According to budget papers, the funds will also be used to support additional diplomatic positions in New York and Canberra and for small posts, special envoys and public diplomacy.

Public Diplomacy and Diaspora Affairs Minister Yuli Edelstein on Wednesday opined that Israel should not wait until September to announce annexation of the West Bank, but rather immediately, as well as initiate other measures, noting that the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) has "chosen a strategy of terror and unilateralism."

The Sri Lankan government should create within its ministry of external affairs a post of Additional Secretary for Public Diplomacy. In addition to media, counter terrorism, this new division should include two new capabilities - diaspora affairs and NGOs division especially to keep advocacy NGOs such as human rights organisations briefed.

Ertugrul Apakan, Turkey's ambassador to the UN, said here Thursday that his country has offered "unwavering support and determination" to help Palestine reach the goal of statehood, Xinhua reported.

CPD Research Fellow Anoush Rima Tatevossian (2010-2012) and MPD alum ('09) will be joining the United Nations Global Pulse project as the new Strategic Communications Officer.

In the Middle East, perceptions are as important as realities. A notable change-of-mind occurred when a newspaper published an article by Richard Goldstone, who was the head of a UN Human Rights Council (UNHCR) commission that accused Israel and Hamas of committing war crimes in Gaza.

South Africa has long seen itself as a voice of developing nations. Now as a member of the BRICS club – Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa – it can speak with the political heft of a fifth of the world's economy behind it.

At the opening of the UN photo exhibition in New York celebrating Yuri Gagarin’s groundbreaking flight in space, people could feel the pride and jubilation of Russia’s Permanent Representative to the UN Vitaly Churkin.