SG/T/2012

SECRETARY-GENERAL TO BEGIN SIX-NATION TOUR

22 December 1995


Press Release
SG/T/2012


SECRETARY-GENERAL TO BEGIN SIX-NATION TOUR

19951222 Will Travel to Kuwait, Yemen, Eritrea, Egypt, Italy and United Kingdom

Following is the text of the statement issued today by the Deputy Spokesman for Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali:

The Secretary-General will being a six-nation tour over the weekend, which will take him first to Kuwait for a three-day official visit. He will be received there by the Emir of Kuwait, Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the Crown Prince, the President of the National Assembly and the Foreign Minister, among other senior officials. The Secretary-General will visit the United Nations Iraq-Kuwait Observation Mission (UNIKOM) Headquarters and spend some time with the troops monitoring the Kuwait-Iraq Demilitarized Zone. Afterwards, he will go to Yemen on a two-day official visit, where he will meet with the President, Lieut. General Ali Abdullah Saleh, the Prime Minister, the Foreign Minister and with the senior members of the cabinet. He will also meet with United Nations staff in S'anaa and visit Aden.

The Secretary-General's forthcoming visit to Yemen has been planned for some time, long before the conflict between Yemen and Eritrea over Hanish Island erupted.

The Secretary-General will then travel to Eritrea for consultations with the Government. The Spokesman stressed that consultations did not amount to mediation. The Secretary-General could only act as mediator when asked by both parties to do so.

Towards the end of December, the Secretary-General will travel to Egypt for several days, on a semi-working visit. From there he will go to Rome for a four-day visit to Italy and the Vatican. He will be received by the President of Italy, Oscar Luigi Scalfaro, the Foreign Minister, the Minister of Defence and other members of the Cabinet and the President of the Senate. He will take part in Italy's celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of the United Nations. During his stay, the Secretary-General will also be received by Pope John Paul II.

- 2 - Press Release SG/T/2012 22 December 1995

The Secretary-General will then pay a three-day visit to London, to take part in ceremonies commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of the first General Assembly -- 10-12 January -- session. He will meet with Prime Minister John Major, the Foreign Minister and other senior officials. That event will be the official conclusion of celebrations marking the fiftieth anniversary of the United Nations.

The Secretary-General will also visit Oxford University where he will deliver the Cyril Foster lecture on: "The Diplomatic Role of the Secretary- General of the United Nations".

The Secretary-General will return to Headquarters around mid-January.

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For information media. Not an official record.