SG/T/3060

Activities of Secretary-General in Switzerland, 30 October-1 November

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Madam Ban Soon-taek arrived in Geneva from Madrid on Friday evening, 30 October.

The following day, 31 October, Mr. Ban met with the President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Peter Maurer, at the Palais des Nations.  For the first time ever, the two leaders issued a joint warning about the impact of today’s conflicts on civilians.  They appealed for urgent and concrete action to address human suffering and insecurity in the world. (See Press Release SG/2223.)

Speaking to the press following their meeting, the Secretary-General said that international humanitarian law is being flouted on a global scale, adding that the international community is failing to hold perpetrators to account.

“Protecting civilians in wartime is a cornerstone of the international system and the UN,” said the Secretary-General, stressing that the continued failure to act is “a disgrace and a stain on the conscience of the world”.

Turning to Syria, the Secretary-General welcomed the talks which started in Vienna on 30 October.  He said that he was encouraged that the participants have reached a mutual understanding on a number of key issues, including the need to accelerate all diplomatic efforts to end the conflict in Syria.

On Saturday evening, the Secretary-General attended the Concert for the Understanding of Civilizations and Human Rights, which was conducted by United Nations Messenger of Peace Maestro Daniel Barenboim and performed by the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, to mark the seventieth anniversary of the founding of the United Nations.  (See Press Release SG/SM/17286.)

On 1 November, the Secretary-General met with another United Nations Messenger of Peace, writer Paulo Coelho.  He thanked Mr. Coelho for his support and called on him to continue promoting the work of the United Nations, especially in development, climate change and gender equality.

The Secretary-General and Madam Ban left for New York on 1 November.

For information media. Not an official record.