/sg/en/content/ossg/latest-statements Latest Statements, Off-the-Cuff and Readouts from Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary General of the United Nations en /sg/en/content/sg/press-encounter/2024-07-06/secretary-generals-press-encounter-ashgabat-turkmenistan Distinguished members of the media, I want to start by expressing my enormous gratitude for the wonderful hospitality that I am enjoying, and my delegation is enjoying, in Turkmenistan. I feel extremely grateful for the wonderful distinction as I received this medal that commemorates three hundred years of the enormous poet and philosopher Magtymguly, whose words in favour of justice and harmony for people and planet represent a programme for the United Nations’ action in today’s world, where more than ever, we need justice and harmony for people and planet. 06/07/2024 - 08:25 United Nations Office of the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General /sg/en/content/sg/press-encounter/2024-07-06/secretary-generals-press-encounter-ashgabat-turkmenistan /sg/en/content/sg/readout/2024-07-06/readout-of-the-secretary-general%E2%80%99s-meeting-he-mr-serdar-berdimuhamedov-president-of-turkmenistan The Secretary-General met with H.E. Mr. Serdar Berdimuhamedov, President of Turkmenistan. The Secretary-General and the President discussed cooperation between the United Nations and Turkmenistan, and regional developments in Central Asia.  The Secretary-General expressed his appreciation to Turkmenistan for hosting the United Nations Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia in Ashgabat.  He commended Turkmenistan’s generosity in granting citizenship to stateless people. 06/07/2024 - 08:37 United Nations Office of the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General /sg/en/content/sg/readout/2024-07-06/readout-of-the-secretary-general%E2%80%99s-meeting-he-mr-serdar-berdimuhamedov-president-of-turkmenistan /sg/en/content/deputy-secretary-general/statement/2024-07-05/deputy-secretary-generals-remarks-the-opening-ceremony-of-the-first-international-conference-afforestation-and-reforestation-prepared-for-delivery J'ai le grand honneur d'être invitée aujourd'hui à la première Conférence Internationale de Reforestation et du Reboisement, sous la direction de la République du Congo, avec le soutien de l’Union Africaine.  Chers amis, Dear Friends,             We congratulate President Sassou-Nguesso for his vision on afforestation and reforestation launched in 2022, at UNFCCC COP27, in Sharm El Sheikh, and the fruition of his initiative in this gathering. You have given life to your ambitious vision. 05/07/2024 - 13:33 United Nations Office of the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General /sg/en/content/deputy-secretary-general/statement/2024-07-05/deputy-secretary-generals-remarks-the-opening-ceremony-of-the-first-international-conference-afforestation-and-reforestation-prepared-for-delivery /sg/en/content/sg/note-correspondents/2024-07-05/note-correspondents-%E2%80%93-the-situation-the-blue-line The UN is deeply concerned at the increase in the intensity of exchanges of fire across the Blue Line yesterday, which heightens the risk of a full-scale war. Escalation can and must be avoided. We reiterate that the danger of miscalculation leading to a sudden and wider conflagration is real. A political and diplomatic solution is the only viable way forward.  05/07/2024 - 12:56 United Nations Office of the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General /sg/en/content/sg/note-correspondents/2024-07-05/note-correspondents-%E2%80%93-the-situation-the-blue-line /sg/en/content/sg/note-correspondents/2024-07-05/note-correspondents-the-course-of-talks-anticorruption-initiative-for-honduras The UN Secretariat and the Government of Honduras continue discussing the text of a possible bilateral agreement to create an anti-impunity mechanism.  To that effect, they extended for an additional six months the Memorandum of Understanding initiating work towards the establishment of an International, Impartial, Independent and Autonomous Mechanism against Corruption and Impunity in Honduras, which was set to expire on 15 June 2024. 05/07/2024 - 12:50 United Nations Office of the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General /sg/en/content/sg/note-correspondents/2024-07-05/note-correspondents-the-course-of-talks-anticorruption-initiative-for-honduras /sg/en/content/sg/press-encounter/2024-07-05/secretary-generals-press-encounter-dushanbe-tajikistan Ladies and gentlemen of the media,   It’s a pleasure to be back in Dushanbe.   I thank His Excellency President Emomali Rahmon, the Government and the people of Tajikistan for your warm welcome.   After visiting this wonderful country several times as High Commissioner for Refugees, I last came here seven years ago, on one of my first visits as Secretary-General.   Since then, our global family in the world has lived through challenge after challenge.   05/07/2024 - 10:22 United Nations Office of the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General /sg/en/content/sg/press-encounter/2024-07-05/secretary-generals-press-encounter-dushanbe-tajikistan /sg/en/content/sg/readout/2024-07-05/readout-of-the-secretary-general%E2%80%99s-meeting-he-mr-xi-jinping-president-of-the-peoples-republic-of-china The Secretary-General met with H.E. Mr. Xi Jinping, President of the People’s Republic of China, on 4 July in Astana.  The Secretary-General thanked President Xi for China’s valuable contribution to the United Nations and its activities. The Secretary-General and President Xi discussed the international situation and UN-China cooperation. The Secretary-General briefed the President on his expectations for the Summit of the Future.   04/07/2024 - 08:33 United Nations Office of the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General /sg/en/content/sg/readout/2024-07-05/readout-of-the-secretary-general%E2%80%99s-meeting-he-mr-xi-jinping-president-of-the-peoples-republic-of-china /sg/en/content/sg/readout/2024-07-05/readout-of-the-secretary-general%E2%80%99s-meeting-he-mr-emomali-rahmon-president-of-the-republic-of-tajikistan-0 The Secretary-General today met with H.E. Mr. Emomali Rahmon, President of the Republic of Tajikistan.  The Secretary-General and the President discussed UN-Tajikistan cooperation on climate, sustainable development and counter-terrorism, as well as regional security in Central Asia. The Secretary-General commended the President of Tajikistan for his leadership on the water agenda and the preservation of glaciers.   05/07/2024 - 07:28 United Nations Office of the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General /sg/en/content/sg/readout/2024-07-05/readout-of-the-secretary-general%E2%80%99s-meeting-he-mr-emomali-rahmon-president-of-the-republic-of-tajikistan-0 /sg/en/content/sg/readout/2024-07-04/readout-of-the-secretary-general%E2%80%99s-meeting-he-mr-khurelsukh-ukhnaa-president-of-mongolia The Secretary-General met with H.E. Mr. Khurelsukh Ukhnaa, President of Mongolia, on the margins of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit. The Secretary-General commended Mongolia for its contributions to United Nations peacekeeping and for championing the Women, 91Â鶹ÌìÃÀ and Security agenda. 04/07/2024 - 03:11 United Nations Office of the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General /sg/en/content/sg/readout/2024-07-04/readout-of-the-secretary-general%E2%80%99s-meeting-he-mr-khurelsukh-ukhnaa-president-of-mongolia /sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-07-04/secretary-generals-remarks-the-shanghai-cooperation-organization-delivered Your Excellency President [Kassim-Jomart] Tokayev, my dear friends,   I want to thank you for your kind invitation and express my deep gratitude to the government and people of Kazakhstan for the warm welcome you have extended to me and my delegation.   Excellencies,    I am pleased to address the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Council – a valuable partner of the United Nations.   We meet under difficult global conditions.   Raging wars.   Geopolitical divides.   04/07/2024 - 07:58 United Nations Office of the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General /sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-07-04/secretary-generals-remarks-the-shanghai-cooperation-organization-delivered /sg/en/content/sg/readout/2024-07-04/readout-of-the-secretary-general%E2%80%99s-meeting-he-mr-aleksandr-lukashenko-president-of-the-republic-of-belarus The Secretary-General met with H.E. Mr. Aleksandr Lukashenko, President of the Republic of Belarus, at his request. The Secretary-General stressed the importance of ending the war in Ukraine, based on the UN Charter, international law and respect for the territorial integrity of states.   