Following are UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s remarks to the panel discussion on “Democracy and the Millennium Development Goals” (on the occasion of the International Day of Democracy), co-organized by the International Conference of New and Restored Democracy and the Permanent Mission of Venezuela, in New York today, 15 September:

The Security Council today extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission in Liberia for one year, until 30 September 2011, authorizing it to focus on elections, security and other issues key to the Mission’s future drawdown.

The Security Council was briefed today by the Chairperson of its Committee to monitor sanctions against Iran, following which several Council members expressed concern at that country’s continuation of its nuclear activities and sanctions violations, while underscoring their commitment to a negotiated solution.

The Democracy Photo Challenge, a worldwide competition that engages people around the world in a global dialogue on democracy, will launch the 12 winning photos in an exhibition in the South Gallery of the Visitors’ Lobby on 15 September, the International Day of Democracy.

Following are Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s remarks at the event with swimmer Marcos Diaz’s “Swim across the Continents with the United Nations for the Millennium Development Goals”, in New York today, 15 September:

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

Following are UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s remarks at the press briefing to launch the 2010 report of the Millennium Development Goals Gap Task Force, in New York today, 16 September:

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

The growth of international terrorism, insurgency, piracy and human suffering in Somalia demanded an intensified, focused and coordinated response by the international community, the Secretary-General’s new Special Representative for the Horn of Africa country told the Security Council this morning. “Experience in Somalia has shown that the more delayed or inadequate the response is, the more complex the crisis becomes,” Augustine Mahiga said in his first appearance before the Council.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has announced the appointment of Rima Khalaf, a national of Jordan, as Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA). She succeeds Bader Al-Dafa, to whom the Secretary-General is grateful for his dedication and commitment to the Organization and his leadership of ESCWA at a critical juncture of its work in the region.