Following are UN Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson’s remarks, as prepared for delivery, to the eighth Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, in New York today:

As Côte d’Ivoire prepared to hold a presidential election in October, the renewal of mandate of the United Nations Operation in that country was crucial to the consolidation of the achievements made since the 2010 post-election crisis, the Security Council heard today.

Following is the text of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s video message to the Special Session on the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Maritime Safety Committee on Mixed Migration by Sea, held in London on 9 June:

The Security Council this morning extended the mandate of the Panel of Experts that assists the Committee monitoring sanctions related to Iran’s nuclear programme, until 9 July 2016, while keeping the mandate under review pending developments.

Following are UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s remarks to the opening ceremony of the High-Level International Conference on the Implementation of the International Decade for Action “Water for Life” (2005-2015), in Dushanbe today:

This year represented a milestone for global action towards inclusive, equitable and sustainable development, a United Nations top official told the Economic and Social Council as the 54-nation organ commemorated the twentieth anniversary of the World Summit for Social Development at the opening of its June coordination and management session.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon announced today the appointment of Nikhil Seth of India as Executive Director of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR).  He will succeed Sally Fegan-Wyles of Ireland, to whom the Secretary-General expressed his utmost gratitude for her dedication and commitment to the United Nations.

Following are UN Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson’s remarks at the Economic and Social Council’s commemoration of the twentieth anniversary of the World Summit for Social Development, in New York today:

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced today the appointment of Major General Didier L’Hôte of France as the Force Commander for the United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI).

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today announced the appointment of Fatoumata Ndiaye of Senegal as Deputy Executive Director of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).