Following is UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ message, delivered by Rie Kadota, Officer-in-Charge of the Decolonization Unit of the Department of Political Affairs, in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines today:

Technology was transforming people’s realities, and the benefits of those advances were evident, speakers stressed today, as the Economic and Social Council concluded its two-day Science, Technology and Innovation Forum.

Despite numerous challenges, the parties to Colombia’s six-month-old peace agreement were committed to “stay the course” in order to preserve the impressive gains already made, the co-leads of the Security Council’s recent mission to that country said this afternoon as they recapped their visit.

The situation in Kosovo was “generally stable” although fluctuating tensions remained in the Balkans region, the senior United Nations official there told the Security Council today.

The United Nations refugee agency reports from Yemen that continuing fighting in Taizz has displaced nearly 50,000 people since the beginning of 2017, in addition to the 3 million already uprooted since the conflict started, of whom 2 million remain displaced and 1 million have returned home to precarious conditions.

Following are UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ remarks at the Belt and Road Forum’s leaders’ “Policy Synergy for Close Partnership” round table, in Beijing today:

The following Security Council press statement was issued today by Council President Elbio Rosselli (Uruguay):

Sudan, South Sudan Cautioned that Ending Support for Border Verification Mechanism Will Be Cost of Failure to Uphold Obligations

The Security Council today decided to extend until 15 November 2017 the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force for Abyei (UNISFA) — including its tasks in support of the disputed territory’s Joint Border Verification and Monitoring Mechanism — while warning that that support would be withdrawn unless Sudan and South Sudan complied fully with their obligations.

Shame and stigma were integral to the logic of using sexual violence as a tactic of war, torture or terrorism, the Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide told the Security Council today, amid demands that survivors be recognized as legitimate victims of conflict entitled to equality before the law as well as reparations.

The following Security Council press statement was issued today by Council President Elbio Rosselli (Uruguay):