*EPF314 03/29/00
Text: State Dept. on UN Security Council Visit to Washington, D.C.
(UNSC to visit White House, State Dept., and Capitol Hill) (390)

The State Department late March 29 announced that the UN Security Council will make "a historic visit" to Washington, D.C. March 30 for meetings at the White House, the State Department and on Capitol Hill.

Joining the U.S. Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Richard Holbrooke, will be the Permanent Representatives of Argentina, Bangladesh (the current President of the UNSC), Canada, China, France, Jamaica, Malaysia, Mali, Namibia, the Netherlands, Russia, Tunisia, the United Kingdom and Ukraine.

Following is the State Department text:

(begin text)

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman

March 29, 2000

STATEMENT BY JAMES B. FOLEY, DEPUTY SPOKESMAN

UN SECURITY COUNCIL VISIT TO WASHINGTON

On March 30th, all fifteen members of the UN Security Council will make a historic visit to Washington for meetings at the State Department, the White House, and on Capitol Hill. Joining the U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Richard Holbrooke will be the Permanent Representatives of Argentina, Bangladesh (current President of the Security Council), Canada, China, France, Jamaica, Malaysia, Mali, Namibia, the Netherlands, Russia, Tunisia, the United Kingdom, and Ukraine.

The Security Council members will begin the day at the State Department, seeing Secretary Albright and other senior officials. They will then go to Capitol Hill for a tour, luncheon, and roundtable discussion hosted by Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Jesse Helms and Senator Joseph P. Biden, Jr. Later that day, White House Deputy National Security Advisor James Steinberg will host a meeting at the White House. That evening Secretary Albright will host a working dinner in the group's honor at the State Department. Discussions are expected to focus on UN reform and UN peacekeeping.

This is a historic, unprecedented occasion and a valuable initiative in the ongoing effort to increase dialogue and understanding between the United Nations diplomatic community and the U.S. government. The Administration is appreciative of the key role played by Senators Helms and Biden and other Congressional leaders in bolstering U.S. leadership in the United Nations and fostering the ongoing dialogue.

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(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: usinfo.state.gov)
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