UN body to address 'horrendous violence'

A brutal terrorist organization that calls itself a state but lacks recognition from any government will take center stage when more than 140 heads of state and government convene this week for the annual ministerial meeting of the UN General Assembly.

"Together, we will address the horrendous violence in Syria and Iraq, where conflict and governance failures have provided a breeding ground for extremist groups," UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told a news conference last week.

With world leaders grappling to stitch together a coalition and plan of action, Ban said he hopes the General Assembly session will help produce an international consensus to act against the al-Qaida breakaway group, which US intelligence officials estimate has up to 31,000 fighters, including 12,000 foreigners.

On the sidelines of the global gathering, US President Barack Obama will lead a summit meeting of the Security Council addressing the threat of the foreign terrorist fighters.

A draft resolution, which is expected to be adopted by the 15-member council, would require all countries to prevent the recruitment and transport of would-be foreign fighters preparing to join terrorist groups such as the Islamic State.

It would also require the 193 UN member states to ensure that their domestic laws and regulations punish nationals who travel - or attempt to travel - to another country to plan or carry out terrorist acts, and it threatens sanctions against recruiters and financiers for groups associated with al-Qaida.

Torbjorn Soltvedt, principal analyst for the Middle East and North Africa at the risk advisory company Maplecroft, said the assembly presents an opportunity for the US to consolidate and expand its coalition against the extremist Sunni group, Islamic State.

But the complexities and conflicting loyalties inherent in the Middle East present major obstacles to achieving the international coalition Obama is trying to assemble to contain, and ultimately eradicate, the group.

Several key Sunni-ruled Arab countries, for various reasons, are reluctant to join. Moreover, the US has rejected cooperation with two clear enemies of the Islamic State group: Syrian President Bashar Assad and his fellow Shiite ally Iran.

For its part, Iran has also ruled out military coordination with the US.

NZ seeks seat

New Zealand's Foreign Minister Murray McCully left for New York on Monday in the latest push in the country's bid for a Security Council seat in 2015-2016.

"During the week I will be meeting with representatives from a wide range of countries to discuss New Zealand's candidacy for a seat on the UN Security Council," McCully said in a statement.

"The vote is next month, and the General Assembly is an opportunity to demonstrate our credentials and show why a small state like New Zealand deserves a place on the Security Council."

The General Assembly meeting is also an opportunity to ensure that the views of New Zealand and its Pacific neighbors are heard in global discussions, McCully said.

AP - Xinhua

(China Daily 09/23/2014 page11)