UN’s Ban Urges Support For Arab World In Democratic Transition
By KUNA
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said here on Wednesday the international community, led by the UN, needs to help the Arab countries meet the aspirations of their peoples for freedoms, democracy and reforms.
During his meeting with Prime Minister of Spain Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, Ban reviewed the challenges facing the efforts to reach the UN the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in the Arab region.
The talks dealt with the Middle East peace process with emphasis on the situations in Syria and Libya where calls for political reform turned violent.
Ban and Zapatero also discussed the need to support democratic transitions in North Africa and the Middle East, including Egypt and Tunisia. Their discussions also touched on poverty reduction efforts worldwide, the situations in Western Sahara and Afghanistan, and food security.
At a separate meeting Ban and Spanish Foreign Minister Trinidad Jimenez discussed the situation in the Middle East, Libya, Cyprus and Western Sahara.
Earlier today he inaugurated the new UN information and telecommunications facility in Valencia city, east Spain.
He said the centre will enhance the UN capacity to respond in an agile and efficient manner to crises around the world.
