Press Releases

The Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for the Great Lakes Region, Said Djinnit, and members of the facilitation team that joined and supported the dialogue between the Burundian parties, met today in Bujumbura with members of the diplomatic corps. During this meeting, the Special Envoy briefed…

OSH, Kyrgyzstan Distinguished participants, I am pleased to address the representatives of Kyrgyzstan’s vibrant civil society. I am told the number of registered civil society organizations in this country runs into the thousands. This is a healthy sign, setting Kyrgyzstan apart, and speaking to the…

OSH, Kyrgyzstan Today, we meet in a lively city. But five short years ago, Osh was the scene of tragic events that shocked Kyrgyzstan and the international community. I was in Kyrgyzstan in April 2010 and felt the rising tensions at that time. By June, inter-ethnic strife erupted into a conflict…

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan Good Morning, salamatsyzdarby and dobry den. It is a great honor to address this International Conference on Parliamentarianism. As I do so, I recall my last visit to your magnificent country in April 2010. That was only five years ago, but in many ways I feel as though I am…

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan Salamatsyzdarby. It is a great pleasure to be in the Kyrgyz Republic for my second visit as Secretary-General of the United Nations. I thank President [Almazbek] Atambaev, the Government and the people of Kyrgyzstan for their warm welcome and hospitality. As you are well aware, I…

Blue helmets from the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) deployed in the west of the country, are most likely responsible for excessive use of force, possibly physical bodily harm on four individuals arrested on 10 June 2015…

ASTANA, Kazakhstan It is a great honor and privilege for me to carry out two important events today - first of all, I was very much privileged to open this new, very excellent United Nations House. This should be our common working place, and I would like to sincerely thank the Government and people…

ASTANA, Kazakhstan I am honored to address this Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, in the beautiful Palace of Peace and Reconciliation. Let me begin by recognizing the hospitality of His Excellency President [Nursultan] Nazarbayev and the Government and people of Kazakhstan…

DUSHANBE, Tajikistan Assalom u aleikum. I am very pleased to be in Dushanbe once again. I thank His Excellency President Emomali Rahmon, the Government and the people of Tajikistan for their warm welcome and hospitality. I am on a five-country tour of Central Asia, and this is my first stop. This is…

DUSHANBE, Tajikistan I thank the Government of Tajikistan for hosting this important conference, and His Excellency President [Emomali] Rahmon for his important initiative. We are here because we know that water is not only for life … water is life. Water is health. Water is dignity. Water is a…