ACTIVITIES OF SECRETARY-GENERAL IN WASHINGTON, D.C., 23-25 FEBRUARY
Press Release
SG/T/2170
ACTIVITIES OF SECRETARY-GENERAL IN WASHINGTON, D.C., 23-25 FEBRUARY
19990226 The Secretary-General began a two-day visit to Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, 23 February, with a private lunch at the residence of Ambassador Rolf Ekeus of Sweden, which was attended by about 12 foreign policy experts from inside and outside the United States Government.The luncheon discussion focused on United States-United Nations relations, the future role of the United Nations, as well as political issues like Iraq and Libya.
Prince Bandar of Saudi Arabia and Jakes Gerwell of South Africa, who recently have been engaged in efforts to clarify terms of an agreement over the Lockerbie issue, then called on the Secretary-General at his hotel. They reviewed the most recent efforts to pave the way for the two Libyan suspects in the Lockerbie affair to be transferred to the Netherlands for trial.
The Secretary-General then went to the Capitol where he met with United States Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott. They talked of the problem of United States arrears to the United Nations, as well as the situations in Iraq and Kosovo.
In the evening, the Secretary-General went to the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service to accept the "Jit" Trainor Award recognizing a distinguished career in foreign service. He then delivered the Trainor Lecture on "The Future of Peacekeeping". He said he was "haunted by our failure" to prevent genocide in Rwanda, and said "we must be prepared to act while things are still unclear and uncertain, but in time to make a difference" (see Press Release SG/SM/6901).
Afterwards, the President of Georgetown University, Father Leo J. O'Donovan, hosted a dinner in his honour.
The Secretary-General began the final day of his two-day visit to Washington with a breakfast meeting with Senator John Warner, Chairman of the Armed Services Committee. They talked of the future role of both the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the United Nations, as well as of trouble spots like Kosovo, Iraq and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Senator said he supported United States payment of its United Nations arrears.
- 2 - Press Release SG/T/2170 26 February 1999
The Secretary-General then went to Capitol Hill where he met with the new Speaker of the House, Dennis Hastert. They discussed the obstacles to United States payment of arrears. They also reviewed the situations in Iraq and Kosovo.
The Secretary-General then went to see Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle. The Senator told the press before the meeting that he was embarrassed by the United States non-payment. In their meeting, he discussed ways he could help get United Nations funding. The Secretary-General thanked Senator Daschle for his last ditch effort last fall to get partial payment of arrears. The Senator said he would do the same again, if needed.
At the State Department, the Secretary-General joined Secretary of State Madeleine Albright for a one-on-one working lunch that lasted an hour and 40 minutes. The session was substantive and friendly and touched on a wide range of issues, from Libya, Myanmar, East Timor and Iraq to Nigeria, Western Sahara and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. They agreed to hold similar meetings more often.
The Secretary-General then went to the White House to meet with National Security Adviser Sandy Berger. Mr. Berger explained the Administration's strategy on the payment of arrears. They also discussed Libya, Iraq, the Ethiopia-Eritrea border conflict and the Nigerian elections.
Later, at his hotel, the Secretary-General received Ashton Calvert, Secretary in Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, who briefed him on East Timor.
The Secretary-General then returned to Capitol Hill to see House Minority Leader Richard Gephardt, who said he was a strong supporter of payment of arrears to the United Nations. They primarily discussed United Nations reform and repayment of back dues.
The Secretary-General concluded his programme at the White House with his wife Nane, where they were guests at a dinner hosted by President Clinton for Ghana's President Jerry Rawlings.
The Secretary-General returned to New York aboard an early morning flight on Thursday, 25 February.
* *** *