PNG invites UN Secretary General to visit

Foreign Affairs Minister, Ribink Pato, has invited the United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon, to visit Papua New Guinea before his term concludes.

Pato made the invitation on behalf of Prime Minister, Peter O’Neill, during his attendance at the 71st United National General Assembly (UNGA) meeting.

The UN Secretary General has twice visited the Pacific, landing in countries such as Samoa, Kiribati, and Tonga, except PNG.

“I have renewed that invitation last year in bi-lateral talks with him, so I’ve asked him to start his last trip to the Pacific here from Papua New Guinea,” said Pato.

During the 71st UNGA, Ban Ki Moon held a meeting with all Pacific Island leaders, in which PNG commended for his contributions to the Pacific region.

“I took the opportunity to thank him for serving us and for somebody whose been close to the Pacific, and whose understood our agendas than the past Secretary Generals,” Pato added.

Ban Ki Moon has responded saying he will notify PNG if he does have an opportunity to travel to the Pacific again.

Ban Ki Moon was first elected to UN Secretary General in 2007, and then elected unopposed to a second term in 2011.  His current term expires on December 31st 2016.

Author: 
Cedric Patjole