»We discussed the disastrous situation in Syria where it is necessary to destroy chemical weapons, to establish a ceasefire and negotiations and to provide massive humanitarian aid. We also talked about coordinating and strengthening global efforts to combat poverty and climate change«, said the Speaker of the Danish Parliament, Mogens Lykketoft, after the meeting.

The Secretary-General was in Denmark to take part in a climate conference in Copenhagen, among other things. During his visit he also met a number of ministers, including the Prime Minister, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Minister for Development Cooperation.

Ban Ki-moon was elected Secretary-General of the United Nations on 1 January 2007 and his appointment was renewed on 21 June 2011 and ends on 31 December 2016. Ban had a long career in the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs where he worked for 37 years. He was also stationed in the United States, India and Austria and was foreign policy adviser for the President of South Korea. When Ban was elected Secretary-General in 2007 he was the South Korean Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Minister for Trade.

The Secretary-General's role

The Secretary-General has three principal tasks. Firstly, he is the world's 'chief diplomat', secondly he is the 'chairman of the board' of the United Nations and, finally he sets the global agenda. In pursuance of Article 99 of the Charter of the United Nations, the Secretary-General's political role is to 'bring to the attention of the Security Council any matter which in his opinion may threaten the maintenance of international peace and security'.