UN Direct

Final results of the April 5presidential elections showed no outright winner in the first round and will now go on to a second round run-off. UNAMA reported an improvement in the voting and election process compared to previous elections and Ján Kubiš, the SG’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, reminded all parties to continue to respect this process.

The SG made remarks at the opening ceremony for the Global Forum on Migration and Development in Sweden today. The SG will be back in NY tomorrow and will leave Saturday for China where he will attend an event for Every Woman Every Child. While in China, the SG will meet with the Chinese President, Premier of the State Council, Foreign Minister and State Councilor.

The SG leaves today for Sweden where he will attend the Global Forum for Migration and Development. He will return to NY on Thursday.

The SG made remarks at the opening ceremony for the 13th session of the Forum on Indigenous Issues this morning. This afternoon, he briefed the Security Council on the situation in South Sudan.

In a meeting with Pope Francis and members of the Chief Executives Board at the Vatican this morning, the SG noted his concern for recent intolerance, citing CAR, South Sudan and Syria as examples. The SG hopes the Catholic Church and Pope Francis will continue to work with the UN in eradicating poverty, promoting sustainable development, and promoting tolerance and dignity.

The SG spoke to Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathon by phone from Rome today. President Jonathon accepted the SG’s offer to send an envoy to Nigeria to work with the government and support the search process for the abducted schoolgirls. The SG is in Rome chairing the UN Chief Executives Board meetings (CEB) and will meet with Pope Francis tomorrow.

The SG called climate change“the defining issue of our time” and emphasized the need for “bold action” at the Abu-Dhabi Ascent meeting this weekend, cohosted by the UN and UAE. The SG said he hoped the meeting would build momentum for the Climate Summit in NY September 23, a meeting he hopes will be geared toward actions and solutions.

In a statement today, the SG reaffirmed his concern for the deteriorating situation in Ukraine and announced that USG for Political Affairs Jeffrey Feltman will travel to Moscow and Kiev next week to “promote de-escalation and work toward a peaceful resolution to the crisis.”

The SG: The SG delivered the annual Sergio Vieira de Mello lecture in Geneva today, noting that Sergio Vieira de Mello and the colleagues who died with him in Baghdad proved that the UN remains dedicated to fulfilling its humanitarian imperative.