The Secretary-General expressed concern about the human rights situation in Belarus. He conveyed the wish that yesterday’s amnesty is a step towards full respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in Belarus.   04/07/2024 - 06:42 United Nations Office of the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General /sg/en/content/sg/readout/2024-07-04/readout-of-the-secretary-general%E2%80%99s-meeting-he-mr-aleksandr-lukashenko-president-of-the-republic-of-belarus /sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-07-03/statement-attributable-the-spokesperson-for-the-secretary-general-%E2%80%93-hurricane-beryl The Secretary-General is deeply dismayed by the destruction wreaked by Hurricane Beryl, the strongest hurricane in history in the Atlantic Ocean during the month of June. The hurricane has already left a trail of destruction in Grenada and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and is now battering Jamaica before heading towards Belize and Mexico. 03/07/2024 - 21:12 United Nations Office of the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General /sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-07-03/statement-attributable-the-spokesperson-for-the-secretary-general-%E2%80%93-hurricane-beryl /sg/en/content/sg/readout/2024-07-03/readout-of-the-secretary-general%E2%80%99s-meeting-he-mr-kassym-jomart-tokayev-president-of-the-republic-of-kazakhstan The Secretary-General met with H.E. Mr. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of the Republic of Kazakhstan.   The Secretary-General and the President discussed UN-Kazakhstan cooperation, including the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the Summit of the Future, as well as regional integration in Central Asia.   The Secretary-General thanked the President of Kazakhstan for his leadership on nuclear disarmament and peace initiatives, and for the government’s support to the United Nations, including the provision of a building for the UN in Almaty.   03/07/2024 - 10:47 United Nations Office of the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General /sg/en/content/sg/readout/2024-07-03/readout-of-the-secretary-general%E2%80%99s-meeting-he-mr-kassym-jomart-tokayev-president-of-the-republic-of-kazakhstan /sg/en/content/sg/readout/2024-07-02/readout-of-the-secretary-general%E2%80%99s-meeting-he-mr-sadyr-zhaparov-president-of-the-kyrgyz-republic The Secretary-General today met with H.E. Mr. Sadyr Zhaparov, President of the Kyrgyz Republic. The Secretary-General and the President discussed UN-Kyrgyzstan cooperation, regional peace and security issues, the mountain agenda and progress in the implementation of SDGs. The Secretary-General commended the President of the Kyrgyz Republic for his leadership in advocating for sustainable mountain development, and thanked him on behalf of the United Nations for naming a mountain in the Tian-Shan range in honour of the Organization.   02/07/2024 - 08:26 United Nations Office of the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General /sg/en/content/sg/readout/2024-07-02/readout-of-the-secretary-general%E2%80%99s-meeting-he-mr-sadyr-zhaparov-president-of-the-kyrgyz-republic /sg/en/content/sg/press-encounter/2024-07-02/secretary-generals-remarks-joint-press-encounter-minister-for-foreign-affairs-of-the-kyrgyz-republic-he-mr-zheenbek-kulubaev Honourable Minister, distinguished members of the media, I thank the Government and the people of Kyrgyzstan for your warm welcome, and for the great honour of naming one of the peaks of the Tian Shan after the United Nations.  I believe this is a first for the UN. It reminds us that our work requires us always to look up, to aspire, and to make progress together, step by step. The naming of UN Peak also reflects our links with mountain communities and the mountain agenda around the world, and our efforts to protect these breathtaking yet fragile ecosystems. 02/07/2024 - 08:18 United Nations Office of the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General /sg/en/content/sg/press-encounter/2024-07-02/secretary-generals-remarks-joint-press-encounter-minister-for-foreign-affairs-of-the-kyrgyz-republic-he-mr-zheenbek-kulubaev