SECRETARY-GENERAL'S VISIT TO BELGIUM, 26-28 JANUARY

Press Release
SG/T/2166

SECRETARY-GENERAL'S VISIT TO BELGIUM, 26-28 JANUARY

The Secretary-General travelled from Geneva to Brussels in the evening of Tuesday, 26 January. He was welcomed to Belgium by the Belgian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Erik Derycke.

At 9:30 a.m. on the following day, he met with the families of the Belgian peacekeepers killed in Rwanda in 1994. He then had an audience with King Albert II at the Palais Royal.

Later, he inaugurated the United Nations House and met with the Directors and staff members of the United Nations family offices located in Belgium: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Information Centre, United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), United Nations Office of Drug Control and Crime Prevention, World Food Programme (WFP), Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), International Labour Organization (ILO), International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (World Bank), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the World Health Organization (WHO). The Secretary-General addressed the staff, underlining the importance of their contribution to the work of the United Nations.

At 12:30 p.m., he was welcomed at the Belgian Parliament by the Presidents of the House of Representatives, Raymond Langendries, and the Senate, Frank Swaelen. During his meeting with them, the Secretary-General expressed his appreciation for the support and cooperation given to the United Nations by the Belgian Government and the Belgian people, particularly in the fields of peacekeeping and development. He discussed Rwanda with them, as well as the Iraqi crisis and the importance of rapid reaction forces. The Presidents emphasized their full support to the Secretary-General's efforts in the field of children's rights, small arms and human development. This meeting was followed by a working luncheon with the Presidents and some parliamentarians.

At 5:15 p.m., the Secretary-General and Mrs. Nane Annan visited the Brussels Town Hall, where they were welcomed by François Xavier de Donnea de Hamoir, Mayor of Brussels and Minister of State. The Secretary-General

praised the international character of the City of Brussels and paid tribute to Belgium for its continuous partnership in United Nations global endeavours (see Press Release SG/SM/6877). Mr. Annan was invited by the Mayor to sign the "Livre d'Or", before viewing the Grand Place, which was recently added to the list of World Common Heritage monuments of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

At 6:30 p.m., the Secretary-General joined Prime Minister Jean-Luc Dehaene at Palais d'Egmond. In a meeting also attended by Foreign Minister Erik Derycke and Secretary of State Réginald Moreels, the Prime Minister paid tribute to the Secretary-General's endeavours for international peace and security, for reinforcing the multilateral management of crisis and for United Nations reform. He reiterated Belgium's support to the Organization and the Secretary-General's reform efforts, as well as his undertakings to optimize the peacekeeping operations system. He announced that Belgium would pay a contribution of 15 million Belgian francs to the United Nations demining and disarmament programmes. The Secretary-General expressed his gratitude for Belgium's continuous support to the goals and work of the United Nations and for its general support to the United Nations humanitarian and peacekeeping operations. He also praised Belgium for its long-standing support for the global ban of anti-personnel landmines and small arms reduction. Their discussions focused on Kosovo, Iraq, the Great Lakes region of Africa, peacekeeping operations and United Nations reform. Following their meeting, the Prime Minister and the Secretary-General gave a brief press conference.

That evening, the Prime Minister hosted an official dinner in honour of the Secretary-General and Mrs. Annan. In his toast, the Secretary-General again paid tribute to Belgium's major contribution to United Nations peacekeeping operations, to its successful action in respect to anti-personnel mines and its signing of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.

On Thursday, 28 January, the last day of his official visit to Belgium, the Secretary-General had breakfast with the Secretary-General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Javier Solana, at his residence. From there, they proceeded to NATO headquarters, where he addressed the NATO Council -- the first United Nations Secretary-General to be invited to do so. (see Press Release SG/SM/6878). Following his visit to NATO, the two Secretaries-General gave a press conference.

The Secretary-General later met with the Secretary-General of the Western European Union (WEU), Jose Pines Cutileiro. Mr. Annan said that the United Nations supported the efforts of other organizations in the field of international peace and security and thanked the WEU for its proposal to further explore cooperation in the field of peacekeeping.

Following that meeting, the Secretary-General proceeded to the headquarters of the European Commission, where he was welcomed by its

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President, Jacques Santer. Following a private meeting, Mr. Santer hosted a working luncheon in honour of the Secretary-General. Five Commissioners participated: Sir Leon Brittan; Hans van den Brock; Joao de Deus Pinheiro, Franz Fischler and Emma Bonino. At this event, the Secretary-General welcomed the good cooperation with the European Commission, especially in the field of humanitarian and development aid, as well as in regard to political issues and globalization. Their discussions covered the situations in Kosovo, the Great Lakes region of Africa, Iraq, Cyprus, as well as United Nations reform, poverty and food security. They also discussed how to bring about a more flexible European Union/United Nations cooperation in respect to development programmes.

Following their lunch, the Secretary-General met with Commissioners Pinheiro and Bonino to discuss humanitarian and development aid, as well as food security and poverty. The individual situations of several African countries were also reviewed.

The Secretary-General met briefly with the press before departing to Luxembourg.

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