I am honoured to address the Council today on Somalia. This is an important briefing for me. I have a long relationship to Somalia. Twenty-one years ago, I visited the country as the United Nations first Emergency Relief Coordinator. I still have vivid, painful memories of the massive suffering at t…
Let me begin by adding my voice to those of many others who have expressed shock and grief at the tragic and terrible loss of life after a ship carrying migrants sank off the coast of Lampedusa. As you have all noticed, the number of victims has been growing by the hour, now reaching hundreds of peo…
I understand that this has been an extraordinary day. Today’s High-level Meeting is a milestone in the history of the United Nations. Member States have shown leadership and commitment by adopting a new tool — an action-oriented final document (resolution 68/3) — to strengthen our work to realize di…
I thank you, Madam President, for convening this important and timely debate. I also wish to commend you, Madam, for inviting prominent and field-experienced
representatives from the world of journalism to the Security Council today.
Freedom of expression is a fundamental human right guaranteed in…
Before I begin my remarks, let me say a few words about the tragic events in Mogadishua today. The Secretary-General and I were deeply saddened and shocked by the outrageous attack on the United Nations compound in Mogadishu this morning. Full details are still emerging, but we know that several peo…
I want to begin by thanking the United Kingdom for convening this meeting during its Council presidency and for its Government’s active role on Somalia, most recently by hosting the London Conference on 7 May this year.
The Secretary-General and I have long followed developments closely. Somalia ha…
I thank the Security Council for its consideration of the effectiveness of United Nations support to the promotion of the rule of law in conflict and post-conflict situations.
In January last year, the Council requested the Secretary-General to submit a report on this subject. Since that request, w…
I would like to begin with a warm expression of appreciation to both India and Guatemala, which, during their Security Council presidencies, focused our attention on the important contributions by women and women’s civil society organizations to preventing and resolving armed conflict and to carryin…
I welcome this opportunity to brief the Security Council on piracy and armed robbery at sea, and to introduce the annual report of the Secretary-General on piracy off the coast of Somalia (S/2012/783).
Piracy and armed robbery against ships are of global concern. They affect the freedom of shipping…
I thank you, Mr. President, for the opportunity to address this session of the development dialogue on behalf of the Secretary-General, who is today in Geneva. It is a particular privilege and pleasure for me to again be in the Hall and to speak from the podium.
Economic policy has been front page …
At the outset, allow me to convey the greetings of the Secretary-General, who is currently attending the Non-Aligned Movement Summit in Tehran. I am speaking today on his behalf.
I will essentially speak about the humanitarian and security situation in Syria, as the United Nations High Commissioner…
It is a pleasure to join all present for this important observance. Let me offer a special welcome to all our guests, including the performers who will grace this event. I bring warm greetings from Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who stands with us on this Day and on this cause.
The transatlantic sl…
I am delighted to join participants at this morning’s event and to pay tribute to one of our most valued assets — United Nations Volunteers. Allow me to read a message on behalf of the Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, who is currently travelling but sends his best wishes:
“Beginning with the words ‘…
Today, we launch the International Year of Cooperatives. We do this as the world is witnessing growing discontent over the ongoing effects of the financial and economic crisis. Increasingly, we see demands for change in the ways we live and work. Increasingly, we see the need for choices and values …
I am pleased to address this fifth High-level dialogue of the General Assembly on Financing for Development.
We are meeting at a time of continued crisis and uncertainty, not only for the world’s poorest and most vulnerable, but also for most donor countries. Recovery remains fragile and uneven. Un…
On behalf of the Secretary-General, I am pleased to address the
closing plenary of this High-level Review Meeting on the Mauritius Strategy.
I congratulate all participants on the productive and thought-provoking discussions they held during the multi-stakeholder round tables and interactive dialo…
Preventive diplomacy is an old art, but it faces new and evolving challenges. There is a pressing need to re-evaluate how we can use our limited resources and capabilities to maximize the impact of preventive action. I therefore thank the Nigerian presidency of the Security Council for its initiativ…
I am delighted to join the General Assembly at this morning’s meeting and to deliver the following statement on behalf of Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
Today’s plenary meeting takes place as our response to HIV and AIDS reaches a crossroads. Since 2001, global rates of new HIV infections have decr…
We have long known that the flow of illicit arms to Africa is largely made possible by the secrecy that surrounds it. We are thus grateful to the Gabonese presidency for convening a debate on this important subject in the Security Council. The Council has often addressed conventional weapons issues,…
Before beginning my remarks, I would like to first offer my sincerest condolences to the Government and people of Chile for the tragic loss and devastation caused by the earthquake last weekend. The United Nations family stands ready to assist in whatever way we can. Our thoughts and prayers are in …
