In progress at UNHQ

SG/SM/6623

SECRETARY-GENERAL APPOINTS PANEL OF EMINENT PERSONS TO VISIT ALGERIA

2 July 1998


Press Release
SG/SM/6623


SECRETARY-GENERAL APPOINTS PANEL OF EMINENT PERSONS TO VISIT ALGERIA

19980702 The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for Secretary- General Kofi Annan:

At the invitation of the Government of Algeria, the Secretary-General has today established a panel of eminent persons to visit that country. The purpose of this mission will be to gather information on the situation in Algeria and present a report to him, which he will make public.

The Government of Algeria has assured the Secretary-General that it will ensure free and complete access to all sources of information necessary for the panel to exercise its functions, in order to have a clear vision and a precise perception of the reality of the situation in all its dimensions in Algeria today.

The following personalities have confirmed their availability up to now: Mario Soares (Chairman), former President of Portugal; I.K. Gujral, former Prime Minister of India; Abdel Karim Kabariti, former Prime Minister of Jordan; Donald McHenry, former United States Permanent Representative to the United Nations; Simone Veil, former Secretary of State of France; and Amos Wako, Attorney-General of Kenya.

The Secretary-General is deeply appreciative of the readiness of the members of the panel to undertake this mission.

The panel will travel to Algeria as soon as arrangements have been made for it to start its work. It will be supported by a small technical team from the Secretariat.

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For information media. Not an official record.