The Secretary-General met today with H.E. Mr. Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation.

The Secretary-General underscored the importance of the strong partnership between the United Nations and the Russian Federation, commending the emphasis the country places on multilateral diplomacy in addressing key global challenges.

He congratulated Mr. Putin and his Government on working to ensure the successful organization of the 22nd Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games in Sochi in 2014.

On Syria, the Secretary-General expressed his support for the agreement between the Russian Federation and the United States to convene an international conference as soon as possible to help the Syrian parties operationalize the 30 June 2012 Geneva communique on establishing a transitional governing body with full executive powers. They discussed the importance of both regional support for the conference and the role of  Joint Special Representative Lakhdar Brahimi.

They also discussed developments in the Middle East, Afghanistan, Iran and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. The meeting also covered climate change and sustainable development, including in the context of the Group of 20. The Secretary-General expressed appreciation for Russia's support for peacekeeping operations.