UN Chief jets into Tanzania today

United Nations Secretary General BanKi-moon is scheduled to arrive in the country today on a three day official visit. The UN chief's visit follows an invitation extended tho him by President Jakaya Kikwete.

He will hold high level talks with his host and representatives of international organizations based in the country. According to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Bernard Membe, the visit is aimed at strengthening relations between Tanzania and the UN. "Mr. Ban has maintained a close relationship with Africa, giving due attention to issues affecting the continent such as the implementation of the Millenium Development Goals, climate change, food crisis, and the global financial crisis", Membe said. He said the UN chief will discuss continental affairs with President Kikwete, who recently handed over the African Union (AU) chairmanship to Libyan President Muammar Gaddafi. The minister said the visit is also significant in that a Tanzanian, Dr. Asha Rose Migiro, has been one of Ban's closest aides as UN Deputy Secretary General since2006 Dr. Migiro, formerly foreign affairs minister in Tanzania, is the first African woman to assume such a high- level position at the UN. Ban is scheduled to tour different projects supervised by the UN system in Tanzania. He will be briefed on the development of the pilot 'One UN Program' in the country. Tanzania is one of eight countries worldwide that have been earmarked to implement the pilot program.Tomorrow, the UN chief will visit Zanzibar, hold official talks over there with President Aman Abeid Karume and inaugurate the UN offices in the Isles. Ban's tour itinerary also includes a visit to the UN- affiliated International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda in Arusha.