New York, April 03, SPA -- UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon will travel toMoscow next week for talks with government officials in his firstvisit to Russia, one of the five veto powers on the UN SecurityCouncil, it was announced Thursday, according to DPA. Ban will arrive on Wednesday for a three-day visit during which hewill meet with President Vladimir Putin, president-elect DmitryMedvedev and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. He will also meet with Russian legislators, civil society leadersand speak at the Moscow State University. Since becoming secretary general in January 2007, Ban has visitedWashington, Paris and London, but not Moscow and Beijing. Thoseare the capitals of the UN council's five permanent members, who holdveto power over UN activities and programmes.--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/542756