATQ …. Mesmerizing |
| 1.36pm BST | 1.36pm BST |
| 13:36 | 13:36 |
| Patrick Kingsley | Patrick Kingsley |
| Theresa May’s plan to keep refugees to the first country they reach after fleeing their homes is unrealistic, the head of the UN’s migration agency has told the Guardian. | Theresa May’s plan to keep refugees to the first country they reach after fleeing their homes is unrealistic, the head of the UN’s migration agency has told the Guardian. |
| Comparing the UK prime minister’s idea to the EU’s failed Dublin scheme, which is nominally meant to keep refugees inside the first European countries they reach, William Lacy Swing, head of the International Organisation for Migration, said it was impractical to expect a similar plan to work better across a far wider area. | Comparing the UK prime minister’s idea to the EU’s failed Dublin scheme, which is nominally meant to keep refugees inside the first European countries they reach, William Lacy Swing, head of the International Organisation for Migration, said it was impractical to expect a similar plan to work better across a far wider area. |
| During an interview on the sidelines of the UN general assembly in New York, he said: | During an interview on the sidelines of the UN general assembly in New York, he said: |
| I’ve felt for a long time that Dublin is not being honoured or respected. I think that migrants and refugees should be able to go to where they need to go to get work and protection. I don’t think it’s something that is likely to be extendable [beyond the borders of Europe]. | I’ve felt for a long time that Dublin is not being honoured or respected. I think that migrants and refugees should be able to go to where they need to go to get work and protection. I don’t think it’s something that is likely to be extendable [beyond the borders of Europe]. |
| Countries like Germany and Sweden have largely failed to send people back to the countries in which they entered Europe partly because of the logistical impracticalities of moving so many people and also due to the failing infrastructures of countries like Greece. | Countries like Germany and Sweden have largely failed to send people back to the countries in which they entered Europe partly because of the logistical impracticalities of moving so many people and also due to the failing infrastructures of countries like Greece. |
| 1.33pm BST | 1.33pm BST |
| 13:33 | 13:33 |
| The International Syria Support Group, encompassing the foreign secretaries of international powers with interests in Syria, is taking place now. | The International Syria Support Group, encompassing the foreign secretaries of international powers with interests in Syria, is taking place now. |
| The meeting comes amid a collapse of the short-lived ceasefire and tensions between the US and Russia over who is to blame for the ending of the truce, as well as the attack on the aid convoy outside Aleppo on Monday. | The meeting comes amid a collapse of the short-lived ceasefire and tensions between the US and Russia over who is to blame for the ending of the truce, as well as the attack on the aid convoy outside Aleppo on Monday. |
| At the New York Palace Hotel waiting for #Syria formins meeting Lavrov is in the building but had no comment as he walked by | At the New York Palace Hotel waiting for #Syria formins meeting Lavrov is in the building but had no comment as he walked by |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 1.39pm BST | at 1.39pm BST |
| 1.26pm BST | 1.26pm BST |
| 13:26 | 13:26 |
| This is the scene in New York: | This is the scene in New York: |
| The @UN General Assembly hall starts filling up for the official opening #UNGA 71. @eucopresident to speak pic.twitter.com/W81yq94bF9 | The @UN General Assembly hall starts filling up for the official opening #UNGA 71. @eucopresident to speak pic.twitter.com/W81yq94bF9 |
| 1.15pm BST | 1.15pm BST |
| 13:15 | 13:15 |
| Patrick Kingsley | Patrick Kingsley |
| Today’s the second and final day of the refugee-focussed parts of the summit. After the disappointment of yesterday’s UN-led meeting, in which leaders agreed to a generic and non-binding statement on refugees that delayed collective action until 2018, around 45 countries are expected to make more concrete pledges on an individual basis at a US-led gathering today. | Today’s the second and final day of the refugee-focussed parts of the summit. After the disappointment of yesterday’s UN-led meeting, in which leaders agreed to a generic and non-binding statement on refugees that delayed collective action until 2018, around 45 countries are expected to make more concrete pledges on an individual basis at a US-led gathering today. |
