NEW YORK 14 Sep 2010 United Nations 65th Ordinary Session opens

The 65th Ordinary Session of the United Nations, over which Swiss politician Joseph Deiss will preside, opens Sep 14 with a prayer. General debate runs Sep 23-25 and Sep 27-30. Sustained economic growth and sustainable development top the preliminary agenda for the debate. A review of UN peacekeeping operations and of UN efficiency are also listed for debate. Other expected topics are Iran's refusal to halt uranium enrichment and Israel's May 31 raid on Gaza-bound aid boats.

The United Nations launched its World Economic and Social Survey 2010 in June. Called "Retooling Global Development," it notes that the 2008/9 global economic crisis exposed systematic failures in the workings of today's financial markets and major deficiencies at the core of economic policy-making. The survey emphasized on the need to have major reforms in global economic governance and new thinking about global economic development.

The United Nations has peacekeeping operations in Africa, the Americas, Asia/Pacific, Europe and the Middle East. The locations include Darfur in Sudan, Lebanon and Haiti. The outcome of debate about the budget is likely to determine the missions that will be scrapped, boosted or launched.

The Assembly also plans to assess how much progress has been made on resolutions passed at major United Nations conferences and summits in the economic and social fields. The exercise relates to the Assembly's planned review of the efficiency of the administrative and financial functioning of the United Nations

A new round of UN sanctions were imposed on Tehran on Jun 9. Security Council Resolution 1929 includes tougher financial controls and an expanded arms embargo. The United States and some of its allies accuse Iran of seeking to develop nuclear weapons. Iran denies the charge.

Israeli commandos stormed the six-ship Freedom Flotilla on May 31 in international waters off the coast of the Hamas-run Gaza Strip as it carried some 10,000 tons of aid and up to 700 human rights activists to the Palestinian enclave. Nine activists were killed and dozens were injured. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called for an international probe into the raid. (Written Jun 2010)

RELATED READING:

UN 65th GA Preliminary Agenda
http://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/65/100

Russia backs UN chief's initiative for international probe into Gaza flotilla raid (RIANovosti 1 Jul 2010)
http://en.rian.ru/russia/20100630/159639191.html

The World Economic and Social Survey (United Nations 29 Jun 2010)
http://www.un.org/esa/policy/wess/