/sg/en/content/ossg/latest-statements Latest Statements, Off-the-Cuff and Readouts from Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary General of the United Nations en /sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-12-20/statement-attributable-the-spokesperson-of-the-secretary-general-%E2%80%93-sudan The Secretary-General is outraged by the killing of three World Food Programme staff members in Sudan on 19 December, when the agency’s field office in Yabus, in Blue Nile State, was hit by aerial bombardment.  He sends his deepest condolences to the families of the victims and their WFP colleagues.   The Secretary-General condemns all attacks on UN and aid personnel and facilities. He calls for a thorough investigation.   20/12/2024 - 09:41 United Nations Office of the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General /sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-12-20/statement-attributable-the-spokesperson-of-the-secretary-general-%E2%80%93-sudan /sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-12-19/statement-attributable-the-spokesperson-of-the-secretary-general-%E2%80%93-yemen-scroll-down-for-arabic The Secretary-General is following with grave concern reports of Israeli airstrikes earlier today in and around the ports of Hudaydah, Salif and Ra’s Isa and on power stations in Sana’a in Yemen. He is also deeply concerned over the concurrent launch of ballistic missiles by the Houthis toward Israel that hit and badly damaged a school in central Israel. Initial reports indicate civilian casualties, including nine reportedly killed and three injured, and considerable damage to the Red Sea ports that will lead to the immediate and significant reduction in port capacity. 19/12/2024 - 16:43 United Nations Office of the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General /sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-12-19/statement-attributable-the-spokesperson-of-the-secretary-general-%E2%80%93-yemen-scroll-down-for-arabic /sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-12-19/secretary-generals-remarks-the-security-council-artificial-intelligence-bilingual-delivered Mr. President, Excellencies, I thank the United States for convening the meeting on Artificial Intelligence and the Maintenance of International ¹ú²úAV and Security. I briefed this Council about AI in July 2023.  As I said then, those that feel like technology is moving very fast must understand a simple fact: Technology will never move in the future as slowly as today. In the short time since, Artificial Intelligence has moved at breakneck speed. 19/12/2024 - 10:01 United Nations Office of the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General /sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-12-19/secretary-generals-remarks-the-security-council-artificial-intelligence-bilingual-delivered /sg/en/content/sg/press-encounter/2024-12-19/secretary-generals-press-encounter-syria The Middle East is being consumed by many fires.    But today there is a flame of hope in Syria.    That flame must not be extinguished.   The people of Syria stand at a moment of history – and a moment of opportunity.    That opportunity cannot be missed.   The end of more than five decades of brutal, dictatorial rule has given rise to much hope.   We share that hope with the Syrian people and we stand with them.    19/12/2024 - 09:49 United Nations Office of the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General /sg/en/content/sg/press-encounter/2024-12-19/secretary-generals-press-encounter-syria /sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-12-19/secretary-generals-message-the-11th-summit-of-the-d-8-organization-for-economic-cooperation Download the video: https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/downloads2.unmultimedia.org/public/video/evergreen/MSG+SG+/SG+16+Dec+24/3323305_MSG+SG+SUMMIT+OF+THE+D-8+ORGANIZATION+16+DEC+24.mp4 Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, 18/12/2024 - 09:30 United Nations Office of the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General /sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-12-19/secretary-generals-message-the-11th-summit-of-the-d-8-organization-for-economic-cooperation /sg/en/content/sg/note-correspondents/2024-12-18/note-correspondents-third-consultative-meeting-sudan-convenes-nouakchott-mauritania-scroll-down-for-arabic-version The "Third Consultative Meeting on Enhancing Coordination of ¹ú²úAV Initiatives and Efforts for the Sudan" concluded its work by adopting the enclosed final communique. The meeting, which convened at the invitation of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania in its current capacity as Chair of the African Union, brought together high-level representatives from multilateral organizations as well as countries sponsoring peace initiatives on Sudan. 19/12/2024 - 10:49 United Nations Office of the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General /sg/en/content/sg/note-correspondents/2024-12-18/note-correspondents-third-consultative-meeting-sudan-convenes-nouakchott-mauritania-scroll-down-for-arabic-version /sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-12-18/secretary-generals-message-international-migrants-day-scroll-down-for-french-version On International Migrants Day, we celebrate the contributions millions of migrants make to communities, economies and countries around the world. But today is also a day to remind ourselves of the challenges migrants can face — from prejudice and discrimination, to outright violence and abuse, to the unimaginable cruelty of human trafficking. These challenges are made worse by the rising tide of mis and disinformation and hate speech which sows division and distorts the valuable contributions migrants are making each and every day.  06/12/2024 - 13:24 United Nations Office of the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General /sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-12-18/secretary-generals-message-international-migrants-day-scroll-down-for-french-version /sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-12-16/secretary-generals-statement-syria-scroll-down-for-arabic-version In response to recent developments in Syria, I dispatched my Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Tom Fletcher, to Damascus to engage with the Caretaker Government on scaling up humanitarian assistance in Syria. Mr. Fletcher met today, Monday, with the Commander of the New Administration, Mr. Ahmed al-Sharaa, and the Prime Minister of the Caretaker Government, Mr. Mohammed al-Bashir. 