Tuesday, January 16, 2007

Asst. to the Speaker Rep. Xavier Becerra Meets with U.N. Secretary General

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Representative Xavier Becerra (CA-31), Assistant to the Speaker and the only congressional member from Southern California on the House Committee on Ways and Means, today joined Speaker Nancy Pelosi (CA-8), Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (MD-5) and other members of the House leadership in a meeting with United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon.

Today marked the secretary general's first visit to Washington, D.C., since being sworn in on December 14, 2006.

Among the issues discussed by the leaders were the crisis in Darfur, the Middle East, and U.N. institutional reform. Rep. Becerra also urged the secretary general not to neglect another important region of the world: Latin America. Recent developments in Latin America and prospects for strengthening democracies in the region deserve the attention of the U.N. to prevent progress toward democratic institutions becoming a victim of inattention and other priorities.

"Today's meeting with the secretary general was certainly time well spent in furthering the U.S.-U.N. partnership," Rep. Becerra said.

The secretary general will be busy this week meeting with congressional leaders in the House and Senate as he plants his feet in his new role as leader of the United Nations.