Today, the Secretary-General met with H.E. Mr. Albert Koenders, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. They discussed the presidency of the European Union currently held by the Netherlands, the displacement and migration crisis in Europe, and the UN Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism.

The Secretary-General thanked the Netherlands for its significant contribution to UN peacekeeping efforts in Mali.

The Secretary-General and the Foreign Minister discussed aspects of the Syria crisis, including UN SCR 2254 which calls on Member States to prevent and suppress terrorist acts committed specifically by ISIL, Al-Nusra Front and others associated with them.  The Secretary-General thanked Foreign Minister Koenders for his personal contribution and expressed the hope that the Netherlands will support efforts on all tracks to assist in achieving sustainable peace in Syria.