SECRETARY-GENERAL MEETS WITH HEADS OF UNITED NATIONS AGENCIES IN CAIRO
Press Release
SG/T/2019
SECRETARY-GENERAL MEETS WITH HEADS OF UNITED NATIONS AGENCIES IN CAIRO
19960104 At 11 a.m. today, Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali met the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Sheikh Gad ul-Haq Ali. The Secretary-General reviewed the major issues confronting the United Nations today. The Imam of Al-Azhar expressed his support for the work of the United Nations, especially its defence of spiritual values and its role in promoting religious tolerance.At 12 noon, the Secretary-General visited United Nations office in Egypt where he was greeted by the Resident Coordinator, Costante Muzio.
The Secretary-General was presented, by the Head of the Egyptian Postal Union, Mokhtar Sabbagh, with albums of commemorative Egyptian stamps, produced on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of the United Nations. The Secretary-General said he was grateful to the Postal Union for having produced this stamp collection, as stamps were one way of communicating with the people of the world, particularly the youth.
At 12:10 p.m., the Secretary-General met the heads of the United Nations system in Cairo, including: the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), World Food Programme (WFP), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO), United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), International Labour Organisation (ILO), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)/Regional Office for the Near East, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), World Health Organization (WHO)/Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office, International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (World Bank), International Finance Corporation (IFC), International Monetary Fund (IMF), United Postal Union (UPU), International Telecommunications Union (ITU), and the United Nations Information Centre in Cairo. The Secretary-General underlined the importance of the exchange of information and coordination between the agencies and programmes of the United Nations. He impressed upon them the need to cooperate, as well, with the "new actors" on the world stage today, that is the regional organizations and non-governmental organizations, as well as parliamentary bodies and the private sector. The Secretary-General also reviewed recent developments in peace-keeping operations and the financial crisis facing the United Nations.
At 1 p.m., the Secretary-General met with all the United Nations staff members in Cairo. He assured them that, despite the financial crisis, he was exerting every possible effort to protect their rights. "You are the real capital of the United Nations", he said, "do not underestimate the good work you are doing."
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