I thank His Excellency Minister Harold Caballeros for convening this timely discussion.
When it comes to peace and justice, we are living in a new world. Those who contemplate committing horrific acts that shock the conscience of humankind can no longer be confident that their heinous crimes will g…
We meet at a time of historic and often inspirational change in the Middle East and North Africa. Several momentous transitions in the Arab World are under way, moving ahead with difficulty but in the clear direction of the freedoms that had been denied for so long.Yet, as old orders crumble and new…
We gather annually in this great Hall to look soberly and without illusion at the state of our world. This year, I am here to sound the alarm about our direction as a human family. We can all see widespread insecurity and injustice, inequality and intolerance. I see Governments wasting vast and prec…
The rule of law is like the law of gravity. It is the rule of law that ensures that our world and our societies remain bound
together and that order prevails over chaos. It unites us around common values and anchors us in the common good. But unlike the law of gravity, the rule of law does not aris…
The opening of each session of the General Assembly coincides with the beginning of autumn in the northern hemisphere. But to me, there is also a feeling of spring. There are new hopes on the scene, new issues to be addressed, new ways of conducting our business. Our challenge is to make that initia…
Let us think back to September 2011, when the current session of the General Assembly began. We were deep in preparation for the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20). The global economic and financial crisis was continuing to reverse hard-won development gains and take a tol…
I commend the General Assembly for promoting mediation as a key means to realize the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations. I am pleased to present to the Assembly my report (A/66/811) on the subject and the Guidance for Effective Mediation.
I thank you, Mr. President, for yo…
I thank the Assembly for this opportunity to report on the situation in Syria and the implementation of resolution 66/253 B, adopted on 3 August. This is our first opportunity to welcome the new Joint Special Representative of the United Nations and the League of Arab States for Syria, Mr. Lakhdar B…
I welcome this opportunity to brief the Security Council on the deeply troubling situation in Mali.
Since the start of the crisis, a few months ago, the situation has only worsened, seemingly reaching new heights of severity every week. A regional pillar of democracy has completely fallen away from…
I commend Colombia’s initiative to convene this timely debate, and I thank the Foreign Minister of Colombia for taking the time to preside over this meeting.
The international community has long recognized the challenging and multidimensional character of the transition from conflict to sustainable…
The report I present today is my ninth on the protection of civilians in armed conflict (S/2012/376). Its essential thrust is clear — too many people are dying in too many places. Sometimes they are caught in crossfire; frequently they are targeted. They are the innocent victims of attacks on their …
One year ago this week, the international community met here at the United
Nations to advance the struggle against HIV/AIDS. In the General Assembly and the Security Council, in the hallways and at side events, Governments, intergovernmental organizations, United Nations agencies, philanthropists a…
I extend a warm welcome to His Excellency President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan.
I thank the Security Council presidency of Azerbaijan for having convened this timely debate. Next month, the General Assembly will conduct the third review of the United Nations Global Counter-
Terrorism Strategy, ado…
I thank the United States for using its presidency of the Council to draw attention to the important issue on today’s agenda.
Across the globe, insufficiently protected borders enable the trafficking of drugs, weapons, contraband,
terrorist funding, materials related to weapons of mass destruction…
I commend the United States for convening this follow-up meeting to the Security Council summit presided over by President Obama in September 2009 (see S/PV.6191). Many welcome developments have occurred since then. The 2010 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of …
It is a great pleasure to welcome the Ministers attending this important meeting. I thank Foreign Secretary Hague for using the United Kingdom’s presidency of the Security Council to focus on the dramatic developments that have taken place in the Middle East and that are still in motion as we speak.…
I thank you, Sir, for this opportunity to update the Security Council on the situation in Somalia. I thank His Excellency Mr. Henry Bellingham, United Kingdom Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, for chairing this meeting during his country’s presidency of the Council. I commend the leadership an…
I am making this report as requested by resolution 66/253, of 16 February. Given the gravity of the situation, please be assured that we will keep the General Assembly regularly informed.
We have all watched the events in Syria this week with growing alarm. We have seen heavy artillery shelling and…
Let me offer a special welcome to President Gnassingbé and thank him for having taken the time to come to New York to preside over this important meeting.
Despite the encouraging progress in certain countries with regard to the development of peace and security, stability in West African and the Sa…
I should like to thank Ambassador Baso Sangqu, President of the Security Council, for having organized this important meeting.
Today’s open debate comes at a time of breathtaking political change driven by people’s calls for accountability, transparency and the rule of law. Women and men everywhere…
