UN Secretary-General Statements

Second French UNIFIL Peacekeeper Dies in Lebanon Attack

The Secretary-General issued a statement on 22 April 2026 expressing deep condolences following the death of a second French peacekeeper serving with UNIFIL, who succumbed to injuries from an attack on 18 April 2026 in southern Lebanon. Peacekeepers came under fire from non-state actors, presumed to be Hizbullah, while investigating suspected improvised explosive devices. The Secretary-General called on all actors to uphold their obligations under international law and Security Council resolution 1701 (2006), stating that attacks on peacekeepers may amount to war crimes and must be promptly investigated.

Secretary-General's Message on Spanish Language Day

UN Secretary-General António Guterres issued a statement on April 23, 2026 celebrating Spanish Language Day. The message highlights the Spanish language's role in connecting peoples across continents, preserving centuries of cultural heritage, and fostering multilateral cooperation at the United Nations. The statement promotes multilingualism as a tool for international understanding and solidarity among nations.

Secretary-General Welcomes Independent International Scientific Panel on AI to Spain for First In-Person Meeting

UN Secretary-General António Guterres delivered a video message on 22 April 2026 welcoming members of the Independent International Scientific Panel on AI to Spain for their first in-person meeting in Madrid. The Secretary-General thanked Prime Minister Sanchez and the Government of Spain for hosting and championed inclusive AI governance through the United Nations. He stated the Panel's first report is expected ahead of July's Global Dialogue on AI Governance, with longer-term goals to build governance foundations for every country from the most advanced to the most vulnerable.