Activities of Secretary-General in Washington, D.C., 31 March — 1 April
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon arrived in Washington, D.C., from Sweden, on Thursday afternoon, 31 March.
On Friday morning, he had a working breakfast with President François Hollande of France. They discussed the situation in Western Sahara, the preparations for the 22 April signing ceremony of the Paris Climate Change Agreement, as well as the situation in Mali. Regarding the Central African Republic and the allegations of misconduct by UN Peacekeepers and international forces there, the Secretary-General and the President agreed on the imperative of a thorough investigation to ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice.
He then travelled to the Washington Convention Center, to attend the Nuclear Security Summit. At a working lunch with the other attendees of the Summit, the Secretary-General brought attention to the crucial role played by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in the area of nuclear security. He noted that many States lack sufficient capacity to act on nuclear security threats and this is where the IAEA’s role is indispensable in providing expertise, advice and technical assistance. The Secretary-General also highlighted the importance of Security Council resolution 1540 (2004), requiring States to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, as well as the United Nations Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism.
The Secretary-General subsequently issued a statement welcoming the outcome of the 2016 Nuclear Security Summit, wholeheartedly endorsing the communiqué adopted by participating States, as well as the action plan in support of the United Nations. (See Press Release SG/SM/17645.)
On Friday, he also met with Petro Poroshenko, President of Ukraine. The Secretary-General commended Ukraine for its important contributions to global nuclear security. Regarding the ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine, the Secretary-General expressed his deep concern over the precariousness of the security situation and reiterated the urgent need for a full implementation of the Minsk Agreements.
The Secretary-General returned to New York on Friday evening.