The Secretary-General met today in The Hague with the Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Mark Rutte, and the country’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Frans Timmermans.

The Secretary-General congratulated the Government of the Netherlands for the successful organization of the Nuclear Security Summit.

He informed Mr. Rutte about his recent visits to Kyiv and Moscow. The Secretary-General and Prime Minister Rutte emphasized the need for direct and constructive dialogue to prevent further escalation of tensions.

They also discussed the prospects for the Geneva talks on Syria and highlighted the notable progress of the joint UN-OPCW mission to eliminate chemical weapons in the country.

The Secretary-General commended the Government for its strong contributions to development cooperation and continued dedication to meeting the targets on official development assistance. He also recognized the country’s leadership in the field of protection of human rights, particularly LGBT rights, and in issues related to climate change.

In a separate meeting with the Foreign Minister of the Netherlands, Frans Timmermans, the Secretary-General further discussed the serious situation in Ukraine. He expressed his gratitude to the Government for its support to the UN Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA). They also discussed the deteriorating situation in the Central African Republic and the need for strong support from the international community, particularly for the strengthening of state institutions in the country.