Deeply concerned that AIDS already had claimed 30 million lives and orphaned 16 million children since it was first discovered in 1981, the United Nations General Assembly today promised to partner with all stakeholders to implement “bold and decisive action” to wipe out what remained of an unprecedented global human tragedy despite significant progress in the past decade to combat the disease.

Welcoming progress made so far in “fully fledged negotiations” between Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders, the Security Council this morning called on them to intensify the momentum of the talks as it extended the mandate of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) until 15 December 2011.

The following statement was issued on 11 June by the Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

Following are UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s remarks as prepared for delivery to civil society representatives in Bogota, on 10 June:

Following are UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s remarks at the signing ceremony for the Victims’ Rights and Land Restitution Bill, in Bogota on 10 June:

Following are UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s remarks at the signing ceremony for the “Prosperity Agreement” in Cartagena on 11 June:

Welcoming the progress made in the prevention, management and resolution of conflict and in post-conflict peacebuilding in a number of African countries, the General Assembly today called for intensified, better coordinated efforts between national Governments, the African Union, subregional organizations, the United Nations system and partners “with a view to achieving further progress towards the goal of a conflict-free Africa”.

The United Nations Department of Public Information has confirmed the appointment of 19 Secretariat and General Assembly officials who will take on the challenge of leading the 2011 Global Model United Nations Conference, to be hosted by the Incheon Metropolitan City and the United Nations Association of the Republic of Korea.

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

Resuming its 2011 session this morning, the Special Committee on Decolonization approved requests for hearings from several Non-Self-Governing Territories in the coming days and approved without a vote three draft resolutions concerning the transmission and dissemination of information on decolonization.