UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday praised late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez as "one of those leaders who made a difference in his country, the region and the world."

　　Addressing a General Assembly plenary meeting held here to pay tribute to the memory of the late President of Venezuela, Ban said, "Basing himself on an eminently Latin American vision, President Chavez provided decisive impetus for new efforts towards regional integration."

　　Perhaps most notably, the UN chief said, Chavez ensured that Venezuela provided crucial assistance to Haiti following the devastating earthquake of 2010. "He always reminded the region of the historic debt that it owed to Haiti, the first republic to gain independence in Latin America and the Caribbean."

　　Ban also recognized Chavez's contribution to the peace talks in Colombia between the government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), as well as the "solidarity" he showed toward other nations in the hemisphere.

　　"As the process of regional integration progresses, the key role that President Chavez has had in promoting the unity of the peoples of Latin America and the Caribbean will be present in everyone's minds," said the Secretary-General.

　　"But perhaps President Chavez will be best remembered for his ability to connect at a human level with the most vulnerable and give voice to their aspirations," he said.

　　Ban also recalled Chavez's message when the late Venezuelan president first addressed the General Assembly in 1999, saying "On that occasion, he stated his wish that one day in the near future it would be possible to proclaim that peace, democracy and development have triumphed."

　　Meanwhile, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) President Vuk Jeremic also said "On behalf of the General Assembly and in my own name, allow me to offer my deepest condolences to his bereaved family and friends, the government and people of Venezuela, as well as to his many admirers throughout Latin America, the Caribbean, and the rest of the world."

　　"History will remember President Chavez, a charismatic leader whose progressive policies brought Venezuela's poverty rate down from over 70 percent at the close of the 20th century to around 20 percent today," he said.

　　He lauded the commitment of Chavez to the cause of social justice, saying that Chavez had been working hard to improve the lives of Venezuelans, especially the most underprivileged amongst them.

　　"Under his strong leadership, Venezuela made great strides towards fulfilling the Millennium Development Goals, to the lasting benefit of a great and proud nation," Jeremic said.

　　The former Serbian foreign minister recalled Chavez's "humble beginning," noting that this helped him "better understand and feel the pain and privations of ordinary Venezuelans."

　　Jeremic also eulogized Chavez as "a vocal advocate of the Global South," "a firm believer in the potential of the Non- Aligned Movement and the G-77 to help uplift the developing world, " and "a driving force behind efforts to deepen Latin American and Caribbean integration."

　　In addition, Jeremic renewed his commitment to deepen the relationship between Venezuela and the UNGA with the aim of strengthening the founding principles of the United Nations.

　　Hugo Chavez, Venezuela's president since February 1999, died on March 5 at the age of 58 after a two-year battle with cancer which was first detected in his pelvis. The State Funeral for him was held in Caracas, capital of Venezuela, on March 8.

　　相关新闻：联合国秘书长潘基文和第67届联大主席耶雷米奇13日在联大分别发表讲话，缅怀委内瑞拉前总统查韦斯，称赞他为改善最弱势群体生活及推动拉丁美洲区域一体化作出了重要贡献。

　　联大当天在纽约联合国总部召开全会，全体默哀一分钟，悼念已故委内瑞拉前总统查韦斯。潘基文在会上发言时说，作为一名国家领导人，查韦斯给自己的国家、周边地区及世界都带来改变。他说，查韦斯从拉丁美洲的视角出发，对推动该区域一体化运动起到决定性作用。随着拉丁美洲区域一体化进程不断取得进展，查韦斯在促进拉美和加勒比地区人民团结方面所发挥的关键作用将被永远铭记。潘基文表示，联合国将继承查韦斯的工作，进一步促进拉丁美洲区域一体化。

　　潘基文指出，查韦斯生前致力于改善最弱势、最贫穷的委内瑞拉民众的生活，非常有利于千年发展目标的实现，他还为2010年海地地震的救济工作提供了重要援助。潘基文说：“或许查韦斯最为世人所铭记的，将是他在人性的层面与最脆弱的群体站在一起并为他们的诉求高呼。”

　　耶雷米奇在发言时说，历史将记住查韦斯这位极具魅力的国家元首，他所实施的进步政策使委内瑞拉的贫困率从20世纪末的70%多下降到今天的约20%。查韦斯在执政期间致力于实现社会公正，努力改善委内瑞拉人民，尤其是那些最贫困人群的生活。

　　耶雷米奇还说，查韦斯不仅是委内瑞拉的主权倡导者，也是振兴联合国的坚定支持者。查韦斯还在深化拉美和加勒比地区一体化方面起到有力的推动作用。

　　查韦斯因病医治无效于本月5日在委内瑞拉首都加拉加斯逝世，享年58岁。