SECRETARY-GENERAL ARRIVES IN DAVOS, SWITZERLAND, TO ATTEND WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM

31 January 1997

Press Release
SG/T/2084

SECRETARY-GENERAL ARRIVES IN DAVOS, SWITZERLAND, TO ATTEND WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM

19970131 GENEVA, 31 January (UN Information Service) -- Secretary-General Kofi Annan left Geneva this morning for Davos to attend the World Economic Forum, where he is scheduled to deliver a speech on United Nations reform and to hold a press conference. Following his arrival in Davos this morning, the Secretary-General had attended internal meetings with his aides. Participating in those meetings were Under-Secretary-General for Development Support and Management Services, Yongjian Jin; Under-Secretary-General for Policy Coordination and Sustainable Development, Nitin Desai; and the Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), James Gustave Speth. They had reviewed the agenda of the World Economic Forum and various aspects concerning the Secretary-General's activities during his presence in Davos. At 12:15 p.m., the Secretary-General had met the Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, Victor Chernomyrdin. During the meeting, the Prime Minister had reaffirmed his support for the United Nations as the pre-eminent international organization and reiterated his invitation to the Secretary- General to visit Russia. The month of April had been mentioned, but no firm date was established. They also discussed economic, peace and security issues as well as human rights questions. In the context of human rights, the Prime Minister raised the issue of Russian minorities in the Baltic States and asked for the Secretary-General's help. The Secretary-General replied that he would be available to help. The Secretary-General then attended a luncheon hosted by Klaus Schwab, President of the World Economic Forum. During the luncheon, Mr. Schwab informed the Secretary-General of the Forum's proceedings so far. Following the luncheon, the Secretary-General attended an afternoon brainstorming session on the global agenda. Also present at the session were distinguished individuals, presidents of corporations, university professors, and men of industry. The Secretary-General would spend some time in the afternoon working on other matters and following up on the situation in the rest of the world and at Headquarters. In the evening, he would attend a dinner, also hosted by Mr. Schwab. The schedule of the Secretary-General for Saturday and Sunday, included meetings with world leaders and personalities attending the Forum. He was scheduled to return to New York on Monday, 3 February.

* *** *