SECRETARY-GENERAL'S VISIT TO FRANCE, 11-14 MAY

Press Release
SG/T/2140

SECRETARY-GENERAL'S VISIT TO FRANCE, 11-14 MAY

The Secretary-General concluded his eight-nation trip to Africa on 10 May, and flew overnight to Paris, arriving in the morning of Monday, 11 May. At 6:30 a.m. he met with the Minister of State for Health, Bernard Kouchner, who discussed his proposal for a European programme to fight AIDS.

That afternoon, the Secretary-General visited the headquarters of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), where he met with Secretary-General Donald Johnson. They discussed OECD's programme, and its relations with the United Nations system, particularly the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

The Secretary-General met that evening with French Prime Minister, Lionel Jospin, and Foreign Minister, Hubert Vedrine, over dinner.

The Secretary-General reported on his recent trip to Africa and some of the topics he discussed with African leaders, such as Sudan, Somalia and the Great Lakes region. They also touched on issues outside the African continent -- the Middle East, Iraq, Kosovo, United Nations reform and prospects for the establishment of an international criminal court.

On Tuesday morning, the Secretary-General met with French President Jacques Chirac. They spoke of the situation in the Middle East, Iraq and the Secretary-General's recent trip to Africa.

At midday, the Secretary-General met with the Deputy Prime Minister of Iraq, Tariq Aziz. They reviewed the status of implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding between Iraq and the United Nations concerning inspections by the United Nations Special Commission (UNSCOM). The Deputy Prime Minister reaffirmed Iraq's commitment to unimpeded access for inspectors, and the Secretary-General said he would live up to his part of the bargain so that Iraq might see "light at the end of the tunnel" concerning the sanctions regime. Following their meeting, the two men spoke to the press.

The Secretary-General and his wife, Nane, then had lunch with former Secretary-General Javier Perez de Cuellar and his wife Marcella.

In the afternoon, the Secretary-General visited the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) headquarters, where

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he met with the Director-General, Federico Mayor. They discussed UNESCO's current programme, including its Culture of Peace activities, and UNESCO's relations with the United Nations. The Secretary-General suggested that UNESCO look into renewal of the faculty of third world universities, particularly in Africa.

On Wednesday, 13 May, the Secretary-General paid a visit to the Cannes Film Festival which, this year, was devoted to the commemoration of the fiftieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Upon arrival in Cannes, the Secretary-General and Mrs. Annan attended a luncheon hosted by the President of the Festival, Pierre Viot. The lunch was also attended by Gilles Jacob, General Delegate of the Festival; Costa Gavras, film producer; singer Enrico Macias, United Nations Messenger for Peace; and representatives from local authorities and from the French Foreign Ministry.

The Secretary-General then met informally with the press. He told them how pleased he was to be able to participate at the opening of the Festival; he underlined the role played by the cinema in promoting and defending human rights. He said that cinema has always spoken out for freedom and said that protecting and promoting human rights is much linked to economic development and growth. In answer to a question on the role of the United Nations in defending human rights, the Secretary-General said that "it is not just only our rights we should defend", but the rights of others, especially those of voiceless minorities, and that arbitrary actions should be denounced, oppression should be defied and freedom protected.

That evening the Secretary-General attended the inauguration of the Festival and delivered his message (see Press Release SG/SM/6559) which was preceded by the screening of a film on human rights. He later attended a gala dinner.

The Secretary-General returned to United Nations Headquarters on the morning of Thursday, 14 May.

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