Tag: UN

Multipolarity as a New Reality: Yekaterinburg Becomes a Center for Diplomatic Dialogue Between Africa and Eurasia

From April 21 to 25, 2025, the International Diplomatic Forum “Economic Cooperation in the Eurasian Space: Synergy and Balance of Interests” was held in Yekaterinburg as part of the Eurasian Economic Youth Forum (EEYF). One of the central themes of the forum was the concept of a multipolar world built on the principles of equitable cooperation and mutual respect for national interests.

The forum brought together representatives from more than 20 countries, including ambassadors, consuls, government officials, and diplomats. For the first time in the forum’s history, it welcomed the participation of the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Sudan, Mr. Mohamed Elgazali Eltijani Sirrag, and the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Sierra Leone, Mr. Mohamed Yongawo. Their presence underscored the strengthening dialogue between Africa and Eurasia.

“International cooperation holds great potential, but each country has different interests. Cooperation must benefit all parties. Eurasia and Africa make up 75% of the Earth and possess immense resources. What is needed is political will and equal relations. We thank Russia for its support,” said the Sudanese ambassador.

The key message of the forum was the importance of “equal dialogue” — not only as a political principle but as the foundation for economic, scientific, and technological cooperation. Speakers also highlighted the urgent need to reform international institutions — most notably the United Nations, which celebrates its 80th anniversary in 2025, the date concise with the 80th anniversary of the ending of the World War II.

“We must move beyond colonial legacies to achieve better outcomes for Africa. While Africa faces economic challenges, it holds enormous natural wealth. Many African nations would welcome the opportunity to join BRICS,” said the Ambassador of Sierra Leone.

The forum covered a wide range of topics including global economic challenges, the activities of BRICS and the SCO, technological transformation, the role of artificial intelligence, and the empowerment of youth in shaping the global future.

This forum was part of the wider EEYF program, which gathered over 21,000 participants from 115 countries. As noted by Rector of USUE Yakov Silin, the event’s scale extended beyond Yekaterinburg, with sessions held across 14 cities in Russia and abroad — including Baku, Minsk, Astana, Dushanbe, Belgrade, St. Petersburg, Kaliningrad, Colombo, and others.

First Deputy Governor of Sverdlovsk Region, Alexey Shmykov, emphasized during the opening ceremony:

“It is symbolic that the tradition of hosting the EEYF was born here, in Yekaterinburg — one of Russia’s leading international business hubs. For 15 years, the forum has been a magnet for progressive youth. Sverdlovsk Region remains open to new ideas and is committed to initiatives that strengthen economic cooperation between our region and countries worldwide.”

The forum also featured a plenary session focused on youth entrepreneurship and global economic development, as well as the Rectors’ Forum, which brought together nearly 90 university leaders from different countries to discuss joint scientific and educational initiatives.

The International Diplomatic Forum in Yekaterinburg demonstrated that a new global architecture is impossible without the partnership of Africa and Eurasia — and without a shared commitment to balance, synergy, and sustainable development.

April 28, 2025
UN 2023 Water Conference
[Entry Note: LMGlobal.Org is a “Specially Accredited” NGO to the #UN2023WaterConference during the 1st Round of the Applications in August 2022 – Bircan Ünver]

FYI.

As the UN 2023 Water Conference approaches here are some key updates for how you can be part of this milestone event:
- Registration is now open for accredited non-governmental organizations, civil society organizations, academic institutions, the scientific community, the private sector and philanthropic organizations – Register
- Open call for Side Events has been extended, the new deadline is 20 January 2023 – Apply
- Thematic webinars to help stakeholders participate in the conference and contribute to the Water Action Agenda will be held on 17 and 18 January 2023 – Register.
Register your delegation to participate in the UN 2023 Water Conference – Registration is open from 9 January – 10 February 2023

Registration for non-governmental organizations, civil society organizations, academic institutions, the scientific community, the private sector and philanthropic organizations and other actors will be open from 9 January to 10 February, each accredited organization will be able to request registration up to 10 representatives.
- ECOSOC Accredited Organizations: Register here
- Specially Accredited Organizations: Register here
The results of the second round of Special Accreditation has been published here.

