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Secretary-General calls for greater international cooperation and solidarity
21 December 2009 – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called for greater collective action as he marked International Solidarity Day during a year when the global financial and economic crisis may have pushed as many as 100 million people into poverty, and as the world faces challenges stemming from climate change to food insecurity. FULL STORY>>
Darfur peace process has reached ‘critical’ juncture, Ban says
21 December 2009 – The peace process in the war-wracked Darfur region of Sudan has reached a “critical point,” Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today, calling on both the Government and rebel groups to accelerate efforts to reach a compromise. FULL STORY>>
Climate change deal marks an 'essential beginning,' Ban says
19 December 2009 – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today welcomed the climate change deal reached by world leaders at a United Nations summit in Copenhagen, calling it an "essential beginning" that contains progress on all key fronts, but adding that work must now focus on turning the deal into a legally binding treaty. FULL STORY>>
New climate change deal in sight, Ban says as Copenhagen talks near end
17 December 2009 – With only 24 hours to go before the scheduled end of the historic United Nations climate change talks in Copenhagen, Denmark, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today voiced optimism that a new agreement will be reached. FULL STORY>>
It’s now or never in bid to curb climate change, Ban warns
14 December 2009 – At the start of the most critical week in global efforts to forge a new deal to curb climate change Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warned today that the world stood at the crossroads between a sustainable future and a path to catastrophe. FULL STORY>>
UN-backed experts propose ban in trading in endangered bluefin tuna
14 December 2009 – Trade in Atlantic bluefin tuna would be banned and trade in certain types of shark controlled if the recommendations of a United Nations-backed group of independent experts are accepted by the parties to an international treaty on endangered species. FULL STORY>>
Security Council and Ban deplore series of deadly car bombings in Baghdad
08 December 2009 – The Security Council and Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon strongly condemned today’s series of apparently coordinated car bombings across Baghdad that have killed or injured scores of residents of the Iraqi capital. FULL STORY>>
Future of humanity hinges on Copenhagen climate conference, Ban says
08 December 2009 – The outcome of the historic United Nations climate change conference under way in Copenhagen will have reverberations for the future of humanity and the planet, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today. FULL STORY>>
Citing progress, Ban urges further support for Burundi’s peace process
03 December 2009 – The peace process in Burundi has witnessed significant progress in recent months but the country needs help to ensure successful elections next year and to tackle challenges such as human rights abuses, corruption and weak institutions, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says in a new report. FULL STORY>>
General Assembly President expresses concern at Swiss ban on minarets
02 December 2009 – The President of the General Assembly today added his voice to a chorus of United Nations concern over the weekend referendum in Switzerland which outlawed the erection of new minarets. FULL STORY>>
Secretary-General welcomes new United States plan for Afghanistan
02 December 2009 – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today welcomed the new United States plan for Afghanistan announced by President Barack Obama, and said the United Nations remains committed to supporting a transition to increased Afghan ownership, responsibility and leadership for peace and development in the country. FULL STORY>>
Slavery remains unresolved, Ban says in call for greater efforts to defeat scourge
02 December 2009 – Contemporary forms of slavery remain a “grave” and unresolved problem across all continents, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warned today as he called for greater efforts to address poverty and social inequalities which leave people vulnerable to enslavement. FULL STORY>>
UN rights chief says Swiss ban on minarets ‘clearly discriminatory’
01 December 2009 – The United Nations human rights chief spoke out today against the Swiss ban on the building of new minarets, calling it a discriminatory and deeply divisive step which risks putting the county on a “collision course” with its international rights obligations. FULL STORY>>
Secretary-General mourns victims of Russian train bombing
30 November 2009 – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon voiced the hope today that investigations will shed more light on the circumstances behind the bombing of a Russian train that killed 25 people on Friday night, and injured scores more. FULL STORY>>
Swiss minaret ban discriminates against Muslims, says UN expert
30 November 2009 – An independent United Nations expert on religious freedom today voiced regret at the Swiss vote to ban the construction of new minarets, stating that such a prohibition clearly discriminates against Muslims. FULL STORY>>
Marking Day of Solidarity, Ban stresses importance of a Palestinian State
