On the eve of its launch, I welcome the unique opportunity provided by the Syrian-owned and Syrian-led Constitutional Committee that will be inaugurated tomorrow in Geneva with the UN’s facilitation. For the first time, the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic and the opposition Syrian…

The Secretary-General is following with great concern recent statements regarding northeastern Syria, in particular the risk to civilians from any potential military actions. He calls on all parties to exercise maximum restraint. The Secretary-General emphasizes that civilians and civilian…

I am pleased to announce the agreement of the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic and the Syrian Negotiations Commission for a credible, balanced and inclusive Constitutional Committee that will be facilitated by the United Nations in Geneva. I welcome the progress made by the Government and the…

As delivered Monsieur Jean-Jacques Elmiger, President of the 108th Session of the International Labour Conference, Mr. Guy Ryder, and my dear friend, Director-General of the ILO, Your Excellencies, Delegates, Friends, You come together at this Centenary International Labour Conference during a…

As delivered Excellencies, Ladies and gentlemen, Thank you very much for inviting me to address all of you today. Since the end of the Second World War, nations have relied on a system of multilateral institutions and agreements to promote peace and equitable social and economic progress. The…

[as delivered] Excellences, Mesdames et Messieurs, Chers collègues, Tout protocole observé, Le jour où je suis né, mon grand-père a planté un arbre, un olivier. Il faisait confiance. Un arbre est un projet à long terme. Un arbre est une démonstration de confiance dans le futur. Et les oliviers…

Arabic version The Secretary-General is following with great concern the intensifying hostilities in the de-escalation area of northwestern Syria involving Syrian Government forces and their allies, armed opposition forces, and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. He is alarmed by reports of aerial attacks on…

As the conflict enters its ninth year, Syrians continue to suffer from one of the worst conflicts of our time. Hundreds of thousands have been killed, many more maimed physically and psychologically, millions remain displaced, tens of thousands are detained and missing, hundreds of thousands have…

Your Excellencies, When I was a Portuguese and European politician I always felt that, both for Europe and for the world, it was very important to have a strong and united Europe. But I never felt it so clearly than now as Secretary-General of the United Nations. When I look at today’s world I…

Ladies and gentlemen of the press, Thank you very much for your presence. Today’s pledging conference can be considered a success. The donors have pledged thirty percent more than last year to help address the dramatic humanitarian situation in Yemen: from two billion USD in the pledging…