The Secretary-General and the President of the General Assembly met with President Salva Kiir on 8 July in Juba. The Secretary-General congratulated President Kiir on the independence of South Sudan and pledged the United Nations' full support to building strong, responsible institutions in the South. The Secretary-General and President Kiir discussed outstanding issues under the CPA, including the border and the status of Abyei. The Secretary-General stressed that peaceful relations between the North and the South would require strong leadership and vision.

The Secretary-General expressed concern at the security situation in Southern Kordofan and requested that President Kiir support sustained United Nations engagement going forward.

The Secretary-General noted that the Security Council would discuss South Sudan's membership to the United Nations on 13 July, to be followed by a discussion in the General Assembly on 14 July. He noted that the presence of President Kiir at these discussions would send a strong message to the General Assembly.