Readout of Secretary-General's Remarks Made at G8 Summit

On North Africa and the Middle East, the Secretary-General emphasized that the international community must act with unity and in a consistent and coordinated manner. He urged increased support for humanitarian assistance, both for affected populations in Libya and in neighbouring countries.

The Secretary-General stressed that job growth and education opportunities for young people and women are paramount. A sustainable transition to democratic and accountable governments in the broader region will also need concrete support for

large-scale infrastructure.

The Secretary-General also spoke about the Middle East peace process. He urged the international community act urgently together to push the process, building on the vision laid out by United States President Barack Obama, and asked the directly concerned parties to seize the moment and take risks for peace.

On African regional crises, the Secretary-General spoke on Côte d'Ivoire, Somalia and Sudan. On Côte d'Ivoire he discussed the need for stabilizing domestic security by disarming militias, rebuilding police and military capacity and securing the nation's borders. In addition, the Secretary-General highlighted the need to support the President's Dialogue, Truth and Reconciliation Commission and Côte d'Ivoire's economic recovery.

The Secretary-General's recommendations on Somalia included: further support to the African Union Mission in Somali (AMISOM) and the forces of the Transitional Federal Government; continued support in the fight against piracy; and more resources for humanitarian assistance and recovery. The Secretary-General also urged the G8 and African partners to send a strong message to Somalia's President and Speaker to settle their differences.

On Sudan, the Secretary-General focused on his concern over the increasing tensions in Abyei in the run-up to South Sudan's independence on 9 July. He also requested strong backing for the Darfur peace talks in Doha.

The Secretary-General's final intervention at the G8 covered development issues. Here, he stressed four areas –women's and children's health; climate change and energy; food and nutrition security; and Rio 2012 and sustainable development. The Secretary-General emphasized that the timely investment could generate significant gains for the world's poorest and most vulnerable people and the global economy.

On women's and children's health, the Secretary-General noted the impressive work he had just witnessed in Nigeria and Ethiopia to reduce deaths, improve well-being and achieve the Millennium Development Goals. He urged further support for the Global Strategy on Women's' and Children's health that has received more than $40 billion in commitments from some 42 countries, as well as foundations, the private sector and civil society.

On climate change and energy, the Secretary-General emphasized the importance of achieving progress in the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) climate negotiations, including on climate change financing, access to energy, energy efficiency and investing in renewable energy.

On food and nutrition security, the Secretary-General asked G8 members to follow up on their l'Aquila commitments, and support the Scale Up Nutrition effort.

The Secretary-General called on all leaders present to seize the important opportunity afforded by the Rio 2012 process to connect the dots between all the development issues discussed at the summit.