Secretary-General, Mr. Ban Ki-moon urged regional organisations to find ways to expand their cooperation and dialogue to address increasingly interconnected global challenges. Ki-moon, who spoke at a high-level debate in the Security Council, said “Regional and sub-regional organisations have deep knowledge, unique insights and strong local networks. These elements are critical for mediation, planning a peacekeeping operation or helping a country to build lasting peace”. The meeting, according to a release by the global body, dwelt on cooperation between the UN and regional and sub-regional organisations in maintaining international peace and security.

UN Wants Expanded Cooperation among Regional Organisations, Articles | THISDAY LIVE: "“We are better at sharing information and analysis on brewing crises, but we have to work harder on swift response and long-term prevention,” he noted, asking countries to examine how they can expand their cooperation in pursuit of international peace and security. “We need to learn from the lessons of our collaborations to build ever more innovative and flexible partnership arrangements that draw on our respective strengths,” he said. “Only through cooperation will we meet our shared aspirations for a more peaceful world.” The debate, presided over by President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner of Argentina, which holds the Council’s presidency this month, sought to further strengthen dialogue and exchange of information among regional and sub-regional organisations and the UN on issues such as conflict prevention, peaceful settlement of disputes, peacekeeping and post-conflict peacebuilding. In his remarks, Ki-moon highlighted examples of valuable cooperation between the UN and regional and sub-regional organisations across the globe." CLICK LINK TO READ MORE

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The United Nations peacekeeping force monitoring the Israeli-Lebanese border said it has opened an investigation into an incident involving an explosion that injured several soldiers belonging to the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF). In a statement issued to the press, the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said it was informed by the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) that an IDF patrol had crossed the so-called Blue Line separating the two countries last night in the general area of Labouneh and that there had subsequently been an explosion.

United Nations News Centre - UN peacekeeping force investigating blast near Israeli-Lebanese border: "UNIFIL immediately launched an investigation into the alleged violation of Security Council resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 war between Israel and the Lebanese group Hizbollah, and calls for respect for the Blue Line, the disarming of all militias in Lebanon, and an end to arms smuggling in the area.“A UNIFIL investigation team is currently at the location indicated by LAF. Our effort is to ascertain if any traces of a possible explosion or other activity can be identified on the ground,” the mission stated.“At the same time, we have asked the IDF to provide us details of any incident in the area as alleged and, if so, its precise location,” UNIFIL added. Established in 1978, UNIFIL is tasked with ensuring that the area between the Blue Line and the Litani River is free of unauthorized weapons, personnel and assets. It also cooperates with the LAF so they can fulfil their security responsibilities." CLICK LINK TO READ MORE

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Security Council extends UN peacekeeping missions in Côte d’Ivoire, Cyprus and Darfur. Security Council wrapped up its scheduled work for July with the unanimous extension of United Nations peacekeeping operations in Côte d’Ivoire and Darfur, – and a vote to continue the UN mission in Cyprus. The Council unanimously decided to extend the mandate of the UN Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI) until 30 June 2014 to continue work on its core priorities of protecting civilians, disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of former combatants, and security sector reform. Members also agreed that the Mission should be reconfigured by 30 June 2014 to consist of 7,137 military personnel from the current limit of 10,400, as recommended in Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s latest report presented earlier this month by Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Hervé Ladsous. The Council noted a possible further reduction down to 5,437 military personnel by June 2015, depending on the security on the ground and the improved capacity of the Government to take over UNOCI’s security role. The Council also decided that UNOCI should reconfigure its military presence to concentrate resources in high-risk areas to more effectively assist the Government in protecting civilians and stability the security situation in the country. Turning to Cyprus, the Council extended until 31 January 2014 the mandate of the UN Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) by a vote of 13 to 0, with two members, Azerbaijan and Pakistan, abstaining.

United Nations News Centre - Security Council extends UN peacekeeping missions in Côte d’Ivoire, Cyprus and Darfur: "One of the longest-running UN peacekeeping missions, UNFICYP has been deployed on the island since 1964, when inter-communal fighting erupted between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities.

The Council today reiterated its call on the leadership of those two communities to accelerate the pace of talks aimed at reunifying the divided Mediterranean island nation.

Also today, the Security Council unanimously extended the mandate of the UN-African Union Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) for a further 13 months, until 31 August 2014." CLICK LINK TO READ FULL ARTTICLE

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Israelis, Palestinians set framework for Mideast peace talks. US Sec of State, John Kerry said the parties expect negotiations will be challenging. "We all appreciate -- believe me, we appreciate the challenges ahead," Kerry said. "But even as we look down the difficult road that is before us and consider the complicated choices that we face, we cannot lose sight of something that is often forgotten in the Middle East, and that is what awaits everybody with success." The nine-month time frame provides a period to explore ideas without fear of a walkout, officials said. Given the time and space, Kerry pledged all issues will be discussed. "The parties have agreed here today that all of the final-status issues, all of the core issues, and all other issues are all on the table for negotiation, and they are on the table with one simple goal: a view to ending the conflict, ending the claims," Kerry said. Israeli Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, Israel's chief negotiator, said before the dinner she hoped there would be "a better understanding now that it is in the interest of both of our people to reach an agreement to end this conflict." Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's special envoy, Isaac Molho, also participated in the talks. The Palestinian Authority was represented by chief negotiator Saeb Erekat, who negotiated the 1993 Oslo Accords with Israel, and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' close adviser Mohammed Shtayyeh. The Palestinian delegation had no comment Monday night, but Abbas struck a hard line in Cairo, saying no Israeli settlers or border forces could remain in a future Palestinian state. "In a final resolution, we would not see the presence of a single Israeli -- civilian or soldier -- on our lands," Abbas said in a briefing to mostly Egyptian journalists. "An international, multinational presence like in Sinai, Lebanon and Syria -- we are [OK] with that," he said, referring to U.N. peacekeeping operations in those places. Read more: http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2013/07/30/Peace-framework-worked-out-by-Israelis-Palestinians.....

Israelis, Palestinians set framework for Mideast peace talks [UPDATE] - UPI.com: "Israeli and Palestinian leaders have agreed to "remain engaged in sustained, continuous and substantive negotiations" toward a peace treaty, diplomats said.The Israeli and Palestinian delegations met Monday night and again Tuesday in Washington to discuss a framework for what U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said both sides have agreed will be at least nine months of peace talks following a three-year gap in face-to-face negotiations. The two sides are expected to meet to begin formal negotiations in two weeks in the Middle East at a location to be determined." 'via Blog this' CLICK LINK TO READ FULL ARTICLE

Mid-East Peace Talks: John Kerry deserves great credit for his Mideast initiative. When Secretary of State John Kerry first waded into the muddy waters of Middle East peace, he was ridiculed and ignored. After his third trip to the region, he was called “ham-handed” and “naive.” After his fifth trip, he was accused of “Don Quixote” diplomacy. But now talks between Israelis and Palestinians are finally resuming after years of stalemate. Kerry’s quiet, dogged efforts are being celebrated. He deserves credit for sheer determination in the face of so many naysayers and skeptics....- Editorials - The Boston Globe

John Kerry deserves great credit for his Mideast initiative - Editorials - The Boston Globe: "Of course there is no guarantee that talks will actually lead anywhere. Kerry has a long road ahead if he wants a place in history as the statesman who solved this intractable problem. But Kerry has breathed new life into process that nearly everyone had abandoned." CLINK TO READ ARTICLE

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UN International Day of Peace 2013 (playlist)

How to Achieve Peace via Meditative Prayer? Ambassador Zara Jane Juan We...