Montas told reporters at the UN Headquarters in New York that the two sides will discuss "issues of mutual interest" to the world body and the United States.

In addition to the Middle East and Sudan, Ban and Congressional leaders are also expected to discuss the relationship between the United Nations and the United States, peacekeeping, UN reform and climate change -- which the Secretary-General has recently referred to as the "defining issue of our era," she said.

"This brief visit will allow him to further broaden his contacts with members of Congress," the spokesperson added.

During his first visit to Washington soon after taking office in January, Ban called on U.S. President George W. Bush and the country's Congressional leaders to lift their spending cap on the UN peacekeeping budget, warning that if the limit remains then the work of individual operations may be hampered.