UN chief to attend Middle East peace meeting in U.S.

U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon waves as he leaves Itamaraty Palace in Brasilia, Nov. 12, 2007. Ban warned on Wednesday there was 'a real possibility of a confrontation' if Lebanon fails to elect a president by the end of this week. (File Photo: Xinhua/Reuters)

UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will attend the U.S.-sponsored Middle East peace conference to be held in Annapolis next week, a U.N. spokesperson said Wednesday.

The U.N. chief made the announcement as he briefed the members of the U.N. General Assembly in an informal session Wednesday, spokesperson Michele Montas said.

The secretary-general expressed his hope that the meeting, at which he will be present as an observer, will provide the impetus for final status negotiations, Montas said.

He also intends to attend a meeting of the Middle East Quartet, which is to take place in Washington on Monday, she said.

The U.S. State Department announced Tuesday night that the Middle East peace conference will be held at Annapolis, Maryland, on Nov. 27.

Editor:Zhang Pengfei