Fed: Rudd expected to head to UN next month

AAP General News (Australia)
08-28-2008
Fed: Rudd expected to head to UN next month

CANBERRA, Aug 28 AAP - Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Foreign Minister Stephen Smith
are expected to head to New York next month to attend the United Nations General Assembly.

Mr Smith said he and Mr Rudd would be attending the UN meeting, where the Millennium
Development Goals (MDGs) would be high on the agenda.

Mr Rudd's office was not immediately available to confirm the visit.

The prime minister has embraced multilateral organisations like the UN as a key part
of the government's foreign policy and Australia is seeking a temporary seat on the UN
Security Council in 2013-14.

The MDGs are aimed at halving world poverty and dealing with critical third world issues
such as health and education by 2015.

In Canberra today, Mr Smith accepted a symbolic torch from Danish ambassador Susanne
Wagner Hoffmann Shine, which is the centrepiece of an initiative to highlight the third
MDG of promoting gender equality and empowering women.

As part of the Danish initiative to champion the third MDG, more than 100 torches are
travelling around the world before the UN High Level MDG meeting on September 25.

The 63rd session of the UN General Assembly opens on September 16, while general debate
begins on September 23.

AAP so/rl/jt/mn

KEYWORD: UN AUST

2008 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.