SECOND DAY OF SECRETARY-GENERAL'S VISIT TO HONG KONG

Press Release
SG/T/2104

SECOND DAY OF SECRETARY-GENERAL'S VISIT TO HONG KONG

HONG KONG, 1 July -- Secretary-General Kofi Annan met today with the Foreign Minister of Switzerland, Flavio Cotti. They discussed the transition in Hong Kong, the United Nations reform process, United States arrears to the Organization, as well as disarmament, human rights and economic issues. Their meeting concluded with Mr. Cotti issuing and official invitation to the Secretary-General to visit Bern. The Secretary-General accepted.

The Secretary-General then met with President Ernesto Samper of Colombia, in his capacity as Chairman of the Non-Aligned Movement. They touched on a series of issues, including Security Council reform and the United Nations social agenda. They also discussed the debt burden of developing countries which was not just a debt problem but also an issue of transfer of technology. On peace-keeping, the Secretary-General told President Samper that he was looking at ways to get a more rapid response for deployments. President Samper then talked about international drug trafficking and the request by Mexico and Colombia for a special session on drugs. The Secretary-General assured him that the issue of drug trafficking and drug abuse was high on his agenda and that the United Nations would strengthen its work in that area. He underlined his recent appointment of Senator Pino Arlacchi as Executive Director of the United Nations International Drug Control Programme. They also discussed human rights and the establishment of an international criminal court.

In the afternoon, the Secretary-General attended a reception hosted by China in the Grand Hall as part of the celebration of the hand-over of Hong Kong. Later, he attended a reception at the Canadian Embassy to celebrate Canada Day in the presence of the Foreign Minister of Canada, Lloyd Axworthy.

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