ROK FOREIGN MINISTER TO ATTEND UNGA

C O N F I D E N T I A L SEOUL 002481 SIPDIS SIPDIS PLEASE PASS IO/UNP (HARRIS),USUN (OLSON),NSC (WILLIAMS-MANIGAULT),EAP/RSP (RUNNING) E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/18/2015 TAGS: PREL OTRA OVIP KSEP UNGA KS SUBJECT: ROK FOREIGN MINISTER TO ATTEND UNGA REF: STATE 112656 Classified By: A/POL Brian D. McFeeters. Reasons 1.4 (b),(d). ¶1. (C) On July 24, Lee Kyung-chul, Deputy Director of the UN Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade told poloff that President Roh Moo-hyun was not intending to participate in the UNGA General Debate, but Roh planned to be in Washington D.C. in September for a presidential summit. Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon expected to be in New York September 17-22 for UNGA meetings after attending the presidential summit. (COMMENT: Deputy Director Lee did not speculate whether Foreign Minister Ban's UNSYG campaign might affect his travel plans. END COMMENT). ¶2. (SBU) Following is the data provided by the Foreign Ministry in the reftel format requested: ¶A. Roh Moo-hyun, President, not planning to attend UNGA; ¶B. Ban Ki-moon, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, planning to attend UNGA; -- Arrival in New York September 17, departure on September 22, following undetermined dates for a presidential summit in Washington D.C.; -- FM Ban's spouse was not planning on attending the UNGA General Debate; -- FM Ban speaks English and would not require English interpretation. ¶C. Attendance of other VIPs and Foreign Ministry officials responsible for IO affairs has yet to be determined. VERSHBOW