SECRETARY-GENERAL VISITS GENEVA, 9 - 11 APRIL

Press Release
SG/T/2093

SECRETARY-GENERAL VISITS GENEVA, 9 - 11 APRIL

GENEVA, 11 April -- In his first visit to Geneva since his announcement on 17 March on proposals for reform of the United Nations, Secretary-General Kofi Annan, on 9 April, met with the Director-General of the United Nations Office in Geneva, Vladimir Petrovsky, and they discussed how reforms would apply to Geneva. The Secretary-General's appointments during the day included the Permanent Representative of the Netherlands in her capacity as Chairman of the European Union, Eveline Herfkens. She indicated to the Secretary-General that the diplomatic community in Geneva wished to be more involved in the reform process.

The Secretary-General also met with the Permanent Representative of Switzerland to the International Organizations at Geneva and Permanent Observer to the United Nations Office, Walter Gyger. They discussed the potential use by the United Nations of the Palais Wilson as a Centre for Human Rights. The Secretary-General also met with the Ambassador of Mauritius, Dhurmahdass Baichoo, in his capacity as Chairman of the African Group in Geneva, and with the Ambassadors of the Group, whom he briefed on his mission to Africa in March.

The Secretary-General then addressed the morning session of the Commission on Human Rights. The four main points in his address were: Mr. Annan's personal commitment to human rights; the link between human rights and peace and security, specifically as applied to peace-building in post- conflict situations; the right to development "as the measure of the respect for all other human rights"; and the reform efforts and how he expected them to strengthen the work of the Commission.

The Secretary-General then went to a working luncheon hosted by Mr. Petrovsky and attended by the chairmen of the regional groups. In the afternoon, he had a meeting with the President of the Independent World Commission on the Oceans, Mario Soares. Later in the afternoon, the Secretary-General met with his Special Representative for Cyprus, Han Sung- Joo, and Gustave Feissel, who heads the United Nations mission there. He then met with the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community, Mr. Rauf Denktash.

In the evening, he addressed the Institut universitaire des hautes études internationales and the Association suisse de politique étrangère, and

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later was guest of honour at a dinner hosted by the Director General of the World Trade Organization, Renato Ruggiero, which was also attended by the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Michel Camdessus, and the President of the World Bank, James Wolfensohn.

On Thursday, 10 April, the Secretary-General's programme was focused on the Administrative Committee on Coordination (ACC). It was his first meeting with the ACC and, therefore, an opportunity to talk to the independent actors of the United Nations system regarding the moulding of the system into a functional family of members who work closely together and are mutually supportive. The meeting was preceded by a breakfast hosted by the Secretary- General for the heads of the ACC, during which the United Nations' relations with the United States Government, the need for better coordination and the role of civil society, among other things, were discussed. At 10:30 a.m., Mr. Annan had a traditionally private meeting with the heads of agencies to allow for a candid exchange. He stated in opening remarks, at a photo opportunity, that many of the heads of agencies were carrying out interesting and substantive activities which needed to be shared among themselves and with the public. He chaired a second meeting of the ACC following a scheduled luncheon for ACC members.

In the evening, the Secretary-General attended a reception hosted by the Ambassador of Ghana, followed by a dinner hosted by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Sadako Ogata.

On Friday, 11 April, the Secretary-General met with his Special Representative for Cyprus, Han Sung-Joo. He then chaired the meeting of the ACC. At 12:30 p.m, he gave a press conference, and then attended a luncheon given in his honour by the State Council of Geneva. He departed for Italy in the afternoon.

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