SG

This is by far the largest gathering which I have ever addressed in my seven months as Secretary-General. I'm very grateful for your presence here, in the birthplace of the United Nations, and for your support for our shared goals.

Mayor Newsom,

Thank you for your kind words, and for bestowing on me the key to this great city. I know that it reflects the strong feelings the people of San Francisco have for the United Nations.

The Secretary-General was shocked and saddened to learn about the two bomb attacks that reportedly killed more than 50 innocent civilians who were celebrating an inspiring victory by the Iraq national football team in the Asian Games. The Secretary-General condemns this particularly reprehensible act which came at a moment when all of Iraq had joined together to celebrate the success of their nation.

On several occasions the Commission of Truth and Friendship (CTF) has invited to testify at its proceedings former staff members of the United Nations Mission in East Timor (UNAMET), including the former Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Ian Martin.

Q: Good afternoon.

SG: How are you?

Q: Good. How was your visit? How does it feel to be here with her again?

Today the Secretary-General of the United Nations sent a letter to the Prime Minister of the Netherlands in which he invites the Government of the Netherlands to consider hosting the Special Tribunal for Lebanon.

In his letter the Secretary-General stresses the fact that the Netherlands already hosts several courts and tribunals, such as the International Court of Justice, the International Criminal Court and the International Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, and that the experience gained could be of great value for the Special Tribunal for Lebanon.

The Secretary-General was deeply saddened by the death of Mohammad Zahir Shah, the former King of Afghanistan. He sends his most sincere condolences to the family of Mohammad Zahir Shah and to the Afghan Government and its people.

The Secretary-General is deeply concerned at the deteriorating security situation in the South and North Kivu provinces in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. He is particularly troubled by the dire humanitarian consequences, which include the internal displacement of some 700,000 persons in the region.

The Secretary-General welcomes the constructive outcome of the broadly attended international meeting on the situation in Darfur which was convened by the African Union and United Nations Special Envoys and hosted by the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya in Tripoli from 15-16 July, 2007. The meeting reconfirmed the strong international support for AU / UN leadership role in negotiations towards a comprehensive political solution to the conflict in Darfur.

(unofficial transcript)

SG: Good evening, ladies and gentleman.

I am going to announce the joint Quartet statement.

The Quartet principals met now, and were joined by former United Kingdom Prime Minister, Mr. Tony Blair.