SECRETARY-GENERAL MEETS BRITISH PRIME MINISTER JOHN MAJOR IN LONDON AFTER ARRIVING FOR TWO-DAY VISIT THERE

Press Release
SG/T/2069

SECRETARY-GENERAL MEETS BRITISH PRIME MINISTER JOHN MAJOR IN LONDON AFTER ARRIVING FOR TWO-DAY VISIT THERE

LONDON, 25 June -- Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali met Prime Minister John Major this afternoon. Their discussion focused on the ongoing process of reform of the United Nations. The Secretary-General reviewed the latest steps taken in streamlining the Organization, reducing the budget, improving inter-agency coordination at Headquarters and in the field, as well as efforts to find a solution to the financial crisis.

The Secretary-General said he was looking forward meeting the leaders of the "Group of Seven" most industrialized countries in Lyon, when he would brief them on the latest progress in the process of reform since the Halifax Summit last year. The Group of Seven in Lyon will devote a session to development, which will be attended by the Presidents of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The Prime Minister acknowledged that a great deal had indeed been achieved in the process of reform of the Organization.

The two also conducted a general review of peace-keeping operations, particularly the status of standby arrangements with troop contributors. The situations in Angola, Burundi and Nigeria were discussed. The problem of Cyprus was discussed at length.

Tomorrow morning, the Secretary-General will have talks with Foreign Secretary Malcolm Rifkind. He will also meet the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Chief Anayoku.

The Secretary-General arrived in London this afternoon for a two-day working visit, which includes a meeting with former Foreign Secretary and member of Parliament, Douglas Hurd.

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