For information only - not an official document

UNIS/SGSM/813
7 December 2016

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

Impromptu remarks at the Austrian Foreign Ministry with Federal Minister for Europe, Integration and Foreign Affairs Sebastian Kurz and President-elect Alexander Van der Bellen

Vienna, 7 December 2016

VIENNA, 7 December (United Nations Information Service) - Ladies and gentlemen good morning, Guten Morgen. Mr. Minister, and Mr. President-elect, it is a great honour for me to visit Austria again, my second home. This may be my last visit to Austria as Secretary-General but in fact, this is going to be my last ever visit to any country, to any Member State.

In that regard I am deeply honoured to meet President-elect Alexander Van der Bellen so soon after your election. I would like to sincerely congratulate you and also the people of Austria for successfully conducting this Presidential election, the whole world has been watching, and I would like to again congratulate you on your election.

The United Nations will continue to work with you and your government, Minister and also Mr. President to promote all the visions and goals and principles to which Austria has been deeply committed and champion of implementing all these goals. Again I wish you good success even though I may not be able to work with you [as] I am leaving my job by the end of this month while you will be formally in your job  sometime next month. Again alles Gute [all the best].

* *** *