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The Secretary-General had a range of separate bilateral meetings on the margins of the Alliance of Civilizations Partners Forum in Istanbul today. In his meeting with the Prime Minister of Turkey, H.E. Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdogan, he discussed the Alliance of Civilizations, Syria, Somalia and Cyprus. He thanked the Prime Minister for hosting the Partners Forum and the International Somalia Conference, and for Turkey's role in and support for the work of the United Nations. The Secretary-General met H.E. Jean Ping, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission. They discussed developments in Somalia, Sudan and South Sudan, Mali and Guinea-Bissau. In another meeting, with the Prime Minister of Lebanon, H.E. Mr. Najib Mikati, the Secretary-General discussed regional developments. The Secretary-General also met H.E. Mr. Gonzalo de Benito, the State Secretary for Foreign Affairs of Spain. The Secretary-General thanked Spain for its continued support for the Alliance of Civilizations and the work of the United Nations. They also discussed the Western Sahara.