Secretary-General's press conference following the opening of a new UN building

I have opened this new facility. As I said, this is a new chapter, not only for the opening - a new chapter between Kenya and the United Nations - but this is really a new chapter toward a path of a cleaner, greener [inaudible]. The United Nations is taking [the lead] by example. And I sincerely hope that this will give a good example to many countries, many companies, many United Nations agencies to follow, to work together to make a greener world for a better world.

Today, I had a very good meeting with President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister [Raila] Odinga. And I am very honoured and pleased to visit Kenya when the Kenyan Government and people are making great progress [on] this constitutional referendum. And as the Kenyan Government is now overcoming the violence and political turmoil in the wake of the 2007 presidential elections and also as the Kenyan people are looking forward to the 2012 presidential elections, I sincerely hope, and I have urged the political leadership of Kenya that they should work together harmoniously and [in a] united [manner], to build this country more solidly for political stability, socioeconomic development and protecting and promoting human rights and putting an end to impunity. I have urged the leadership of this country - the President and Prime Minister - to continue their reform, institutional reform and land reform, establishing rule of law and promoting human rights and bringing justice to the families of the victims of the violence which took place two years ago.

The United Nations is ready to stand by the Kenyan Government and people in providing the necessary technical and political support to the Kenyan Government.

We have also discussed some important issues which are now taking place on this continent - the situation in Libya and also in Côte d'Ivoire. And these are also serious issues which are related to the fundamental principle of democracy, how to protect human rights. The United Nations, together with the African Union and other stakeholders, are committed to bring an early resolution, a peaceful resolution, to these very critical situations in Libya and Côte d'Ivoire.

I've just come from a London high-level meeting on Libya and I have also been discussing the situation in Côte d'Ivoire with many world leaders and African leaders [whom] you can count on. Thank you very much.

Q: [On the role of young people and on Somalia and Côte d'Ivoire]

SG: That is a very important question. Building a better world [inaudible] that involves [the whole] spectrum of people, particularly youth groups. You have seen all the unrest and yearnings and chanting for democracy, more freedom in the Middle East and North Africa. I have been urging the leaders in the world, in the region, that the leaders have a broad responsibility to provide a good opportunity for the future of the youth [inaudible] to listen carefully, attentively to the aspirations of their own people. This is what we are seeing in Libya, Côte d'Ivoire, Bahrain, Egypt, Yemen and elsewhere, in Syria. The United Nations has always been urging the world leaders to work together with a broad spectrum of people: political leaders, religious leaders, community leaders, civil society, NGOs, youth and women. It is important to provide a sense of hope to young people. And the Millennium Development Goals, which have been initiated by the United Nations 12 years ago is exactly aiming to achieve and to provide good and decent job opportunities, and also good educational opportunities to many young people, particularly young girls and also women.

While a lot of time and energy has been devoted by the international community to the situation in Libya, we have never neglected our common efforts and attention on how to support the Somali people and Government to restore peace and stability, to provide the socioeconomic development to the people and to address fighting against piracy. I have been working very hard to bring an early resolution of the situation on Côte d'Ivoire. The Security Council of the United Nations yesterday adopted another strong resolution strengthening the role and mandate of the United Nations Mission in Côte d'Ivoire and urging Mr. Gbagbo to step down immediately by transferring power to the legitimately elected leader, Mr. Ouattara. And we continue to work to address all these issues.

Q: You have come to the continent when sanctions have been placed on Gbagbo. It seems like a civil war is inevitable. Isn't there anything else that the United Nations can do at this point.

SG: That is exactly why the international community has taken decisive and firm measures. This is actually why the African Union Peace and Security Council has reaffirmed their previous decisions that in Côte d'Ivoire, the legitimately elected leader is Mr. Ouattara, and Mr. Gbagbo should step down and cede power to his successor. That is why the United Nations is working very closely with the Ivorian people there. And that is why the international community has taken very decisive action and swift action to protect human lives, to prevent this country from falling into civil war. We are working very hard. Of course, the situation is still very serious and I again urge [Laurent Gbagbo] to stop killing people, to stop fighting.

Q: Any chance that you can support the forceful removal of Gbagbo at this point?

SG: The will of the people of the Ivory Coast has already been demonstrated through their elections in November. There is no point of removing or not removing. He has to step down.

Q: [On the International Criminal Court]

SG: President Kibaki sent his Vice President earlier this month and we discussed this issue. I have taken note of the concerns and the wishes of the Kenyan Government. My position as the Secretary-General of the United Nations is that [inaudible] the request to defer this case is in accordance with Article 16 of the Rome Statute is the one which has to be determined by the Security Council. Of course, the United Nations has an agreement, a relationship agreement between the ICC and the United Nations which was signed in 2004. This is purely in addressing technical and administrative matters. The Secretary-General of the UN does not have any role to play in this matter. The International Criminal Court is an independent international judiciary organization. They have their own authority to handle this matter.

Thank you very much.