With the United Nations total peacekeeping budget ballooning to $8.2 billion in 2009-2010, speakers in the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) today stressed the importance of austerity in a weakened global economic climate, and timely, full payment of assessed contributions so that peacekeeping missions could effectively carry out their mandates.

The following Security Council press statement on Sri Lanka was read out today by Council President Vitaly Churkin (Russian Federation):

“As we approach the end of the Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism, I urge you to continue working together to find solutions for the completion of the decolonization process, with the aim of de-listing additional Territories,” United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in a message to the Caribbean Regional Seminar on the Implementation of the Decade, which opened in Saint Kitts and Nevis today.

Following are UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s remarks to the General Assembly thematic debate on human trafficking, today, 13 May, in New York:

Following is the text of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s message for the International Day of Peacekeepers, on 29 May:

The Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 751 (1992) concerning Somalia adopted, on 11 May 2009, consolidated, revised guidelines for the conduct of its work.

Following is the text of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s remarks at the cheque presentation ceremony for “Play 31”, in New York, 13 May:

Following is the text of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s opening remarks to the “Envision: Addressing Global Issues through Documentaries” event in New York today, 14 May:

Following is the text of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s remarks at the launch of the report of the Commission on Climate Change and Development, in New York, today, 14 May: