Calls with Ban

Today I went to a board meeting for a local domestic violence shelter. At about the same time, President-Elect Barack Obama phoned up Ban Ki-Moon, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, to talk global affairs. According to New Zealand's Scoop, Obama called Ban to "discuss how to address current crises and strengthen the partnership between the US and the United Nations." Is it perhaps just a tiny bit exciting that an incoming U.S. President feels it is important to want to work with the head of the UN to address world issues? Yes, excitement is an understatement.


President-Elect Obama and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon

Am I jealous that Obama can just pick up the phone and talk to Ban while I'm eating my Panera Bread sandwich in the good ol' south? Perhaps a little...but not sure who to be more envious of...Ban talking to Barack or Barack talking to Ban? What's a gal who has revolved around global issues her whole life to do?!

I'll make up for it by attending the unveiling of National Geographic's Portrait Exhibit tonight and meeting His Excellency, Ambassador Said T. Jawad tonight, Afghanistan's Ambassador to the United States.

For those of you interested, here are the comments the Secretary-General had to say about President-Elect Obama following the election.

"True partnership requires sharing the burdens of development and diplomacy, of progress and peace. It requires partners who listen to one another, learn from each other and, most important, trust each other."
- Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, in a statement to the public/press

"I fully support the Millennium Development Goals. In the 21st century, progress must not just mean freedom – it must mean freedom from fear and freedom from want."
- President-Elect Barack Obama, in the UNA-USA 2008 questionnaire