President Kgalema Motlanthe to host United Nations Secretary General for Political Discussions at the Union Buildings, Pretoria

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 SADC region by Ban-ki Moon since his assumption of the office of the Secretary-General of the 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, 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 Ronnie Mamoepa on 082 990 4853

Department of Foreign Affairs
Private Bag X152
Pretoria

23 February 2009