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Ìý Ìý ÌýIt is a great pleasure to see you this morning. ÌýUsually we gather at this time around this year but now we meet at the end of my term.

Ìý Ìý ÌýBelieve it or not, I will miss these exchanges. ÌýWe have spent much time together in this room, in the halls of this building and around the world over the last ten years. ÌýYou are part of the UN family. And I thank you for your strong commitment and working together, working for the United Nations.

Ìý Ìý ÌýMore than that, you have an important job to do – informing the world about our work -- when we make progress and when we fall short. ÌýI deeply believe in your mission. ÌýI have been saying that you are connecting the world, connector between the United Nations and the people of the world. And at a time when Governments across the world are harassing journalists and cracking down on press freedom, I have worked hard to be your ally and defender. ÌýThe fight for freedom of the press is everybody’s fight.

Ìý Ìý ÌýI will be brief today to allow maximum time for questions. ÌýLet me make just three points.

Ìý Ìý ÌýFirst, the carnage in Syria remains a gaping hole in the global conscience. Ìý

Ìý Ìý ÌýAleppo is now a synonym for hell.

Ìý Ìý ÌýAs I told the Security Council three days ago, we have collectively failed the people of Syria. ÌýPeace will only prevail when it is accompanied by compassion, justice and accountability for the abominable crimes we have seen.

Ìý Ìý ÌýSecond, I am closely following the deteriorating situation in South Sudan.

Ìý Ìý ÌýThis week marks the third anniversary of the fighting. ÌýThe country’s leaders have betrayed their people’s trust, and squandered a peace agreement. ÌýTens of thousands lie dead.

Ìý Ìý ÌýMost immediately, my Special Adviser Mr. Adama Dieng, has warned of the risk of genocide. ÌýWe continue to push for access for lifesaving relief. ÌýAnd I urge the Security Council to take more concerted action, including through punitive measures. Ìý

Ìý Ìý ÌýThird, we will continue to support the global momentum behind the Paris Agreement on climate change. Ìý

Ìý Ìý ÌýClimate action means jobs, growth, cleaner air and better health. ÌýLeaders from across the globe and on every front understand this -- from Fortune 500 CEOs to Governors and Mayors. Ìý

Ìý Ìý ÌýThe Paris Agreement on climate change is a precious achievement that we must support and nurture. ÌýThere is no turning back.

Ìý Ìý ÌýI will undertake one last trip during my final days in office -- to speak at Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, and to visit the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield. Ìý

Ìý Ìý ÌýOne can draw a straight line from the principles that President Lincoln defended to those that represent the best spirit of the United States and that animate the United Nations. ÌýLincoln was a heroic force for equality, integration and reconciliation; and desperately, we need that spirit today.

Ìý Ìý ÌýThis has been a decade of unceasing test. ÌýBut I have also seen collective action change millions of lives for the better. Ìý

Ìý Ìý ÌýDifficult as it may sometimes be, international cooperation remains the path to a more peaceful and prosperous world. Ìý

Ìý Ìý ÌýI will continue to spare no effort to appeal to world leaders, long-standing or newly minted, to recognize and embrace that preeminent 21st-century fact.

Ìý Ìý ÌýFinally, I wish to express my appreciation to our host country and host city.

Ìý Ìý ÌýYesterday in Washington D.C., I thanked President Obama, Vice-President Biden and National Security Adviser Rice for their strong support over the years. ÌýWe all stressed the centrality of close, productive ties between the United States and the United Nations.

Ìý Ìý ÌýI have also recently met with Mayor de Blasio of New York and Governor Christie of New Jersey, and will speak soon to Governor Cuomo of New York. ÌýThe United Nations continues to draw strength from its home here in the New York metropolitan area.

Ìý Ìý ÌýThank you again for your friendship over the past decade. ÌýAnd I wish you continued good success, and work and engage more closely with the UN, so that you will always deliver and connect the world with the United Nations. And thank you very much.

Ìý Ìý ÌýNow, let me say one last thing, I am happy to take your questions. Thank you.

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Question: Mr. Secretary-General, this is a question going back to Aleppo. ÌýYou've called Aleppo a synonym for hell. ÌýWe also know that South Sudan, you've said, is at the risk of genocide and there are UN troops there.Ìý

I was just wondering how you would assess the status of the concept of Responsibility to Protect? ÌýIs it on life support? ÌýIs it moving towards death?Ìý
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Secretary-General: ÌýIn 2005, during a special summit meeting, world leaders have agreed and adopted a consensus document on the Responsibility to Protect.Ìý

As Secretary-General, even while I was campaigning, I was pledging to the Member States that I will try to translate this agreement into action and application to our daily life, addressing all these issues.Ìý

Unfortunately, Member States have shown some stepping back from their firm agreement on the Responsibility to Protect. ÌýThat is why the United Nations, the international community has not been able to fully and effectively address many conflict issues.Ìý

Particularly, we fully support the sovereignty issues. ÌýEvery country, small and big, has a sovereign right and sovereign integrity, but when it comes to a situation when the leaders are not willing or not able to defend their own people, then the international community should be able to intervene with the necessary resources. ÌýThat has been done at the time of resolving this Libyan crisis.Ìý

I regret very much that the Member States have not been giving full support and full engagement in implementing this very important Responsibility to Protect principle.Ìý

Again, this is one of the unfinished businesses. We have a good framework, we have an agreement. ÌýThen why we are not using these good tools? ÌýThese tools and principles should fully be used so that we can handle and address many conflict issues.Ìý

We fully support this sovereignty, but when the country simply is not able or not willing to -- then the international community has a responsibility to protect those people.Ìý

Full press conference, including the complete Questions and Answers session: