Activities of Secretary-General in Belgium, 4-5 October

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki‑moon, accompanied by Madam Ban Soon-taek, on Tuesday afternoon, 4 October, flew from Strasbourg, France, to Brussels to attend the European Union-hosted Brussels Conference on Afghanistan.

On Tuesday evening, the Secretary-General was awarded the State Order of Ghazi Amir Amanullah Khan by Mohammad Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai, the President of Afghanistan.

On Wednesday, the Secretary-General attended the European Union-sponsored conference on Afghanistan.  In brief remarks to the media upon arrival at the conference, Mr. Ban said that the Afghan Government has been making impressive reforms and development plans to change peoples’ lives.

In his speech, the Secretary-General said that, despite complex challenges, the Government of National Unity had made important headway towards promoting transparency and accountability and improving public service.  He added that the principle of mutual accountability between the Afghan Government and the international community guides the shared commitment towards building a peaceful and prosperous future for the Afghan people.  (See Press Release SG/SM/18176.)

Later in the morning, the Secretary-General departed Brussels for Rome.