Europe

Dr. (Rajendra) Pachauri, Chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)

Mr. Michel Jarraud (Secretary-General of World Meteorological Organization)

Mr. Achim Steiner (Executive Director of UN Environment Programme)

Excellencies,

Ladies and gentlemen,

Buenos Dias.

I am delighted to join you for the release of the synthesis report of the IPCC fourth assessment.

Buenos dias!

I want to thank the Government of Spain for its generous offer to host a new United Nations logistics base here in Valencia

I welcome the successful conclusion of negotiations the text of the agreement on the use of the premises. This agreement and other administrative agreements will need to be duly considered and approved by the United Nations General Assembly and the Government of Spain.

I thank the Government of Turkey for hosting this gathering and for the warm welcome and hospitality accorded to us.

It is an honour for me to join you at this important meeting. I look forward to continuing and strengthening our joint efforts to promote peace, cooperation and well-being in Iraq and the region.

Thank you, Lord Hurd, for those kind words. It is an honour and pleasure to be here.

When I left Brussels yesterday, it was 12 degrees Celsius and hailing. Here, it was 25 degrees and sunny. Talk about climate change. I don't understand why you British are always complaining about the weather.

I confess I am also a little intimidated, Lord Hurd, at being moderated by a veteran statesman of your distinction.

Monseigneur, [Prince Philippe of Belgium]

Prime Minister,

Excellencies,

Delegates

I am honoured to welcome you to the launch of this Global Forum -- a milestone in our work to understand the connection between international migration and development, and to harness the power of one to advance the other.

Let me express my deep appreciation to His Majesty King Albert of Belgium, who is recovering from a minor procedure and could not join us today. I wish him a speedy recovery.

Excellencies,

Ladies and gentlemen,

Dear friends,

It is my privilege to bring this remarkable Global Compact Leaders Summit to a close.

Over these two days, it has been heartening to see such a prominent group of leaders from business, Government, civil society, labour, academia and the United Nations, display such a deep and broad commitment to the principles of the Global Compact.

Mr. President,

Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is an honour for me to take part in the official launch of the high-level Development Cooperation Forum of the Economic and Social Council.

As I look around this room today, I am heartened by the level and wide range of participation at this launch. It bodes very well for the future of this Forum and for its ability to deliver.

Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,

Dear friends,

It is an honour and a pleasure to welcome you to this United Nations Global Compact Leaders Summit.

Let me thank every one of you for attending. Many of you have travelled great distances to be here. With participants attending from over 90 countries, this Summit is a truly global event -- even by UN standards.

Let me begin by thanking my friend, Foreign Minister [Massimo] D'Alema, and the Government of Italy, led by Prime Minister [Romano] Prodi, for hosting this conference. This is my second trip to Rome as Secretary-General and, once again, I am overwhelmed by the warmth of the welcome. I know it reflects Italy's commitment to a successful conference and to a peaceful and prosperous Afghanistan.

I am honoured to attend for the first time as Secretary-General this High-level Segment of the Economic and Social Council.

Yours is a sacred mission: to lead the UN's worldwide work for human uplift and development.

This year, I believe you are better prepared than ever for this challenge. The Council has undertaken bold new initiatives to reenergize its functions and to rejuvenate its mission. As a result, it is well on it way to becoming the global hub for devising and overseeing development policies and practices.