29 November 2009 – Voicing deep concern that talks between Israel and the Palestinians have stalled for nearly a year, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today stressed the importance of creating the right conditions so that the two sides have sufficient trust in each other to return to the negotiating table. FULL STORY>>
Momentum for climate deal strong and growing, Ban tells Commonwealth
27 November 2009 – The momentum for a deal at next month's United Nations climate change summit is strong and growing, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today, urging world leaders to make the extra push to achieve a firm foundation for a legally binding treaty as early as possible in 2010. FULL STORY>>
At Commonwealth meeting Ban drums up momentum for climate change summit
26 November 2009 – On the final lap of the years-long marathon to the United Nations climate change summit in Copenhagen next month, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon takes his call for urgent action to a meeting of Commonwealth leaders in Trinidad and Tobago on Friday, the last global gathering before the summit. FULL STORY>>
Côte d’Ivoire: Ban calls for speedy new date for yet-again-delayed elections
24 November 2009 – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today called on all parties in Côte d’Ivoire to fix a new date as soon as possible for their much-delayed elections, now postponed yet again from their latest deadline of this month. FULL STORY>>
Secretary-General deplores ‘brutal’ political violence in the Philippines
24 November 2009 – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today deplored the recent violence in the southern Philippines, in which more than 40 civilians have been killed in the context of a local election campaign, and called for the perpetrators to be brought to justice. FULL STORY>>
Military action alone will not defeat scourge of piracy, Secretary-General says
23 November 2009 – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has paid tribute to all those who serve on the front lines of the battle against piracy off the coast of Somalia, while stressing that this scourge will not be defeated by military means alone. FULL STORY>>
Following Iraqi presidential veto, Ban hopes elections can be held promptly
18 November 2009 – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon voiced the hope today that Iraq would move forward on holding national elections slated for January after the Presidency Council’s decision to veto the electoral law. FULL STORY>>
At UN food summit, Ban lays out steps to save billions from hunger
16 November 2009 – A three-day United Nations summit on world food security opened in Rome today, with Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warning that on this day alone more than 17,000 children will die of hunger – one every five seconds, 6 million a year – even as the planet has more than enough food for all. FULL STORY>>
On eve of food security summit, Ban to fast in solidarity with world’s hungry
13 November 2009 – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon intends to join a 24-hour fast over the weekend on the eve of the World Summit on Food Security in solidarity with the planet’s one billion people who do not have enough to eat, his spokesperson said today. FULL STORY>>
UN ready to work with new Lebanese government, says Secretary-General
11 November 2009 – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today reiterated the readiness of the United Nations to work with the new unity government in Lebanon in tackling the challenges facing the country. FULL STORY>>
Lauding Japan’s decision to boost aid to Afghanistan, Ban hopes others will follow
11 November 2009 – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today welcomed Japan’s intention to increase its assistance for Afghanistan to a total of up to $5 billion over the next five years, and said he hopes other nations will follow suit. FULL STORY>>
Universality of global pact on mines and other explosive devices vital, Ban says
11 November 2009 – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today called for greater efforts to expand the number of signatories, especially among developing countries and States in conflict, to a global pact banning the use of mines, booby-traps and other explosive devices against civilians. FULL STORY>>
Secretary-General calls for global alliance to protect world’s biodiversity
10 November 2009 – As a year-long campaign to safeguard the world’s biological diversity gets underway, Secretary-General called on countries and people all over the planet to engage in a global alliance to protect life on Earth. FULL STORY>>
Ahead of Washington visit, Ban expresses belief in climate change talks
09 November 2009 – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today voiced confidence for an agreement next month on fighting global warming even as key issues remain unresolved, a day before he travels to Washington D.C. to discuss with senior officials and congressional leaders what world governments expect in terms of the United States’ role. FULL STORY>>
Iraqi decision means election preparations can now proceed, Ban says
08 November 2009 – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomed today's approval by Iraqi lawmakers of amendments to electoral laws, saying the move – which follows weeks of deadlock – means national parliamentary polls can be held in January as scheduled. FULL STORY>>