Press Releases

[As delivered] Good morning, ni hao! Dobro utro, salam alaikum. I am honored to address this summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia. Let me begin by recognizing the leadership of…

The Secretary-General welcomes the signing by the nuclear-weapon States of the Protocol to the Treaty on a Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone in Central Asia. The Protocol commits the nuclear-weapon States to respect the application of…

This year we celebrate the first-ever International Day of Sport for Development and Peace. We at the United Nations know that sport is a universal language, uniting groups and nations across divides. Sport empowers youth…

Water is at the core of sustainable development. This year’s observance of World Water Day focuses on the links between water and energy. Both are critical for eradicating poverty. And they interact with each other in ways…

Nowruz is a time when millions of people from Western, Central and South Asia and other regions around the world come together, as they have for over 3000 years, to celebrate the New Year and first day of spring. Inscribed in…

Human Rights Day marks the anniversary of the adoption by the General Assembly of the landmark Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This year’s observance also marks 20 years since a bold step forward in the struggle to…

Dear friends, United Nations Day is a chance to recognize how much this invaluable Organization contributes to peace and common progress. It is a time to reflect on what more we can do to realize our vision for a better world…

NEW YORK, September 2013 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon held meetings with H.E. Mr. Erlan A. Idrissov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, H.E. Mr. Erlan Abdyldayev, Minister for Foreign Affairs of…

The Secretary-General welcomed the High-Level Meeting on Central Asia held today at United Nations Headquarters. The meeting was chaired by the Deputy Secretary-General, with the participation of countries of Central Asia and…

The International Day of Peace is a time for reflection – a day when we reiterate our belief in non-violence and call for a global ceasefire. We ask people everywhere to observe a minute of silence, at noon local time, to…