July 16, 2007

Media Contacts:

Michael Reyes , UNIC, 202.454.2108, mreyes@unicwash.org

Deborah DeYoung , UNIC, 202.454.2107, ddeyoung@unicwash.org

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to Visit Washington ,

Announces Visit to California

Ban: “I look forward to broadening my conversation with the American people.”

Washington , July 16, 2007 – UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon arrives in Washington tonight for meetings with President Bush and congressional leaders tomorrow.

Speaking at a press conference in New York today, the Secretary-General stressed a range of issues, from climate change, to Sudan , to Kosovo.

He said he was encouraged by President Bush’s moves on the issue of global warming, and the accord to move forward under a UN umbrella at the recent G8 Summit.

“American participation in this process is crucially important,” said Ban.

On Darfur , he urged the UN Security Council to act this week and enable the rapid deployment of an African Union/UN force by September at the latest.

“The situation on the ground in Darfur is too fragile, too dire to waste more precious time,” said Ban.

Asked about Iraq , and the political debate in Washington , Ban said, “At this time, it is not my place to inject myself into this discussion….but any abrupt withdrawal may lead to a further deterioration in the situation.”

The two leaders are expected to discuss a wide range of issues, including the continuing crisis in the Sudanese region of Darfur , climate change, UN reform, as well as UN-US relations and other pressing geopolitical issues.

The Secretary-General is scheduled to meet with members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee and attend a private dinner with political leaders and experts on climate change during his visit to Washington .

On July 26, the Secretary-General will also visit San Francisco , the birthplace of the United Nations, as part of a trip organized in cooperation with the United Nations Association of the USA .  The Secretary-General will see first-hand California ’s experience with green technologies to combat climate change and will also meet California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

“I look forward to broadening my conversation with the American people,” said Ban.

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About the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)

UNFCC is an international treaty that addresses the reduction of global warming and how to cope with temperature increases. With 191 members, UNFCCC has near universal membership and is the parent treaty of the 1997 Kyoto Protocol. At the intergovernmental level, the Convention recognizes the important role of education, training and public awareness, and has programs dedicated to supporting countries in their climate change efforts. http://unfccc.int/2860.php

About the United Nations Information Center (UNIC)

As the UN Secretariat's office in Washington , D.C. , the United Nations Information Center articulates UN priorities and activities, raises awareness about the UN and its work, and fosters relations with the American public, US government officials, and NGOs. www.unicwash.org

-         For more information about the United Nations efforts in Sudan , visit: http://www.un.org/apps/news/infocusRel.asp?infocusID=88&Body=Sudan&Body1

-         For more information on reforming the United Nations, visit: http://www.un.org/reform/

-         To download a fact sheet on the United Nations and Darfur , visit: http://www.un.org/News/dh/infocus/sudan/fact_sheet.pdf