Gov. Sonny Perdue hosted an official State Luncheon at the Governor’s Mansion Thursday to welcome United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to Georgia. Only 150 guests from the government, military, diplomatic and education fields in the state were invited to the formal luncheon, including Lowndes County Chairman Rod Casey.

“I sat at the first table by the podium with Monica Pearson from the TV news, the attorney general, and the Consul Generals from Switzerland and Korea. It was a tremendous honor to be there,” Casey said, in a phone interview while driving back to Valdosta Thursday afternoon.

“Sec. Gen. Ban is from Korea, and he is in America to deliver a message that during his tenure, he wants to stress three issues: global warming, world health, and human rights.

“He talked about trying to visit the largest cities and states that have made the largest impact worldwide, and he came to Atlanta because they have the world’s largest airport, one of the world’s largest economies, diverse industries from around the world, and he said the Georgia economy has transcended the world markets and cultures.”

Casey added that Sec. Gen. Ban laughed and said, “You even have Coca-Cola!”

One of Sec. Gen. Ban’s primary reasons for visiting Atlanta, according to Casey, was to visit the Centers for Disease Control to learn more about health issues due to the crises facing many countries worldwide. A press release issued by the Governor’s office quotes Perdue as saying, “Secretary-General Ban’s visit reminds us that Georgians have an ever increasingly important role in the world. From innovations in healthcare to programs to conserve our natural resources, we are proud to work with our neighbors, at home and abroad, for the greater good.”

Casey said the Secretary General quoted Martin Luther King Jr. several times, saying that he started in Georgia but that he belonged to the world, and the issues that King fought for, including basic human rights, individual rights and economic issues for the poor, are issues he is fighting globally today.

The guest list for the luncheon was a Who’s Who in Georgia politics, government and education, with guests including Byung Mo Ahn, Group President and Chief Executive Officer, Kia Motors America, Inc.; Dr. Julie Gerberding, Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Heidi Green, Deputy Commissioner of Economic Development for Global Commerce; Jerry Griffin, Executive Director, Association County Commissioners of Georgia; The Honorable Karen C. Handel, Secretary of State of Georgia; and P. Russell Hardin, President, Robert W. Woodruff Foundation, Inc.

Casey said he spoke with a number of diplomats and dignitaries who knew about Lowndes County and were very impressed with “how well we’re doing. I was very proud to be there!”

Secretary-General Ban is the eighth Secretary-General of the United Nations, and brings to his post 37 years of service both in government and on the global stage. Previously, he served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade for his native country, the Republic of Korea. He is currently on a tour of cities across the United States.