Activities of Secretary-General in Washington, D.C., 21 May

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon travelled to Washington, D.C., on Thursday, 21 May, where he met with the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi.  He also met with some key members of the House and Senate Appropriations Committee.

That afternoon, the Secretary-General delivered the commencement address at the School of Advanced International Studies in Washington, D.C., under the theme:  “Global Leadership in a Time of Crisis”. (See Press Release SG/SM/12263)

He called for a special brand of global leadership and a new multilateralism to deal with the new and complex challenges facing the world today.

The Secretary-General highlighted the fact that, just as the world’s people have become more interdependent, so too have the issues, adding that no nation can deal with them alone. 

He called for bold action and powerful partnerships for enduring peace and prosperity.  He added that the new multilateralism should focus on delivering global goods:  freedom from hunger, health and education, and security from terror or the threat of Armageddon. 

The Secretary-General urged the students who are graduating from the School of Advanced International Studies to consider careers in public service, saying that there is no more noble calling and no greater good than a life of public service.

The Secretary-General left Washington, D.C., later on Thursday for Sri Lanka.