Secretary-General remarks to Informal Session of the General Assembly [bilingual, as delivered].

Before I start, I would like to offer my sincere condolences to the people and the Government of Kenya for the loss of life in yesterday's horrendous terrorist attack that we all strongly condemn.

My thoughts are with the families of the victims and I send my best wishes to all those injured, hoping for a full and fast recovery. The United Nations stands with all Kenyans and with everybody, everywhere, in our fight to counter terrorism - the most dramatic threat our societies are facing in today's world.

Let me now begin by wishing you a happy New Year -- and thanking you for your strong support throughout 2018.

In my New Year's message one year ago, I issued a red alert for our world.

As we look ahead to 2019, I won't mince words.

Alarm bells are still ringing.

We face a world of trouble.

Armed conflict threatens millions and forced displacement is at record levels.

Poverty is far from eradicated and hunger is growing again.

Inequality keeps rising.

And the climate crisis is wreaking havoc.

We also see growing disputes over trade, sky-high debt, threats to the rule of law and human rights, shrinking space for civil society and attacks to media freedoms.

These ills have profound impacts on people's daily lives.

And they are deeply corrosive.

They generate anxiety and they breed mistrust.

They polarize societies - politically and socially.

They make people and countries fear they are being left behind as progress seems to benefit only the fortunate few.

In such a context, it is not difficult to understand why many people are losing faith in political establishments, doubting whether national governments care about them and questioning the value of international organizations.

Let's be clear: the lack of faith also applies to the United Nations.

In such circumstances, it would be all too easy to become demoralized or even paralyzed.

But the truth is that the experience of last year proves that when we work together and when we assume our responsibilities, we get things done.

Despite the headwinds we know so well, we have shown the United Nations' added value. Thanks to your commitment, we have made a real difference. We have focused on results, making the United Nations more responsive and respected.

Revenons sur certains acquis importants de l'annee 2018.

Un regain de la diplomatie pour la paix - engage ou appuye ou par l'Organisation des Nations Unies - fait bouger des situations percues comme insolubles.

Au Yemen, un cessez-le-feu negocie par l'ONU ouvre une fenetre d'opportunite, avec toutes les difficultes que nous connaissons mais avec l'espoir de mettre fin a la pire des catastrophes humanitaires au monde.

Un dialogue encourageant pour la paix et la denuclearisation de la peninsule coreenne a ete amorce.

Un accord de paix a ete conclu au Soudan du Sud.

L'Ethiopie et l'Erythree ont signe un accord de paix historique.

Apres des annees d'efforts, la mission de maintien de la paix des Nations Unies au Liberia a conclu son travail, consolidant les succes d'autres operations des Nations Unies en Afrique de l'Ouest.

La Grece et l'ex-Republique yougoslave de Macedoine ont fait de solides progres pour regler le differend qui les oppose sur le nom du pays.

Des progres sur la voie d'une transition democratique et d'une plus grande ouverture ont ete realises en Armenie et en Asie centrale.

Le Tribunal soutenu par l'ONU au Cambodge a reconnu deux anciens dirigeants khmers rouges coupables de crimes contre l'humanite, de crimes de guerre et de genocide - ce qui fait droit a la justice meme des decennies apres la commission des crimes.

Dans des contextes difficiles, notamment a Madagascar, au Mali, aux Maldives et au Liberia, des elections importantes se sont deroulees avec succes, la plupart avec le soutien actif de l'ONU.

Nous esperons maintenant que le processus electoral en Republique democratique du Congo se conclura sans violence et dans le plein respect de la volonte du peuple congolais et des regles juridiques et constitutionnelles du pays.

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