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Ban Ki-moon heads to Washington on Thursday for talks with US President Bush

Ban Ki-moon heads to Washington on Thursday for talks with US President Bush

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon heads to Washington on Thursday for talks with United States President George W. Bush and other senior officials, a United Nations spokesperson announced today.

The UN and US leaders will discuss issues of common interest, including climate change, the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), human rights, counter-terrorism, and international peace and security, Michele Montas told reporters in New York. The MDGs are a set of time-bound targets for addressing ills such as poverty, illiteracy and HIV/AIDS.

During their meeting, to be held on Friday, the Secretary-General and the President are also expected to discuss “important regional issues such as Darfur, Kenya, the Middle East, Iraq and Afghanistan,” Ms. Montas said.

Mr. Ban is scheduled to meet US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Thursday evening.