Secretary-General for political discussion at the Union Building,
Pretoria
23 February 2009
Pretoria: President Kgalema Motlanthe will, on Wednesday, 25 February 2009
host the United Nations Secretary-General, Mr Ban Ki-Moon, for political
discussions at the Union Buildings in Pretoria.
The Secretary-General's visit takes place against the background of South
Africa's conviction that the multilateral system of global governance remains
the only solution to challenges facing humanity today.
This will be the first visit to South Africa and the South African
Development Community (SADC) region by Ban Ki-Moon since his assumption of the
office of the Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN). In this regard, the
Secretary-General is expected to arrive in South Africa on Tuesday, 24 February
and will be welcomed into South Africa by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr
Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma.
During his visit to the Union Buildings, Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon and
President Motlanthe are expected to discuss among others:
* African developments including developments in Zimbabwe, Democratic Republic
of Congo (DRC), Sudan, Somalia, Madagascar,
* the middle East situation,
* the Durban Review Conference on Racism, Xenophobia and Related
intolerances,
* global financial crisis,
* climate change,
* as well as the reform of the UN system.
The Secretary-General's two day visit to South Africa will among others also
see him pay courtesy calls on former Presidents Nelson Mandela and Thabo Mbeki.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon and his delegation are expected to end their
visit to South Africa on 26 February 2009.
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
23 February 2009
