The Secretary-General met today with H.E. Mr. Barack Obama, President of the United States of America, on the margins of the 69th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

They agreed on the fundamental importance of agreed collective action on climate change, and also on the pressing need for the international community to take immediate and strong steps to combat the Ebola crisis.

They exchanged views on how to make United Nations peacekeeping a more effective tool for maintaining international peace and security.

They discussed the appalling human rights abuses inside Syria and the clear threat posed by terrorism to international peace and security, especially in Iraq.

On the Israeli-Palestine issue, the Secretary-General and the President talked of the need to urgently improve conditions in the West Bank and Gaza so as to prevent another outbreak of violence.

The Secretary-General praised the indefatigable efforts of Secretary Kerry and said that he felt it was irresponsible for people to think that they could keep destroying Gaza and then expect the international community to always pay for its rebuilding. The cycle of build/destroy needed to end and a serious discussion to address the root causes - including occupation, and security for both Israelis and Palestinians - must begin.

They also discussed the Central African Republic and Afghanistan.