Ladies and gentlemen,

I am pleased to be back in Nairobi once again on the occasion of the fourteenth session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.

As we all know, the region is once again experiencing threats of renewed fighting in South Sudan. Kenya continues to play a pivotal role. Its contribution to regional peace and stability remains crucial.

I thank His Excellency President Uhuru Kenyatta for his strong leadership and personal engagement in this crisis. We are working together to ensure that peace returns to Juba and the rest of South Sudan. I appreciate Kenyan efforts to continue to impress on the parties in South Sudan to strictly abide by the cessation of hostilities and return to the peace process.

I was pleased to participate yesterday with President Kenyatta in the IGAD summit meeting together with many African Union leaders. I am also encouraged by the strong and unified voices of the African leaders.

I have been urging the leaders of South Sudan - their country, the newest country in this world, only five years old. They should do much more for their future, a better future. The [two leaders of the country] are now disappointing the whole world’s good support and good intentions to support them. I have been urging them that they should listen and hear the voices of the region and the world.

I am particularly grateful to President Kenyatta for his very strong and principled position, which he demonstrated particularly yesterday at the summit meeting, and I count on your continuing leadership. We just discussed again focussing on this matter and I count on, not only President Kenyatta, but all the leaders in this region, to show and to send unified and strong voices that we are committed for peace and stability in this region, particularly in South Sudan.

The recommendations which were agreed yesterday by the IGAD summit meeting, which I fully support, will soon be implemented. At the same time, the United Nations stands ready to work with the international community, and particularly on delivering humanitarian assistance to hundreds of thousands of people who need daily assistance. You can count on the United Nations.

At the same time I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the Kenyan Government and people for their generosity supporting many people who have been fleeing, fleeing from South Sudan. As civilians fled the renewed fighting in South Sudan to neighbouring areas, including Kakuma camp in Kenya, I commend the hospitality of your leadership and Kenyan people.

Ladies and gentlemen, as we discuss sustainable solutions to address the displacement challenges, I welcome the Kenyan Government’s commitment to abide by its international obligations regarding the voluntary, dignified and safe repatriation of refugees from Somalia.

I myself visited twice the Dadaab camp. I was very much grateful and at the same time saddened by what I have seen - the suffering and difficulties that these 600,000 people are undergoing daily. We need to step up our support for these people until they will be able to return safely to their home in Somalia. At the same time I make sure, again, commit myself, to work with international community donors who have committed in October last [year] in Brussels to help these people. And you can again count on me.

I also want to express our gratitude for Kenya’s continued engagement in Somalia, as the country prepares for federal elections this year.

On the situation in Burundi, the United Nations will continue to support the political process led by the East [African] Community. It is critical that the region sends a united call for Burundian stakeholders to fully commit to an inclusive dialogue to solve the crisis.

Finally, ladies and gentlemen, let me just say how pleased I am to take part in the fourteenth session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development here in Nairobi. This is the second time that the UNCTAD conference is coming to Nairobi. It took place about forty years ago. And I really count on such a strong commitment for trade and development through the sustainable development goals.

As we move forward to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda, UNCTAD 14 can help shape how we turn these visions into reality, by creating prosperity and long-term development for all, leaving no one behind.

Mr. President, as we discussed already today, this year is the first year to start the implementation process of the sustainable development goals and Paris Agreement on climate change. These are inseparable. All seventeen goals, including climate change, are inseparable goals which must go and be implemented all together, in parallel.

In this regard, there is a strong and serious impact which is now being experienced in Kenya because of climate change. I am very much grateful for your government to have signed this Paris Agreement last April, 22. Now at this time it is important that we make sure that this Paris Agreement enters into force before the end of this year.

I would really appreciate, Mr. President, if you take all necessary measures to get it ratified by the Kenyan Government. And I would like to hope to continue to work with you. I would like to make sure that before I leave my job as Secretary-General, that the sustainable development goals and climate change are now in a solid framework for implementation.

Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen, again I look forward to working together with the government and people of Kenya to advance peace, development and human rights for all.

Thank you for your strong leadership and commitment. Thank you.