Activities of Secretary-General in San Marino, 31 March-2 April

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, accompanied by Madam Ban Soon‑taek, arrived in San Marino on Sunday evening, 31 March, having departed New York on Saturday 30 March and flown to Munich, Germany, and from there to Bologna in Italy.  They were driven from Bologna to San Marino.

That evening the Secretary-General held talks with Foreign Minister Pasquale Valentini and received an award on behalf of the United Nations.  He also met the outgoing Captains Regent, Teodoro Lonfernini and Denise Bronzetti.  (See Press Release SG/SM/14916)

On Monday, 1 April, the Secretary-General took part in the investiture of the newly elected Captains Regent, Antonella Mularoni and Denis Amici.

In a speech at the ceremony, the Secretary-General said San Marino offered three universal lessons about democracy — that no one system is right for all countries, that democracy can always be improved and that democracy allows individuals to engage with authorities to reach collective goals.  (See Press Release SG/SM/14917)

The Secretary-General said that we are living through a pivotal moment in the global history of democracy.  He said people are struggling for a say in their future.  They want jobs, justice, an end to corruption and a fair share of political power.  He said in several parts of the world we have seen alarming threats to hard-won gains in democratic governance.  He said he was deeply disturbed by growing pressures and restrictions on civil society groups in some countries.

Later, the Secretary-General also toured the historic centre of San Marino and viewed key documents from the national archive.

That evening, the Secretary-General attended a concert of classical music performed by the San Marino ensemble Allegro Vivo.

Early on the morning of Tuesday, 2 April, the Secretary-General left San Marino for Andorra, with a stop first in San Patrignano, Italy.