SECRETARY-GENERAL MEETS WITH HEADS OF STATE OR GOVERNMENT ATTENDING HIGH-LEVEL SEGMENT OF HABITAT II

Press Release
SG/T/2061

SECRETARY-GENERAL MEETS WITH HEADS OF STATE OR GOVERNMENT ATTENDING HIGH-LEVEL SEGMENT OF HABITAT II

ISTANBUL, Turkey, 12 June -- Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali this morning addressed the high-level segment of the second United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II).

During the day, the Secretary-General held bilateral meetings with a number of heads of State or government attending the high-level segment, including the Presidents of Poland, Romania, Albania and Israel. He also met with the Deputy Premier of the State Council of China, the Prime Minister of Burundi and the Second Deputy Prime Minister of Uganda.

The Secretary-General reviewed the progress of Habitat II. There was unanimous agreement that Habitat II and the other United Nations conferences had been worthwhile; they laid the agenda for development for future generations. In his meetings with the Prime Minister of Burundi and the Second Deputy Prime Minister of Uganda, the Secretary-General discussed the situation in the Great Lakes region, particularly in Rwanda and Burundi. The Secretary-General expressed his concern and that of the international community over the lack of progress in efforts, including those of President Nyrere, aimed at achieving peace, stability and national reconciliation in Burundi. They also discussed the murder last week of three International Committee of the Red Cross workers in Burundi. The Ugandan Deputy Prime Minister expressed the regrets of President Yoweri Musevini to the Secretary-General for being unable to attend the high- level segment of the Conference, due to domestic commitments.

In his meetings with the Presidents of Poland and Romania, the Secretary-General exchanged views on the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the future of the NATO Implementation Force (IFOR). They also discussed United Nations reform and the financial crisis of the Organization.

The Secretary-General and Mrs. Boutros-Ghali will, this evening, attend a dinner hosted in their honour by President and Mrs. Demirel.

The Secretary-General is expected to return to Geneva tomorrow.

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