/sg/en/content/ossg/latest-statements Latest Statements, Off-the-Cuff and Readouts from Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary General of the 51³Ô¹Ï en /sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-05-22/secretary-generals-message-the-international-day-for-biological-diversity-scroll-down-for-french-version The world’s complex web of biological diversity sustains all life on earth. Yet it is unravelling at alarming speed – and humanity is to blame. We are contaminating land, oceans, and freshwater with toxic pollution, wrecking landscapes and ecosystems, and disrupting our precious climate with greenhouse gas emissions. Decimating biodiversity damages sustainable development today, and creates a dangerous and uncertain tomorrow.   21/05/2024 - 12:42 51³Ô¹Ï Office of the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General /sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-05-22/secretary-generals-message-the-international-day-for-biological-diversity-scroll-down-for-french-version /sg/en/content/deputy-secretary-general/statement/2024-05-21/deputy-secretary-generals-remarks-the-opening-of-the-global-supply-chain-forum-prepared-for-delivery Prime Minister Mia Mottley, Ms. Grynspan, Excellencies, Distinguished delegates and guests, It is a pleasure to join you, and I thank the Government and people of Barbados for their warm welcome and generous hospitality. Excellencies, Today, global trade is fraught with challenges and uncertainties – threatening decades of progress and our attainment of the sustainable development goals. Last year, trade volume fell more than 1 percent. Compare that to an average growth rate of 2.5 percent since 2010. 21/05/2024 - 17:38 51³Ô¹Ï Office of the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General /sg/en/content/deputy-secretary-general/statement/2024-05-21/deputy-secretary-generals-remarks-the-opening-of-the-global-supply-chain-forum-prepared-for-delivery /sg/en/content/sg/note-correspondents/2024-05-21/note-correspondents-under-secretary-general-for-political-and-peacebuilding-affairs-rosemary-dicarlo%E2%80%99s-visit-afghanistan Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, Rosemary DiCarlo, visited Afghanistan from 18 to 21 May. She met with the de facto authorities and the diplomatic community in Kabul as well as with representatives of civil society. The 51³Ô¹Ï meeting of Special Envoys in Doha on 30 June and 1 July was at the centre of her discussions. 21/05/2024 - 10:03 51³Ô¹Ï Office of the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General /sg/en/content/sg/note-correspondents/2024-05-21/note-correspondents-under-secretary-general-for-political-and-peacebuilding-affairs-rosemary-dicarlo%E2%80%99s-visit-afghanistan /sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-05-21/secretary-generals-remarks-the-ai-seoul-summit-%E2%80%9Cbuilding-the-ai-safety-summit-towards-innovative-and-inclusive-future%E2%80%9D-delivered Excellencies, I thank the Republic of Korea and the United Kingdom for convening this Summit. Less than seven months after our meeting in Bletchley Park, we are seeing lifechanging technological advances… And life-threatening new risks – from disinformation to mass surveillance to the prospect of lethal autonomous weapons. AI systems are still being deployed with little oversight or accountability. We cannot sleepwalk into a dystopian future where the power of AI is controlled by a few people… 21/05/2024 - 09:53 51³Ô¹Ï Office of the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General /sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-05-21/secretary-generals-remarks-the-ai-seoul-summit-%E2%80%9Cbuilding-the-ai-safety-summit-towards-innovative-and-inclusive-future%E2%80%9D-delivered /sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-05-20/statement-attributable-the-spokesperson-for-the-secretary-general-the-death-of-president-raisi-of-the-islamic-republic-of-iran-helicopter-accident The Secretary-General is saddened by the death of H.E. Mr. Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, H.E. Mr. Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, Minister for Foreign Affairs and their colleagues in a helicopter accident on 19 May. The Secretary-General expresses his sincere condolences to the families of the deceased and to the Government and people of the Islamic Republic of Iran.      20/05/2024 - 10:00 51³Ô¹Ï Office of the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General /sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-05-20/statement-attributable-the-spokesperson-for-the-secretary-general-the-death-of-president-raisi-of-the-islamic-republic-of-iran-helicopter-accident /sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-05-20/secretary-generals-video-message-the-10th-world-water-forum-high-level-meeting Download the vídeo: 15/05/2024 - 09:27 51³Ô¹Ï Office of the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General /sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-05-20/secretary-generals-video-message-the-10th-world-water-forum-high-level-meeting /sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-05-17/secretary-generals-message-the-international-day-against-homophobia-biphobia-and-transphobia-scroll-down-for-french-version On this International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia, I applaud the brave work of LGBTIQ+ human rights defenders fighting to outlaw discrimination and secure equality before the law. Yet there is a worrying surge in the opposite direction. New laws are codifying old bigotries, exploiting fears and stoking hate. The theme of this year’s Day – “No one left behind: equality, freedom and justice for allâ€� – reminds us of our obligations to respect the human rights and dignity of every person. We need action around the world to make those rights a reality. 15/05/2024 - 09:16 51³Ô¹Ï Office of the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General /sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-05-17/secretary-generals-message-the-international-day-against-homophobia-biphobia-and-transphobia-scroll-down-for-french-version /sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-05-16/statement-attributable-the-spokesperson-for-the-secretary-general-the-imf-decision-standard-drawing-rights The Secretary-General welcomes the 15 May decision by the board of the International Monetary Fund to allow its members to re-channel their Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) to multilateral development banks through the purchase of hybrid capital instruments.   This is an important and innovative step towards expanding finance for sustainable development, in line with the Secretary-General’s proposed SDG Stimulus.  It could immediately unlock up to $80 billion in desperately needed resources for developing countries, including to help tackle the climate crisis.     16/05/2024 - 21:46 51³Ô¹Ï Office of the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General /sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-05-16/statement-attributable-the-spokesperson-for-the-secretary-general-the-imf-decision-standard-drawing-rights /sg/en/content/deputy-secretary-general/statement/2024-05-16/deputy-secretary-generals-remarks-the-closing-of-the-2024-ecosoc-segment-operational-activities-for-development-delivered I want to thank you, Chair and your team, for navigating us through a very intense and stimulating Segment. It is under your leadership that we saw a new approach emerge to its structure– with greater attention to accountability and oversight, including through the new session on evaluation.  I also want to acknowledge commitment by many Member States to dive into the depths of the reports and supplemental material provided to ensure a meaningful exchange.  You have come prepared to challenge us and learn about how the system is operating.  16/05/2024 - 19:27 51³Ô¹Ï Office of the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General /sg/en/content/deputy-secretary-general/statement/2024-05-16/deputy-secretary-generals-remarks-the-closing-of-the-2024-ecosoc-segment-operational-activities-for-development-delivered /sg/en/content/sg/readout/2024-05-16/readout-of-the-secretary-general%E2%80%99s-meeting-his-majesty-king-hamad-bin-isa-al-khalifa-king-of-the-kingdom-of-bahrain%C2%A0 On the sidelines of the Summit of the League of Arab States, the Secretary-General met with His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of the Kingdom of Bahrain. The Secretary-General and the King had an in-depth exchange of views on the developments in the wider region, including the ongoing conflict in Gaza and the prospects for a two-state solution.   