NEW YORK - As the high-level debate at the United Nations General Assembly began today in New York, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he was “profoundly concerned about continued violence” in Afghanistan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Full transcript of the Secretary-General's address to the 67th General Assembly general debate

“Just as there can be no peace without development, there can be no development without peace,” said Mr. Ban, while calling for peace in the world’s conflict hotspots. “I see Governments wasting vast and precious funds on deadly weapons – while reducing investments in people.”

In his report to the Security Council earlier this month, Mr. Ban noted that despite improvements in the security situation in Afghanistan registered against the record high incident levels of 2011, little had changed in the underlying dynamics to mitigate a deep-seated cycle of conflict. “These gains have not, however, generated public perceptions of greater security and do not reflect improvements to the institutional structures required for longer-term stability,” wrote the UN chief.

Over 120 Heads of State and Government level, or high-level delegations, Foreign Ministers or Deputy Prime Ministers, are expected to take part in this year’s General Debate, which as Mr. Ban said earlier this week will be one of the busiest ever with a range of pressing global issues on the table.

The Secretary-General will hold a high-level meeting later this week on polio eradication. Afghanistan still remains one of three polio-endemic countries, together with Pakistan and Nigeria, in the world.

In today’s high-level General Debate, Mr. Ban said his action agenda highlighted five imperatives, as he had set out in January this year: sustainable development, prevention, building a more secure world, helping countries in transition and empowering women and youth.

He also said peace and development can’t be achieved without respect for human rights and the rule of law. “The empowerment of women. The protection of children. The treaties and declarations that have extended the umbrella of protection. They are our touchstones.”