In January 2009, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon set off on a mission to the Middle East that was intended to send a simple and unmistakable message about the crisis in Gaza and southern Israel:  that the fighting must stop, and that Security Council resolution 1860 must be fully respected and implemented.  He visited and met with the leaders of Egypt, Jordan, Israel, the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Turkey, Lebanon, Syria and Kuwait.

SECRETARY-GENERAL PRAISES SPAIN’S ‘GENEROSITY AND GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP’

AT CEREMONY FOR NEW VALENCIA TELECOMMUNICATIONS FACILITY

Following are UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s remarks at a signing ceremony for a new United Nations communications infrastructure, in Madrid, 28 January:

SECRETARY-GENERAL CONGRATULATES PEOPLE OF BOLIVIA ON CONSTITUTIONAL REFERENDUM,

EXHORTS POLITICAL LEADERS TO WORK TOGETHER FOR PROSPEROUS, INCLUSIVE FUTURE

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

SECRETARY-GENERAL, AT MADRID CEREMONY, SALUTES COURAGE OF SPANISH PEACEKEEPERS,

SAYS SACRIFICES IN 20 YEARS OF SERVICE MUST NEVER BE FORGOTTEN

CONTINUING HUNGER ‘DEEP STAIN ON OUR WORLD’, BUT WEALTH, KNOW-HOW EXIST ‘TO REMOVE

IT –- FOREVER’, SAYS SECRETARY-GENERAL TO HIGH-LEVEL MADRID MEETING

 

SECRETARY-GENERAL, SPAIN’S PRIME MINISTER ISSUE JOINT STATEMENT

 

FOLLOWING FOOD SECURITY MEETING IN MADRID

 

Following is the text of a joint statement by Prime Minister Rodriguez Zapatero and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon issued today in Madrid, Spain:

SECRETARY-GENERAL SAYS IMMEDIATE, ABSOLUTE PRIORITY MUST BE GIVEN TO PROTECTION

OF CIVILIANS CAUGHT IN INTENSIFIED FIGHTING IN VANNI REGION OF SRI LANKA

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

SECRETARY-GENERAL STRONGLY CONDEMNS HOSTILITIES IN NORTH DARFUR,

 

SAYS CONTINUED MILITARY ACTIONS JEOPARDIZING POLITICAL PROCESS

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

AT HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE CEREMONY, SECRETARY-GENERAL SAYS WORLD MUST REAFFIRM FAITH

IN HUMAN DIGNITY, ‘OUR MORAL STRENGTH –- EVEN AMID HISTORY’S DARKEST CHAPTERS’

SECRETARY-GENERAL SAYS, AFTER GAZA TRIP, ‘MORE DETERMINED THAN EVER TO SEE