Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to this press conference.

It is a great pleasure to have this press conference on the eve of the General Assembly and Climate Change Summit and I am happy to share some thoughts on how the General Assembly and Climate Change meeting will go and on all other matters of our mutual concern.

As you know this morning, two vehicles reportedly with UN markings, were used in the suicide attack at the AMISOM [African Union Mission in Somalia] compound earlier today.

Nine peacekeepers, including a former Deputy Force Commander were killed.

At least thirty wounded personnel are being evacuated for medical treatment.

We are investigating. I expect a preliminary report shortly.

I condemn this attack, this terrorist attack, in the strongest possible terms.

The United Nations is mobilizing all possible measure to evacuate the wounded and support AMISOM. I am soon going to speak with the Presidents of Uganda and Burundi, and the African Union Chairman.

I express my deepest condolences and sympathies to the victims and families of those killed. I honour their service and bravery.

Ladies and gentlemen,

This year, we have so many important events and meetings on the margins of the General Debate. If I may just cite some examples: the Security Council Summit to address nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear disarmament, the Quartet meeting on Middle East Peace process, the UN-REDD event aimed at Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Developing Countries, the sixth conference to facilitate the early entry-into-force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT).

We also have the 60th Anniversary of UNRWA, the 60th Anniversary of the Geneva Convention, the Ministerial meeting on the Alliance of Civilizations, the ministerial meeting of the Group of Friends on Myanmar, the summit meeting of the Group of Friends of Democratic Pakistan, the UN-ASEAN ministerial consultation, the UN-CARICOM mini-Summit, the UN-EU ministerial consultation, and many other summit level global health related events hosted by other world leaders, just to name a few!

I have asked some of our senior officers to brief you on the matters of their respective jurisdictions over the last few days, but I also wanted to meet with you before the busy period ahead.

Let me get right to the point.

I believe we are at a crucial moment leading up to what promises to be a critical year for action by the global community—a year which requires decisive movement on a variety of fronts.

I call it a time for renewed multilateralism that delivers for real people in real time, with real results.

I will speak in more detail about this next week.

But let me point to three reasons why I believe the upcoming General Assembly is so important.

First, leaders are coming to the United Nations to address the defining challenge of our times - climate change.

No issue better demonstrates the need for global solidarity. No challenge so powerfully compels us to widen our horizons.

The Summit on September 22nd on climate change will be the largest ever gathering of Heads of State and Government on climate change.

The purpose is to focus minds and generate action.

The current slow pace of the negotiations is a matter of deep concern.

There are only 81 days until we go to Copenhagen – and only 15 days for negotiations. Time is short. The negotiations are incredibly complex.

Earlier this month, I visited the Arctic. There I could see for myself the melting glaciers. It was a frightening experience for me. Climate change is happening faster than we realized.

Our Summit is about building the bridge to Copenhagen.

We want world leaders to show they understand the gravity of climate risks, as well as the benefits of acting now.

We want them to publicly commit to sealing a deal in Copenhagen.

And we want them to give their negotiating teams marching orders to accelerate progress toward a fair, effective, comprehensive and scientifically ambitious global climate agreement in Copenhagen.

Second , the international economic and financial crisis.

We are now one year on. There is talk of green shoots of recovery, but our data show another picture.

We are still not out of the deep woods – and this crisis is layered upon the food crisis and the pandemic crisis.

We are finding that it is not the chronic poor who are most affected, but the near and working poor, whose lives had improved significantly over the last decade.

The near poor are becoming the new poor.

Over 100 million more people are expected to fall below the poverty line this year.

We simply must amplify the voices of the vulnerable and ensure that the world follows up on its pledges.

At the G-20 Summit in Pittsburgh and here at the United Nations--we will hammer this point home.

I have written to G-20 leaders earlier this week and asked for their commitment to protect poor countries through the crisis, and accelerate action on climate change and achieving the Millennium Development Goals.

To make the right policy responses, we must know, in real time, what is happening on the ground.

This is difficult because we don't yet have all the information we need.

To address this gap, the UN system is working with Member States to create a networked 21st century capacity for real-time data collection, analysis and flagging of critical developments on the ground.

We are developing a Global Impact and Vulnerability Alert System— abbreviated as GIVAS--and I will report on the current situation of the poorest and most vulnerable to the General Assembly next week.

The Deputy Secretary-General will brief you and provide an advance copy on Friday, tomorrow.

Third , disarmament.

There is a crucial window of opportunity. The US and Russian leaders have pledged to cut their nuclear arsenals.

More leaders are speaking out. The wind is at our back.

With a strong push by the right leaders, we can bring the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty into force.

We can make much needed headway in nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament.

I am pleased that the Security Council—chaired by U.S. President Obama—will hold a summit meeting on September 24th to address this issue.

That same day, we will also host a special meeting to press for the early ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty.

Let me also touch on a few news items of this week.

First, the General Assembly adopted its first resolution on the responsibility to protect.

I strongly welcome their decision. I am particularly pleased that support came for Member States from every corner of the world.

We must press forward, united by the ultimate purpose of the responsibility to protect: to save lives by preventing the most egregious mass violations of human rights.

Second, Sri Lanka. I am concerned about developments regarding internally displaced persons, the political process and a possible accountability mechanism.

I am also deeply troubled by the continued detention without charge of the two United Nations staff members.

I have spoken directly with President [Mahinda] Rajapaksa about these pressing matters last Monday.

This week, I have sent the Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Lynn Pascoe, to Sri Lanka to follow-up.

I have asked him to deliver my letter to the President outlining the concerns of the international community and immediately report back to me.

We must also recall that two of our staff are currently being held hostage in Darfur.

I can assure you that we are doing all that we can to secure their release.

Finally, I want to commend the General Assembly for agreeing to my proposal to consolidate all four women-specific entities of the United Nations into a single one.

I have been pushing this initiative for two and a half years.

This will boost our work to promote the rights and well-being of women around the world.

For my part, I am proud to have appointed more women to senior posts than at any time in United Nations history.

This includes 9 women with the rank of Under-Secretary-General. The overall number of women in senior posts above the rank of Assistant Secretary-General has increased by 40 percent in the last two and a half years.

On a lighter note, you may have noticed that the recent list of the Forbes 100 Most Powerful Women in the world includes four leaders from the United Nations team:

· Margaret Chan of the WHO

· Helen Clark of UNDP

· High Commissioner of Human Rights Navi Pillay,

· and Anne Veneman, of UNICEF.

Such lists are, of course, incomplete. They and our entire team are making a profound difference. I will do my part to keep adding to the ranks.

As I say, we are entering the critical moment. Starting next week, the world will be watching.

The world’s people expect the UN—together with world leaders—to address the great issues of our day. Climate change. The international financial and economic crisis. The food crisis. And so many other daunting challenges.

I am sure that with a strong commitment and united leadership, we will make this year’s session a great success and I count on your support and cooperation.

Thank you very much. I will be happy to take your questions.