New York

21 December 2012

Read-out of the Secretary-General’s meeting with Mr. Tiéman Hubert Coulibaly, Foreign Minister of the Republic of Mali

Ban Ki-Moon, Former Secretary-General

 

The Secretary-General met today with the Foreign Minister of Mali, Mr. Tiéman Coulibaly, to discuss the serious crisis in the country and how the United Nations can best support Mali in restoring its democracy and territorial integrity, and to bring an end to the growing suffering of the Malian people.

The Secretary-General expressed his determination to strengthen his collaboration with the Malian authorities and international partners in the implementation of Security Council Resolution 2085, which emphasizes the importance of political dialogue and the pursuit of negotiations, and authorized the deployment of an African-led Force to respond to the growing security threats on the ground.

The Secretary-General took the opportunity of his meeting with the Foreign Minister to urge all actors in Mali to swiftly finalize and implement a transitional roadmap leading to the holding of free, fair and transparent elections as soon as possible. The Secretary-General also exchanged views with the Foreign Minister on the establishment of a UN multidisciplinary office in Bamako and reassured him of the United Nations commitment to support Mali to overcome this difficult period.