Mr. Ban Ki-moon, crossed the Street from the UN to the Asia Society building, after a hard day at the UN and on the eve of his trip to Japan - China - Korea - Japan on which we wrote in our two articles of June 28, 2008.

We also mentioned there his 11:30 a.m. 10 minutes press conference, pre-announced - “Briefing to the Press before his departure to Northeast Asia” -  but stake-out style, that was reported by Inner City Press, including the complaining journalists opinion that a sit-down press conference would have been more appropriate. Anyway, there was a promise by the Secretariat that such a Press Conference will happen upon his return.

At the Asia Society, the meeting was opened by Chairman of the Board, Mr. James (JIM) McDonald, who is the President and CEO of Rockeffeler & Co., Member of the Council on Foreign Affairs, Chair of the Audit Committee of NYSE Euronext He flatly stated in his first substantial sentence that Asia, and NE Asia in particular, are important to the future of the US.

Mr. Ban Ki-moon, a Korean,  obviously spoke many times to the Korea Society - this is his second appearance before the Japan Society - but first time before a joint audience of both these societies. The event is of particular interest as by coincidence it happens on the day North Korea submitted its declaration of the nuclear programs and the US has announced the de-listing of North Korea. Mr. McDonald thus expressed the hope that the day points to a future of a good public treaty for reconciliation including bilateral agreements N. Korea - Japan and new N. Korea - S. Korea relationship. He looks at a future of Japan-Korea with great opportunities, and a trilateral US involvement.
Also, the upcoming trilateral Summit China-Japan-Korea is of major interest on topics like Climate Change - a topic that has driven us to two camps - “those that pollute and those who suffer.”

Japan Society Chairman, Jim McDonald, then introduced Mr Evans Revere, the President and CEO of The Korea Society in New York City. He came to this position after 35 years with US Government. He is recognized as the leading Department of State Asia expert; held every position on Asia within State, and held Ambassadorial rank in many Asian capitals including Seoul and the handling of the 1998 - 2003 Korea issues. He is also with the Council on Foreign Relations, and was charged this evening with introducing Mr. Ban Ki-moon who then proceeded with his points:

“Our Common interests and our common humanity, through the UN, can provide us with the tools to address global issues - Japan and the Republic of Korea can address together the food crisis, the energy crisis and the climate change problem.” He pointed at the need to remove subsidies from agriculture in developed countries and free funds for investment in developing countries’ agriculture. Developed countries must lead under the “Common & Differentiated responsibilities principle on climate change. He looks indeed at Japan & Korea for leadership by the time of Poznan this December. He even pointed at specifics:

- New financial mechanisms for adaptation and mitigation in developing countries,
- Low carbon technologies for developing countries.
- one sixth of world population suffer from treatable diseases.

So, Japan and Korea have to act here - particularly in Africa - with credibility and effectiveness.

NE Asia is a region that begins to work together - thus the Japan, Korea, China trilateral Summit. Those three are part of the 6 Party talks of the de-nuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

Mr. McDonald asked: What Should We Do About Energy?

A: There must be outside arrangements. He was able to talk on this with Saudi Arabia. The “unusual” high price of oil affects all our life, including food price and the MDGs. He obtained from the Saudis an increase of production promise when he suggested to them what these high price do to the economy in general and to their own financial interests.

Mr. Evans Revere asked: about the “architecture” of Security. China a well as the US, can take on the regional and global challenges?

A:  NE Asia is the only region that has no multi-lateral cooperation as we have a very divided situation. If we are able to address properly the N. Korea nuclear issue, via the 6 Party solution, we might be able to find solutions on other topics

Questions from the floor:

Harry Langer asked: Can a way be found for restricting Sovereign funds to lending and not to investing?

A: As UNSG, I cannot deal with that issue but other financial institutions could.

Q: Can WTO  persuade the rich from trade distorting policies?

A: I urged that European and US companies reconsider agricultural subsidies. Expedite Doha talks. Some countries have export bans on food commodities or import subsidies.

Q: The role of Civil Society?

A: Civil Society contributed to peace and security.

Pincas Jawetz asked for www.SustainabiliTank.info about the fact that Korea, an OECD country, has no obligations under the Kyoto Protocol - no commitments whatsoever. As the UNSG will be talking on his trip about climate change regime issues, will he raise this point with the Korean Government?

A: I am glad that Korea gets rich - I do not know - but I am not going to advise them what to do. It will not do me any good. The common and differentiated responsibilities principle is very important. Things must be viewed from this angle. { I do not consider that the UNSG answered my specific question which goes to the essence of what kind of a climate change just regime. The fact is that Korea is not poor anymore, it is a member of the OECD, and everything else he said puts it in league with Japan - at least as the younger economic brother of Japan, so why should Korea get away with treatment allowed for developing countries, when it has already become a rather developed country?}

At the end, Mr. McDonald asked the UNSG if he is ready to be again a guest when he returns from this trip. The answer was YES! So we will wait with further questions for this future event.