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Secretary-General anticipates intense period of multilateral diplomacy ahead

As leaders from across the world prepare to gather for the United Nations General Assembly's annual debate next week, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today predicted an unprecedented level of diplomatic activity aimed at forging common strategies in response to shared concerns.

"This will be a most intense period of multilateral diplomacy ever in the United Nations' history, I believe," Mr. Ban told reporters in New York. "As we move well into the 21st century, the United Nations is, once again, the global forum where issues are discussed and solutions are hammered out."

In addition to the annual Assembly general debate, he spotlighted a number of key events that will take place at UN Headquarters in the weeks to come, including planned international meetings on climate change, Darfur, Iraq, Afghanistan, Kosovo and the "Quartet process," as the international diplomatic grouping trying to resolve the Middle East conflict is known.

On Darfur, Mr. Ban said he will chair a high-level meeting with African Union Chairperson Alpha Oumar Konaré.

"I hope that we will be able to map our strategy and road map for the forthcoming political negotiations scheduled in Libya on October 27th," the Secretary-General said, looking ahead to planned Darfur peace talks.

"This will mark just one more step forward and we will need to redouble our efforts so as not to lose the positive momentum which we have been able to create."

Mr. Ban announced that 154 speakers - including some 80 heads of State or government - will participate in a high-level dialogue on climate change slated for 24 September.

"This will be an informal event where the leaders of the world come together, with a renewed sense of commitment, to tackle a problem that faces each one of us - and above all the most vulnerable populations on our planet, those endangered by rising sea levels and those whose supply of food and water will be greatly affected by the changing climate," he noted.

Citing the reports by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) which have shown the science and impacts of the phenomenon as well as options for response, Mr. Ban stressed that the world's people are anticipating that their governments will take action.

Climate change, also the theme of this year's Assembly debate, is a "challenge to our leadership, skills and vision - and we have to address that challenge boldly," he said.

The Secretary-General, who will also hold bilateral meetings with over 100 heads of State or government or ministers, underscored his commitment to working in tandem with UN member countries to tackle key international problems.

"I am under no illusion that, whether it's the Middle East or Kosovo or Afghanistan or climate change, these problems will be solved overnight," he explained. "The solutions all involve a long road and hard work."

He also said cooperation with both Member States and the UN Secretariat is crucial to pushing the UN reform agenda forward. "Precisely because our work is so important, we must deliver to the best of our ability," he noted, calling for "faster, more effective action; a work ethic that puts a premium on pragmatic results, not bureaucratic process; and above all, scrupulous attention to the highest standards of transparency and professional ethics."

In turn, the Secretary-General also underlined the importance of Member States' initiative to address issues. "I truly believe that the world leaders that will gather here in a few days bring with them a renewed interest in multilateral resolution to challenges facing the world," he said.