16/12/2024 - 16:50 United Nations Office of the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General /sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-12-16/secretary-generals-statement-syria-scroll-down-for-arabic-version /sg/en/content/note-correspondents/2024-12-16/statement-attributable-the-office-of-the-special-envoy-for-syria-scroll-down-for-arabic-version United Nations Special Envoy for Syria Mr Geir O. Pedersen is in Damascus. He has so far met with Commander of the New Administration Mr Ahmed al-Sharaa and Prime Minister of the Caretaker Government Mr Mohammed al-Bashir. The Special Envoy briefed on the outcome of the Aqaba International Meeting on Syria on 14 December 2024, stressing the need for a credible and inclusive Syrian-owned and led political transition based on the principles of United Nations Security Council resolution 2254 (2015). 16/12/2024 - 08:43 United Nations Office of the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General /sg/en/content/note-correspondents/2024-12-16/statement-attributable-the-office-of-the-special-envoy-for-syria-scroll-down-for-arabic-version /sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-12-16/secretary-generals-video-message-the-internet-governance-forum Download the video: https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/downloads2.unmultimedia.org/public/video/evergreen/MSG+SG+/SG+9+Dec+24/3320792_MSG+SG+INTERNET+GOVERNANCE+09+DEC+24.mp4 Excellencies, I am pleased to greet the Internet Governance Forum and thank the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for hosting this gathering. 13/12/2024 - 10:28 United Nations Office of the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General /sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-12-16/secretary-generals-video-message-the-internet-governance-forum /sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-12-12/statement%C2%A0attributable%C2%A0-the-spokesperson-for-the-secretary-general-%E2%80%93-ethiopia-and-somalia The Secretary-General welcomes the announcement of the ‘Ankara Declaration’ in which President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of Somalia and Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed of Ethiopia agreed to work towards resolving their differences in a spirit of friendship and mutual respect.  He looks forward to a swift commencement of the technical negotiations and a positive outcome to the process. 12/12/2024 - 17:26 United Nations Office of the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General /sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-12-12/statement%C2%A0attributable%C2%A0-the-spokesperson-for-the-secretary-general-%E2%80%93-ethiopia-and-somalia /sg/en/content/sg/readout/2024-12-12/readout-of-the-secretary-general%E2%80%99s-meeting-%C2%A0he-mr-ntsokoane-samuel-matekane%C2%A0prime-minister-head-of-government-minister-for-defence-national-security-environment-of-the The Secretary-General met with H.E. Mr. Ntsokoane Samuel Matekane, Prime Minister and Head of Government, and Minister for Defence, National Security and Environment of the Kingdom of Lesotho, as well as members of the Cabinet of the Kingdom of Lesotho. The Secretary-General recognized the efforts that Lesotho had made towards peace and stability.  He commended the Prime Minister and his government for its commitment to implementing reforms that will address governance challenges that the country has endured for decades. 12/12/2024 - 16:48 United Nations Office of the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General /sg/en/content/sg/readout/2024-12-12/readout-of-the-secretary-general%E2%80%99s-meeting-%C2%A0he-mr-ntsokoane-samuel-matekane%C2%A0prime-minister-head-of-government-minister-for-defence-national-security-environment-of-the /sg/en/content/sg/readout/2024-12-12/readout-of-the-secretary-general%E2%80%99s-meeting-his-majesty-king-letsie-iii-king-of-the-kingdom-of-lesotho The Secretary-General met with His Majesty King Letsie III, King of the Kingdom of Lesotho.  The Secretary-General commended the Government of His Majesty King Letsie III for the continued collaboration and partnership with the United Nations, including on the 2030 Agenda, climate change and gender equality. The Secretary General expressed his solidarity and support to the people and government of Lesotho, reaffirming his commitment to helping ensure that obstacles, including access to affordable finance and the challenges arising from being landlocked, are addressed. 12/12/2024 - 16:26 United Nations Office of the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General /sg/en/content/sg/readout/2024-12-12/readout-of-the-secretary-general%E2%80%99s-meeting-his-majesty-king-letsie-iii-king-of-the-kingdom-of-lesotho /sg/en/content/sg/note-correspondents/2024-12-12/note-correspondents-syria The Secretary-General is deeply concerned by the recent and extensive violations of Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. The Secretary-General is particularly concerned over the hundreds of Israeli airstrikes on several locations in Syria.   He stresses the urgent need to de-escalate violence on all fronts, throughout Syria. 12/12/2024 - 13:08 United Nations Office of the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General /sg/en/content/sg/note-correspondents/2024-12-12/note-correspondents-syria /sg/en/content/sg/note-correspondents/2024-12-12/statement-attributable%C2%A0-the-un-special-envoy-for-syria-mr-geir-o-pedersen-scroll-down-for-arabic-version The images from Sednaya and other detention facilities starkly underscore the unimaginable barbarity Syrians have endured and reported for years. Despite extensive documentation and testimonies, they only scratch the surface of the carceral system’s horrors. These images are a profound testament to unspeakable suffering and pain beyond comprehension endured by those detained, their families, and their loved ones.   12/12/2024 - 09:22 United Nations Office of the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General /sg/en/content/sg/note-correspondents/2024-12-12/statement-attributable%C2%A0-the-un-special-envoy-for-syria-mr-geir-o-pedersen-scroll-down-for-arabic-version