UN political chief holds talks with Kyrgyz officials ahead of regional summit

Just ahead of a regional summit in Central Asia, the top United Nations political official is meeting with authorities in Kyrgyzstan today on issues of mutual concern, a spokesperson for the world body announced.

Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs B. Lynn Pascoe met today in Bishkek with the Foreign Minister of Kyrgyzstan, and was expected to meet later in the day with the President and Prime Minister, UN Spokesperson Michele Montas told reporters in New York.

Tomorrow he will attend the Seventh Summit of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization – a regional body comprising China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan – where he will deliver a message on behalf of Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

He is also scheduled to meet on the margins of the Summit with the Presidents of Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.

On his way to the region, Mr. Pascoe conducted two days of talks with Chinese Foreign Ministry officials in Beijing, touching on issues including Darfur, the Middle East peace process, Nepal, Myanmar, Kosovo and the Korean Peninsula, as well as cooperation between China and the UN in Africa, Ms. Montas said.

Mr. Pascoe is expected to arrive in Kathmandu this weekend to discuss the peace process with national leaders and to consult with the UN Mission in Nepal (UNMIN), which is providing critical assistance to the holding of Constituent Assembly elections later this year.

He is also expected to meet with Nepal’s Prime Minister and other key political figures.