Readout of Secretary-General's meeting with the President of the Swiss Confederation, Micheline Calmy-Rey

The Secretary-General met in Geneva today with the President of the Swiss Confederation, Micheline Calmy-Rey, and expressed his appreciation for Switzerland's helpful role as a UN host country and its recent contribution of 50 million Swiss francs towards the urgently needed renovation work for the Palais des Nations.

They discussed the work of the Global Sustainability Panel, of which the President is a member, and the Secretary-General was pleased to hear that the Panel's work is progressing.

They also discussed assistance to South Sudan, Swiss support for peacebuilding initiatives in Africa and Haiti and the Swiss role in various mediation efforts.