U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon End of Year News Conference

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon gave a year end press conference. He said “a cessation of hostilities” would be necessary in order for political negotiations on a transitional government in Syria to begin. He also congratulated newly-elected Chilean President Michelle Bachelet, and called on world leaders to emulate former South African President Mandela’s example to bring peace. He called the recent execution of the second-ranking North Korean leader both “dramatic and surprising.” Other topics included Iran, Central African Republic, and extreme weather conditions such as Typhoon Haiyan and the resulting disaster relief needed in the Philippines. close