Open Call for Side Events extended – Deadline: 20 January 2023

Side events can be organized in connection with the UN 2023 Water Conference, either in-person or virtually, by Member States, the UN system, Intergovernmental Organizations and accredited non-governmental stakeholders. Priority will be given to events organized by Member States and those organized in partnership by several organizations. Side event organizers are encouraged to contribute to the Water Action Agenda by announcing or showcasing their own voluntary commitments. For additional details and guidance on how to submit a side event proposal, including Guidelines, please visit the website: https://bit.ly/Water2023SideEvents.

APPLY NOW
- To apply for an in-person side event inside the UN Headquarters:
- To apply for an in-person side event outside the UN Headquarters:
- To apply for a virtual side event: https://bit.ly/Water2023SideEventVirtual
Multi-Stakeholder Thematic Webinars | 17 – 18 January, 9:00 – 11:00 AM EST

Register now:

The UN 2023 Water Conference will be held in New York, from 22 to 24 March 2023. The Conference will be co-hosted by the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Republic of Tajikistan.

The Multi-Stakeholder Thematic Webinars will be held virtually on 17 and 18 January 2023 from 9:00 – 11:00 AM (EDT) as an additional opportunity for stakeholders to prepare for the UN 2023 Water Conference, including to encourage their contributions to the Water Action Agenda (WAA).
- Interested stakeholders should register online by 16 January 2023 using this form: https://bit.ly/ThematicWebinarsRegistration
The webinars aim to inform participants on the opportunities for engagement in the UN 2023 Water Conference and the WAA by sharing perspectives and expectations on the voluntary commitments and encouraging and inspiring stakeholders to register transformative gamechangers and voluntary commitments to the WAA.

For more information about the webinar, please visit:

Any questions?

Visit the UN 2023 Water Conference website or email us: [email protected]
January 12, 2023
Armenian NGOs against the moving of UN regional offices to Istanbul

Anna Nazaryan

“Radiolur”

Turkey is trying to affect the UN decisions and spares no financial means to transfer the UN regional offices to Istanbul. A number of Armenian NGOs assess this as a political step and are concerned with the initiative, which is a violation of the fundamental principles and objectives of the UN, particularly some points of the UN Charter.

The Armenian NGOs have addressed a letter to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon. A few days ago they applied to the visiting Deputy Prime Minister of Slovenia, urging the EU to give assessment to the issue.

Another letter has been prepared in cooperation with representatives of the National Assembly and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, member of the Public Council, President of the Association for Stable Human Development Karine Danielyan told reporters today. Everything should be done to prevent the transfer of UN regional offices to Istanbul.

Head of the Center for the Development of Civil Society Svetlana Aslanyan added that other countries also stand against the initiative.

Former Human Rights Defender Larisa Alaverdyan said the intention to move UN regional offices to Istanbul pursues political purposes, although it is said that the initiative aims to eliminate the technical obstacles and settle the financial issues.

Turkey is rather generous unlike many other UN member states, and most probably, this has served as a ground for the move of UN offices to Istanbul, Larisa Alaverdyan said.

Turkey will thus have an opportunity to influence UN decisions, which does not meet Armenia’s interests, the ex-Ombudswoman said.

How can a country that has committed genocide try to convince the world of its humanism? Ethnographer Hranush Kharatyan believes the world should know that the Ottoman Empire is a ‘genocidal country.’

Greece has officially declared it stands against the intention to move US regional offices to Istanbul. It’s time for Armenia to do the same, she said.

via Armenian NGOs against the moving of UN regional offices to Istanbul | Public Radio of Armenia.

April 17, 2013
Istanbul offered as one of UN capitals

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said Istanbul should be one of the global capital cities of the United Nations.

“I believe that Istanbul as a United Nations capital will be to the purpose for world peace, alliance of civilizations, tolerance and for a fair global economic development,” Erdogan told Monday the 10th session of the United Nations Forest Forum in Istanbul.

Erdogan said all nine previous sessions of the UN forest forum was held in New York, adding that Istanbul was the first venue to host the event outside the UN headquarters in New York.

“Istanbul is a well-known city is Asia and Africa, and it is touched by almost all cultures and peoples of the world,” Erdogan said.

via Istanbul offered as one of UN capitals | General | World Bulletin.

April 9, 2013
UN rebukes Turkey over return of Syrian refugees

Witnesses say hundreds of Syrians bussed to border after clashes between refugees, Turkish military police at Suleymansah camp.

Syrian refugees in Turkey Photo: reuters

GENEVA – The UN refugee agency criticized Turkey on Friday for sending home at least 130 Syrians without its scrutiny and urged it to investigate the riot which sparked the departures that some witnesses said were forced.

Turkey denied on Thursday it had rounded up and deported hundreds of Syrian refugees following unrest at the Suleymansah border camp, highlighting the strain the exodus from Syria’s civil war is placing on neighboring states.

The Geneva-based United Nations agency reiterated the principle that forced returns violate international law and said they could not be used as a “punishment or deterrent”.

“UNHCR was not invited by authorities during the return process to monitor the procedures. Persons under international protection who have violated the law of the host country are subject to the relevant national laws and judicial procedures,” Melissa Fleming, chief spokeswoman of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, said in remarks emailed to Reuters overnight.

“Return to the country of origin, even voluntarily, is also subject to standards and procedures where individuals may be placed at risk on return,” she said.

The refugees returned to areas of northern Syria held by rebels fighting President Bashar Assad. UNHCR has no direct access to the area and does not know what happened to them.

Two Syrian refugees still in the camp and a camp official have said the refugees were forcibly deported. Turkish media reports said the protest began after a boy died in a tent fire blamed on an electrical fault.

Witnesses said hundreds of Syrians were bussed to the border after clashes on Wednesday in which refugees in the Suleymansah camp, near the Turkish town of Akcakale, threw rocks at military police, who fired teargas and water cannon.

“UNHCR would encourage authorities to assess any underlying issues which may have led to the incident which erupted in the Akcakale camp on 27 March, and where necessary to consider launching a review or as needed an investigation,” Fleming said.

Turkey’s Foreign Ministry said 130 people, identified on camera as being “involved in the provocations”, returned to Syria voluntarily, either because they did not want to face prosecution or because of repercussions from other refugees.

“Reports that this group was expelled across the border are incorrect,” a Foreign Ministry statement said.

“As required by the temporary protection status and within the framework of the ‘open door’ and ‘non-refoulement’ principle, our country does not turn back Syrians wanting to come to Turkey or forcibly evict those in our country,” it said.

More than 1.2 million Syrians fleeing violence and persecution have registered as refugees or await processing in neighboring countries and North Africa, the UNHCR says. They include 261,635 in Turkey, mostly staying in 17 camps.

The UNHCR noted “the high standard of assistance and protection extended to Syrians hosted in Turkey” and commended its government and people “for their ongoing generosity and sheltering of those in need”, Fleming said

via UN rebukes Turkey over return of Syrian refugees | JPost | Israel News.

March 30, 2013
United Nations News Centre – Turkey: Ban welcomes call for ceasefire and withdrawal by Kurdish armed group

A wide view of Shanidar Cave in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. UN Photo/Bikem Ekberzade

22 March 2013 – Secretary General Ban Ki-moon today welcomed the call by the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), an armed group operating out of northern Iraq, for a cease-fire and withdrawal of its forces from Turkish territory.

“This is a positive step towards putting an end to the deadly conflict that has brought much suffering and grief to the people of Turkey,” Mr Ban’s spokesperson said in response to questions from correspondents.

“The Secretary-General hopes that this call will be fully implemented and that it will result in a lasting peaceful settlement,” he added, affirming that the UN stands prepared to support the people of Turkey in what he called “this important process.”

via United Nations News Centre – Turkey: Ban welcomes call for ceasefire and withdrawal by Kurdish armed group.

March 23, 2013