United Nations News Centre

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (left) holds joint press conference with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Sochi. UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe

The United Nations is working to end the violence as soon as possible and transition to a new future where the Syrian people have peace, freedom, dignity and justice. We agreed that a negotiated political solution is the only way to end that crisis.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Sochi (Russia), 17 May 2013

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In New York, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon addresses high-level event on human security. UN Photo/Rick Bajornas

You cannot end poverty without empowering women and girls. You cannot establish lasting peace without respect for human rights. You cannot increase prosperity or address climate change without transforming the world's energy systems. We have to advance on all fronts.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, UN Headquarters, 8 May 2013

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Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon speaks to reporters before meeting with Åke Sellström (left), head of UN technical mission to investigate possible use of chemical weapons in Syria. UN/E. Debebe

A credible and comprehensive inquiry requires full access to the sites where chemical weapons are alleged to have been used. I again urge the Syrian authorities to allow the investigation to proceed without delay and without any conditions.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, UN Headquarters, 29 April 2013

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Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and his Special Envoy for Education, Gordon Brown, confer at the Global Education First Initiative, in Washington, D.C. UN/E. Debebe

We live in difficult financial times. These times demand smart investments. And there is no more valuable investment than education.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Washington D.C. (USA), 18 April 2013

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Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon delivers remarks upon receiving New Economy Forum Award for Economic and Social Development, Madrid, Spain. UN Photo/Rick Bajornas

Cynics expected the MDGs [Millennium Development Goals] to be abandoned. Some felt they were too ambitious .... Instead, the Goals have mobilized action and achieved remarkable results... We need to accelerate our work..., make the most of the next 1,000 days and meet the millennium promise.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Madrid (Spain), 5 April 2013

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Secrary-General Ban Ki-moon addresses closing session of the high-level meeting on Hunger, Food Security and Nutrition. UN Photo/Rick Bajornas

Hunger and malnutrition can be eliminated. With the right policies and investments, we can make dramatic progress in one generation - not in some distant future but in our own lifetimes.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Madrid (Spain), 4 April 2013

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Secretary-General Ban addresses members of San Marino Government including the Captains Regent, Teodoro Lonfernini and Denise Bronzetti, at the Palazzo Pubblico. UN Photo/R. Bajornas

Although this country is small, your importance to the United Nations stands as tall as Mount Titano. In our world of turmoil and strife, countries and peoples are struggling to attain stability, prosperity and dignity. San Marino offers important lessons to our world.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, San Marino, 31 March 2013

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Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon receives a book by WFP youth representative Adora Svitak during the Youth Economic and Social (ECOSOC) Forum. UN Photo/Rick Bajornas

Youth have always had ideals. The difference with all of you - the largest generation of youth in history - is that you can use social networks to demand change. You can mobilize... And you can achieve meaningful results.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, UN Headquarters, 27 March 2013

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Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon addresses youth event at the Fifth Global Forum of the UN Alliance of Civilizations, in Vienna, Austria. Photo: UNIS Vienna

You have already demonstrated that you are willing and able to take on the responsibility of leadership. The world will rely on you to speak the language of tolerance and respect. Your voices need to drown out those that preach division and hatred.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Vienna (Austria), 26 February 2013

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Secretary-General Ban addresses high-level meeting for the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Region. UN Photo/Evan Schneider

It is my earnest hope that the Framework will lead to an era of peace and stability for the peoples of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Great Lakes region.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), 24 February 2013

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Secretarty-General Ban Ki-moon and US Secretary of State John Kerry at a joint press conference in Washington, D.C. UN Photo/Mark Garten

I look forward to strengthening the U.S.-UN partnership and working closely with Secretary of State Kerry towards our shared goals of peace, development, and human rights.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Washington, D.C. (USA), 14 February 2013

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Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon addresses the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States (OAS) in Washington, D.C. Photo: OAS/Juan Manuel Herrera

Many economies in the region are growing. Democratic institutions are strengthening. Global influence of the Americas as a whole is on the rise. You are expanding your role as a bridge between the nations of North and South as well as among the South.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Washington, D.C. (USA), 13 February 2013

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Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (C), Ambassador Vitaly Churkin of Russia (L) and General Assembly President Vuk Jeremic kick off countdown to Sochi Winter Olympics. UN Photo/N. Krastev

For decades, the Olympic hosts and the United Nations have been working actively together. We have joined forces around the world to promote the ancient ideals of the Olympic Truce and support development, participation and education through sport.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, New York (USA), 7 February 2013

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Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon addresses opening of the International Humanitarian Pledging Conference for Syria. UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe

The situation in Syria is catastrophic and getting worse by the day ... And every day Syrians face a cascading catalogue of horrors: unrelenting violence, dwindling supplies of food and medicine, and human rights violations including sexual violence and arbitrary arrests and detention.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Kuwait City (Kuwait), 30 January 2013

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Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon briefs the General Assembly on UN priorities for 2013. UN Photo/Rick Bajornas

The stresses of our times, the pressures on our planet, the pain of the people we serve - all this demands that we do better in 2013.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, General Assembly, 22 January 2013

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Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon addresses Security Council meeting chaired by Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar of Pakistan. UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe

Terrorism festers where conflicts are endemic ... and where human rights, human dignity and human life are not protected and impunity prevails ...We have to drown out shrill appeals to intolerance and extremism with sound calls for compassion and moderation.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Security Council, 15 January 2013

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Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is joined by musical artists Yvonne Chaka Chaka and Ricky Martin at a special event on Leadership in the Fight against Homophobia. UN Photo/Rick Bajornas

Let me say this loud and clear: lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people are entitled to the same rights as everyone else. They, too, are born free and equal. I stand shoulder-to-shoulder with them in their struggle for human rights.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, UN Headquarters, 11 December 2012

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Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon visits the Islahiye camp in Turkey. UN Photo/Mark Garten

I have come to listen. But I am also here to say to the world: The slaughter in Syria must stop. The military path is a dead end. It only fills streets with more blood. It only fills camps like this with more tears.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Islahiye (Turkey), 7 December 2012

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