Activities of Secretary-General in Egypt, 11-12 October

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon arrived in Cairo from Tripoli, Libya, late on Saturday evening, 11 October.

Following a breakfast meeting with senior advisers on Sunday morning, the Secretary-General attended the opening session of the Cairo Conference on Palestine:  Reconstructing Gaza.  In his remarks, he urged support for Gaza reconstruction and, citing Gaza as a “tinderbox”, he urged leaders on both sides to overcome their differences and demonstrate the courage and vision to end the conflict once and for all.  See Press Release SG/SM/16250.

On the sidelines of the meeting, the Secretary-General met with Mahmoud Abbas, President of the State of Palestine, and with John Kerry, United States Secretary of State.

The Secretary-General was hosted to a luncheon by Foreign Minister Sameh Hassan Shokry Selim, after which the two held a meeting.  Mr. Ban then held talks with Foreign Minister Borje Brende of Norway.

The Secretary-General then held a press encounter before departing to Cairo International Airport for a flight to Tel Aviv, Israel.