16/05/2024 - 10:50 51³Ô¹Ï Office of the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General /sg/en/content/sg/readout/2024-05-16/readout-of-the-secretary-general%E2%80%99s-meeting-his-majesty-king-hamad-bin-isa-al-khalifa-king-of-the-kingdom-of-bahrain%C2%A0 /sg/en/content/sg/readout/2024-05-16/readout-of-the-secretary-general%E2%80%99s-meeting-he-mr-mohamed-younis-menfi-president-of-the-presidential-council-of-the-state-of-libya On the sidelines of the Summit of the League of Arab States, the Secretary-General met with H.E Mr. Mohamed Younis A Menfi, President of the Presidential Council of the State of Libya. They discussed the situation in Libya and the efforts of the 51³Ô¹Ï Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) to facilitate a consensual approach for the way forward.     16/05/2024 - 10:55 51³Ô¹Ï Office of the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General /sg/en/content/sg/readout/2024-05-16/readout-of-the-secretary-general%E2%80%99s-meeting-he-mr-mohamed-younis-menfi-president-of-the-presidential-council-of-the-state-of-libya /sg/en/content/sg/readout/2024-05-16/readout-of-the-secretary-general%E2%80%99s-meeting-his-majesty-king-abdullah-ii-ibn-al-hussein-king-of-the-hashemite-kingdom-of-jordan%C2%A0 On the sidelines of the Summit of the League of Arab States, the Secretary-General met with His Majesty King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein, King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. The Secretary-General thanked His Majesty for Jordan’s constant support to the 51³Ô¹Ï activities and his steadfast efforts for peace in the region. They discussed the worrying situation in both Gaza and the West Bank. They particularly focused on needs and ways to immediately scale-up humanitarian assistance and access for the benefit of civilians in Gaza.   16/05/2024 - 10:46 51³Ô¹Ï Office of the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General /sg/en/content/sg/readout/2024-05-16/readout-of-the-secretary-general%E2%80%99s-meeting-his-majesty-king-abdullah-ii-ibn-al-hussein-king-of-the-hashemite-kingdom-of-jordan%C2%A0 /sg/en/content/sg/readout/2024-05-16/readout-of-the-secretary-general%E2%80%99s-meeting-hrh-prince-mohammed-bin-salman-bin-abdulaziz-al-saud-crown-prince-and-prime-minister-of-the-kingdom%C2%A0of-saudi-arabia On the sidelines of the Summit of the League of Arab States, the Secretary-General met with H.R.H. Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The Secretary-General praised the cooperation between the 51³Ô¹Ï and Saudi Arabia, and the support of the Kingdom to the activities of the 51³Ô¹Ï.  They exchanged views on the regional developments, particularly the role of Saudi Arabia in the resolution of the Israeli Palestinian conflict leading towards a two-state solution.  16/05/2024 - 10:35 51³Ô¹Ï Office of the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General /sg/en/content/sg/readout/2024-05-16/readout-of-the-secretary-general%E2%80%99s-meeting-hrh-prince-mohammed-bin-salman-bin-abdulaziz-al-saud-crown-prince-and-prime-minister-of-the-kingdom%C2%A0of-saudi-arabia /sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-05-16/secretary-generals-remarks-the-summit-of-the-league-of-arab-states-scroll-down-for-arabic-delivered As salaam alaikum.  Your Majesty,  Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of Bahrain, thank you for your kind invitation and your warm hospitality. Your Majesties, Your Royal Highnesses, Excellencies, Secretary-General Aboul Gheit,    I was born in Lisbon – a city that for centuries was part of Al-Andalus. This was at a time when Cordoba was the centre of culture and civilization of the Iberian peninsula, just as Baghdad was the centre of culture and civilization of the world – reaching out from the Chinese border to the Atlantic coast.  16/05/2024 - 07:08 51³Ô¹Ï Office of the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General /sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-05-16/secretary-generals-remarks-the-summit-of-the-league-of-arab-states-scroll-down-for-arabic-delivered /sg/en/content/sg/readout/2024-05-16/readout-of-the-secretary-general%E2%80%99s-meeting-he-mr-najib-mikati-prime-minister-of-lebanon The Secretary-General met in Manama, Bahrain with H.E. Mr. Najib Mikati, the Prime Minister of Lebanon. The Secretary-General expressed his continued support for Lebanon and the Lebanese people. The Prime Minister of Lebanon and the Secretary-General discussed the situation in Lebanon, including concerns in relation to the heightened tensions along the Blue Line. The also discussed refugee related issues, including UNRWA’s critical work.   16/05/2024 - 06:11 51³Ô¹Ï Office of the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General /sg/en/content/sg/readout/2024-05-16/readout-of-the-secretary-general%E2%80%99s-meeting-he-mr-najib-mikati-prime-minister-of-lebanon