| Negotiations are going down to the wire, and yesterday US officials wouldn’t tell me exactly what is expected from who but they did feel hopeful that they will more or less meet their target of a) increasing humanitarian aid by 30%, b) doubling resettlement places, and c) letting one million more refugees into the labour market, and another million refugee children into education. | Negotiations are going down to the wire, and yesterday US officials wouldn’t tell me exactly what is expected from who but they did feel hopeful that they will more or less meet their target of a) increasing humanitarian aid by 30%, b) doubling resettlement places, and c) letting one million more refugees into the labour market, and another million refugee children into education. |
| “’We’re confident that we’re going to accomplish all this in terms of pledges,” Assistant Secretary of State Ann Richard said. | “’We’re confident that we’re going to accomplish all this in terms of pledges,” Assistant Secretary of State Ann Richard said. |
| But Richard also admitted that they have included within this calculation anything that has already been pledged since the start of the year, and said that some of the pledges may not strictly fall within the goals of the summit. She said: | But Richard also admitted that they have included within this calculation anything that has already been pledged since the start of the year, and said that some of the pledges may not strictly fall within the goals of the summit. She said: |
| We took a very broad interpretation. It didn’t have to be a formal UNHCR resettlement programme, it could be other legal pathways for admission – scholarships, work visas or humanitarian visas. | We took a very broad interpretation. It didn’t have to be a formal UNHCR resettlement programme, it could be other legal pathways for admission – scholarships, work visas or humanitarian visas. |
| Implementation is also a concern, said Richard. | Implementation is also a concern, said Richard. |
| For me the much harder piece is follow-up. The countries that make commitments – do they mean it, and will they follow through? Usually an administration would spend the next year making sure these countries follow up – but the Obama administration is going to leave office at the end of January. | For me the much harder piece is follow-up. The countries that make commitments – do they mean it, and will they follow through? Usually an administration would spend the next year making sure these countries follow up – but the Obama administration is going to leave office at the end of January. |
| Separately, various business leaders are expected to announce initiatives to help refugees. George Soros has already announced a $500 million fund for refugee-focussed enterprises. | Separately, various business leaders are expected to announce initiatives to help refugees. George Soros has already announced a $500 million fund for refugee-focussed enterprises. |
| 1.12pm BST | 1.12pm BST |
| 13:12 | 13:12 |
| Russian and Syrian air forces were not involved in air strikes on a humanitarian aid convoy near Aleppo in Syria on Monday, Russia’s defence ministry said on Tuesday. | Russian and Syrian air forces were not involved in air strikes on a humanitarian aid convoy near Aleppo in Syria on Monday, Russia’s defence ministry said on Tuesday. |
| In comments read on Russian state-run Rossiya 24 television channel, spokesman Igor Konashenkov said: | In comments read on Russian state-run Rossiya 24 television channel, spokesman Igor Konashenkov said: |
| All information on the whereabouts of the convoy was available only to the militants controlling these areas. | All information on the whereabouts of the convoy was available only to the militants controlling these areas. |
| The US has said Russia must bear responsibility for the air strike, whether or not Russian planes were involved because it was responsible under the ceasefire agreement for reining in Bashar al-Assad’s government forces. The convoy was hit while unloading food at a warehouse in opposition-controlled Urem al-Kubra. | The US has said Russia must bear responsibility for the air strike, whether or not Russian planes were involved because it was responsible under the ceasefire agreement for reining in Bashar al-Assad’s government forces. The convoy was hit while unloading food at a warehouse in opposition-controlled Urem al-Kubra. |
| The International Committee of the Red Cross says around 20 civilians were killed, including a member of the Syrian Red Crescent. | The International Committee of the Red Cross says around 20 civilians were killed, including a member of the Syrian Red Crescent. |
| 1.07pm BST | 1.07pm BST |
| 13:07 | 13:07 |
| Opening summary | |
| The 71st session of the UN general assembly has the theme of “The Sustainable Development Goals: a universal push to transform our world” but the general debate takes place today amid familiar rancour between the US and Russia: | The 71st session of the UN general assembly has the theme of “The Sustainable Development Goals: a universal push to transform our world” but the general debate takes place today amid familiar rancour between the US and Russia: |
| Updated | |
| at 2.33pm BST |