Last week I convened a high-level event on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). We used the occasion to review progress towards attaining the MDGs. I sounded alarm bells that we were running out of time to honour commitments made to the developing world.
The response was overwhelming. Governmen…
I commend the Republic of Burkina Faso for organizing this important debate. There is no nobler mission for the United Nations than helping to settle conflicts by peaceful means. On numerous occasions the United Nations has shown that it is capable of helping parties to find specific solutions to th…
I am grateful to the many heads of State or Government and other high- level representatives for attending this very historic meeting. The event is important in itself, but it is also critical to our preparations for the high-level meeting on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to be held on Thu…
I welcome all participants to the opening of the general debate of the sixty-third session of the General Assembly. It is customary for the Secretary-General, on this occasion, to assess the state of the world and to present our vision for the coming year.
We all recognize the perils of our current…
Thank you, Mr. President, for this opportunity to address the Council on such an important subject. I welcome this open debate on implementation of measures intended to make the Council more efficient and transparent, and I am grateful to you, Mr. President, for bringing us together. Let me also exp…
Terrorism is heinous and insidious. It seeks to break spirits, to tear apart communities, to suffocate hope.
Terrorism is deeply personal. It kills our sons, daughters and mothers; our fathers, sisters and brothers. But we cannot let it destroy our families, including our United Nations family — st…
It is with great sadness that I add my voice to those of all present in paying tribute to the late President of Zambia, Mr. Levy Patrick Mwanawasa. Like all of us, I was saddened by his sudden passing.
As Vice-President and later President, Mr. Mwanawasa was at the forefront of Zambian politics at …
I thank the presidency of the Council for organizing a discussion on this important topic.
The protection of children in armed conflict is a litmus test for the United Nations and the Organization’s Member States. It is a moral call and deserves to be placed above politics. It requires the innovati…
I thank you, Sir, for this opportunity to review progress in addressing the global food and energy crisis. As you will recall from my previous briefings, I have established, at the request of the Chief Executives Board for Coordination, a High-Level Task Force on the Global Food Security Crisis brin…
This has been a serious challenge for all of us. I am quite sure that everyone must have experienced pain. In that regard, I appreciate the pain felt by Their Excellencies Presidents Tadić and Sejdiu. Now, turning to our mission, my overriding priority and concern is how to bring peace and security …
Let me start by thanking the Security Council for this opportunity to present the Council with my assessment of the situation in Kosovo and my idea for the way forward for the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) as the international civil presence in Kosovo.
Before doing…
I thank the United States for having taken the initiative to convene this important debate. I congratulate Secretary of State Rice for her leadership. It is critical that the Council devote its full attention to this issue. I look forward to hearing its views on the way forward.
Almost eight years …
It is an honour to join the Security Council this morning. I am grateful to the Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom for bringing us together to discuss the critical question of how the international community can respond effectively in the immediate aftermath of conflict.
Over the past two deca…
It is an honour to join the Security Council for this discussion on the United Nations role in security sector reform. This issue is of special importance with respect to the responsibility of the United Nations, and of the Council in particular, for maintaining international peace and security.
I …
I am deeply grateful to His Holiness for accepting my invitation to visit the United Nations — home to men and women of faith around the world. Your Holiness, welcome to our common home.
The United Nations is a secular institution composed of 192 States. We have six official languages but no offici…
It is a great honour for me to participate in this very important high-level meeting of the Security Council.
First of all, I apologize for being late because of my unavoidable meeting with the Head of State of the Republic of Korea, my home country. I hope the Council will understand the situation…
I am grateful for this opportunity to address the Council on what is undoubtedly one of the most important items on its agenda and on mine: the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question.
Three weeks ago, I briefed you on the tragic developments then under way in Gaza and sout…
Before I begin, I would like to express my felicitations to you, Sir, on your assumption of the presidency of the Security Council for the month of March. I would also like to express my appreciation to Ambassador Arias of Panama for his able conduct of the work of the Council during the month of Fe…
I have listened very carefully to the interventions made by President Tadić and all members of the Security Council. I would now like to make some brief further comments, especially with respect to key issues raised by delegations.
The situation today on the ground, as well as in the Security Counc…
I thank you, Mr. President, for this opportunity to bring to the Security Council’s attention recent developments in Kosovo. I would like to start, Sir, by joining you in extending a welcome to His Excellency Mr. Boris Tadić, President of the Republic of Serbia.
Yesterday, my Special Representative…
