video transcript

ROUGH CUT (NO REPORTER NARRATION) STORY: United Nations (U.N.) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon met with American musician and U.N. Messenger of Peace Stevie Wonder on Wednesday (January 16). After posing for photographs with the Grammy Award-winning singer, Ban praised Wonder's musical talents. "Music is a world within yourself, the language that we all understand. And we are all inspired by your inner vision. With your leadership and inner vision I think we can all endeavor to reach the 'higher ground'," he said, referencing to Wonder's 1973 hit song. Wonder was appointed a U.N. Messenger of Peace with a special focus on people with disabilities in December 2009. On Wednesday he said that he will continue to carry out his mission as U.N. messenger of peace. "When your spirit is about love and unity, it really comes from the heart more than the eye can see, the spirit can feel that. So in any way I can continue as Messenger of Peace, (I will) do everything to perpetuate what the United Nations stands for and what your spirit is about. I am there," Wonder said. Messengers of peace are celebrities mainly from the fields of film, music, literature and sport who promote U.N. activities and ideals through public appearances and media contacts.