Offering condolences to his family and friends, and to the people of Israel, the Secretary-General said that “I am deeply saddened by the passing of Shimon Peres, the former President of the State of Israel.”

The UN chief noted that Peres played a central role in Israel's founding, and served his country throughout his life, not only as President but also Prime Minister, Foreign Minister, Defence Minister and in other key roles.

“He worked tirelessly for a two-state solution that would enable Israel to live securely and harmoniously with the Palestinians and the wider region, a commitment duly recognized when he shared the 1994 Nobel Peace Prize with Yitzhak Rabin and Yasser Arafat,” Ban said, also noting that Peres was also a good partner of the UN, eager to see Israel contribute to the work of the international community.

The Secretary-General said he met Peres on many occasions, and always benefitted from his views. “Even in the most difficult hours, Peres remained an optimist about the prospects for reconciliation and peace,” he added.

The Secretary-General recalled Peres' remarks at the UN: “The time has come to comprehend that the real triumph is in the harvest of peace, not in the seeds of another war. When we replace war maps with peace maps, we will discover the differences were minimal. The wars were appalling. We shall see that the promised land could have become the land of promise a long time ago.”

The Secretary-General went on to wish that “may his spirit of determination guide us as we work to ensure peace, security and dignity for Israelis, Palestinians and all the peoples of the region.”

In her tribute to Peres, the Director-General of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Irina Bokova, said that "he was a great statesman, a great humanist, and a historic man of peace."

"Shimon Peres leaves an indelible mark on the history of the Middle East and, on Wednesday, his message is more relevant than ever, to clear the path to peace and mutual respect across the region,” she said.

“A founder of the State of Israel, he remained until his very last days a man of ideas and values, a man of innovation and creative thinking, always searching to mobilize new hope and energy, always seeking new ways to promote dialogue and cooperation, especially through science, for which he was passionate,” she added.