ACTIVITIES OF SECRETARY-GENERAL IN WASHINGTON, D.C., 14-15 NOVEMBER

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon travelled to Washington, D.C., on Friday morning, 14 November, where that evening he spoke at a White House working dinner to leaders gathered for the Group of 20 Summit about the impact of the current financial crisis, and his concern that it should not evolve into tomorrow’s human crisis.

In those remarks, he told the G-20 leaders about the key messages he had developed from his dialogue with United Nations Member States, about the need for a truly global stimulus package; access to liquidity for emerging markets and other developing countries; the moral imperative to fulfil the Millennium Development Goals; and the need for financial reform to be inclusive.  (See Press Release SG/SM/11927.)

Earlier that day, he had met with President Lee Myung-bak of the Republic of Korea, and with Madeleine Albright and Jim Leach, members of President-elect Barack Obama’s transition team.

On Saturday morning, he attended the Summit on Financial Markets and the World Economy, held at the National Building Museum and hosted by President George W. Bush.

Later, in a statement welcoming the Summit’s Final Declaration, which committed leaders to joint action, the Secretary-General highlighted the agreement on the international coordination of stimulus packages, as well as new market regulation, more inclusive economic governance and the need to avoid trade and investment protectionism.  (See Press Release SG/SM/11928.)

In particular, the Secretary-General expressed appreciation for the Declaration’s commitment to:  continued cooperation and multilateralism; the Millennium Development Goals and development assistance commitments previously made; the development principles agreed at the Conference on Financing for Development in Monterrey in 2002; and addressing other critical challenges, such as energy security and climate change, food security, the rule of law, and the fight against terrorism, poverty and disease.

Secretary-General Ban returned to New York on Saturday evening.