Following is the text of UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ video message to the Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals Summit for Heads of State and Government, in Copenhagen from 19 to 20 October:

Following is UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ message for United Nations Day, to be observed on 24 October:

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General António Guterres:

After reviewing the human rights background of the commander of the Sri Lankan contingent deployed to the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali, the Secretariat has requested that his Government immediately repatriate him back to Sri Lanka at their cost, as per normal procedures.

Despite insecurity and violent extremism spreading across Mali’s borders, the United Nations peacekeeping chief cited reasons for hope, including Mali’s successful presidential elections, the signing of the new Pact for Peace and a drop in peacekeeper deaths, as he briefed the Security Council today.

The following Security Council press statement was issued today by Council President Sacha Sergio Llorentty Solíz (Bolivia):

Exchanging views on ways to break a languishing disarmament impasse, including by assuring all non‑nuclear‑weapon States against the use or threat of atomic bombs, delegates of the First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) today began a thematic discussion on nuclear weapons.

Millions of people risk being left behind due to the impact of rapid technological change, the General Assembly heard today as speakers called for increased cooperation to harness the positive and transformative power of technology to improve the livelihood of people around the world.

Reform efforts currently under way are designed to help the Department of Public Information become more agile in operation and have a greater impact on communications, both within the United Nations and in relation to external stakeholders and the public, the Organization’s head of public information told the Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) as it began its consideration of questions relating to information today.

Protection of diplomatic and consular representatives — as well as the security and inviolability of diplomatic and consular missions, their archives, documents and communications — is one of the pillars upon which international relations rests, speakers stressed while voicing concern at rising attacks on missions and personnel around the world, as the Sixth Committee (Legal) took up the matter today.