[Auckland, New Zealand] The Forum Secretary General Tuiloma Neroni Slade today met with the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in the margins of the 42nd Pacific Islands Forum in Auckland, New Zealand.
During the brief meeting, Secretary General Slade paid tribute to the work of the UN Secretary-General, and noted that “the Pacific peoples, in particular the people of Solomon Islands and Kiribati, were deeply honoured to receive this first visit of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to the Pacific.”
While discussing the efforts of the wider UN system to better coordinate the work of the UN with regional organisations, the UN Secretary-General commended the good working relations that exist between the UN and the Forum Secretariat.
This work is primarily carried out through exchanges with the UN Department of Political Affairs (UNDPA) in New York, and close collaborative activities with the Office of the United Nations Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative based in Suva, Fiji.
Forum Secretary General Mr Slade welcomed the opportunity to meet with the UN Secretary General, acknowledging that it was a further opportunity to discuss key issues of importance to Forum members.
Mr Ban Ki-moon is expected to address Forum Leaders at a Special Interactive Dialogue session on Wednesday, 7 September.
ENDS.
For media enquiries contact the Forum Secretariat’s Media Officer, Mr Johnson Honimae on phone +64 (0)221563078 or email: johnsonh@forumsec.org.fj
