SG/T/3104

Activities of Secretary-General in Republic of Korea, 25–26 and 27-29 May

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon arrived on Jeju Island on Wednesday afternoon, 25 May, coming directly from Istanbul, where he had attended the first World Humanitarian Summit.

The Secretary-General, accompanied by Madam Ban Soon-taek, attended an official dinner on Wednesday night for the participants of the eleventh Jeju Forum for Peace and Prosperity, hosted by Hong Yong-pyo, Minister of Unification of the Republic of Korea.

In his remarks at the dinner, he underscored that diplomacy is the only way forward to resolve the complex and dangerous situation on the Korean Peninsula.

“Diplomacy must be firmly based on respect by the [Democratic People’s Republic of Korea] for international law, particularly the decisions of the Security Council,” he said.  (See Press Release SG/SM/17788.)

The Secretary-General also met that day with Board Members of the Kwanhoon Club, a group of political correspondents.

On Thursday, the Secretary-General delivered opening remarks at the Jeju Forum, focusing on how Asia could manifest wisdom, flexibility and soft power in an effort to build a better world in the region and beyond.

Noting that, while Asia counts for almost a third of all greenhouse gases, the Secretary-General also said it was also a leader in green technology, especially wind and solar power.  He called on countries in Asia to quickly ratify the Paris climate Agreement.

The Secretary-General encouraged Asian leaders not to be held back by past disputes on the continent.  “Asia must resolve differences that are left over from past centuries,” he said. “It is time to agree on borders that are now disputed and rise above conflicting interpretations of history.”

He also expressed concern about rising intolerance, hate speech and violence in parts of Asia.  Countries must end violations against religious minorities, migrants, refugees, women and girls, as well as lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons, he added.

The Secretary-General underscored the need for Asians to show even greater compassion towards refugees and migrants, which he said, could enhance Asia.

Turning to the security situation on the Korean Peninsula, which he called deeply troubling and one of the great challenges to global action and regional cooperation, the Secretary-General said that the pursuit by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles only undermines its own security and hurts its citizens.

The Secretary-General encouraged the Government in Pyongyang to cease any further provocations and return to full compliance with international obligations. (See Press Release SG/SM/17791.)

On the margins of the summit, the Secretary-General had a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn of the Republic of Korea.  The two discussed a wide-ranging number of issues, including climate change, the Sustainable Development Goals and the situation on the Korean Peninsula.

The Secretary-General and his delegation departed Jeju Island for Nagoya, Japan, early on Thursday evening.  He then returned to Seoul on Friday evening, 27 May.

Having spent Saturday with family, on Sunday morning the Secretary-General opened the General Session of the 2016 Rotary International Convention at the Korea International Exhibition and Convention Center.  (See Press Release SG/SM/17799.)

He then transferred by helicopter to Hahoe Folk Village in Andong.  He toured Yangjindang Manor and planted a tree at the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Site.

He and his delegation then travelled by car to Gyeongju, where he attended a reception and dinner hosted by the National Organizing Committee of the sixty-sixth United Nations Department of Public Information-Non-Governmental Organizations (DPI-NGO) Conference.  (See Press Release SG/SM/17800.)

On Monday morning, he opened the sixty-sixth annual DPI-NGO Conference at the Hwabaek International Convention Center.

In his opening remarks to the Conference, which was entitled “Education for Global Citizenship:  Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals Together”, the Secretary-General stressed the pivotal role of non-governmental organizations, which, as he put it, are at the vanguard of international action.  He recognized their tireless work on climate change, cluster bombs, landmines and human rights, just to mention a few.

He also reiterated his call on Governments to expand some political, economic, social space for non-governmental organizations to work freely, without any hindrance.

Turning to the situation within the United Nations, the Secretary-General expressed his deep disappointment that the Member States on the Economic and Social Council’s Non-governmental Organization Committee recently denied the Committee to Protect Journalists consultative status.  Furthermore, he re-stated his opposition to the exclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender organizations from the upcoming High-Level Meeting on Ending AIDS.  Those non-governmental organizations were close to the communities affected by the epidemic and they must be part of the response.  The United Nations was a big tent, he said, and non-governmental organizations belonged inside.  (See Press Release SG/SM/17805.)

Earlier in the day, he had attended a breakfast hosted by Cho Tae-yul, Second Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea.  He then attended a Youth Caucus event and visited the NGO Exhibit Hall.  (See Press Release SG/SM/17804.)

At a press conference for the opening session of the Conference, the Secretary-General reiterated his dismay at the Economic and Social Council Non-governmental Organization Committee’s denial of consultative status to the Committee to Protect Journalists.

On Monday, he also held a Social Media Interactive Session with the Co-chairs of the Conference.  

The Secretary-General departed Seoul in the early evening of Monday, 30 May, and arrived in New York on the same day.

For information media. Not an official record.