TRANSCRIPT OF PRESS CONFERENCE BY SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN AT HEADQUARTERS, 2 MARCH

Press Release
SG/SM/6913

TRANSCRIPT OF PRESS CONFERENCE BY SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN AT HEADQUARTERS, 2 MARCH

The SECRETARY-GENERAL: Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. The last time I met with the United Nations Correspondents Association (UNCA) Executive Committee, they asked me if I could try to see you a bit more often this year. We agreed that I would try to do this almost every six or eight weeks. And so here I am today, in response to that request.

You may recall that the last time I spoke to you in this room, on 14 December of last year, I said that if people did not abide by their commitments -— indeed, if they did not redouble their efforts to find peaceful solutions -— there was every reason to fear the worst in 1999. As it turned out, we did not have to wait until 1999 to see renewed military action in Iraq, and the first two months of the new year have brought renewed and continued fighting in many parts of Africa, as well as in Kosovo and Afghanistan. For the United Nations, the withdrawal of United Nations peacekeepers from Angola and, for very different reasons, from the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia is especially disappointing.

But we still have plenty of work to do, and I am glad to say that there have been some encouraging developments as well, and some of them are welcome in the sense that they have been long overdue. Just this week, Eritrea accepted the Organization of African Unity (OAU) proposals for ending its war with Ethiopia. There have been peaceful presidential elections in Nigeria, heralding a return to democracy and civilian rule. And yesterday, the bells rang out to celebrate the entry into force of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction (Ottawa Convention).

As you know, in recent weeks there have also been some promising developments in East Timor. I continued my efforts to secure Libya's compliance with Security Council resolutions. The Council itself has made some progress in appointing three panels which are now working hard on the Iraq issue. And, appropriately enough for the fiftieth anniversary year of the Geneva Conventions, the Council is also turning its attention to the protection of civilians in conflict areas. My staff are already working on the report that the Council expects by the end of September.

Finally, let me say that I am particularly gratified by the good reception of the proposals I put forward to the business community at Davos on 31 January. It is more than ever clear that States alone cannot solve all the problems of today's global economy, and that the United Nations needs to work in partnership with the private sector and non-governmental organizations if humanity is to achieve the goals it has set itself in areas such as human rights and environmental and labour standards. The United Nations is ready to do its part.

I will now take your questions.

- 2 - Press Release SG/SM/6913 2 March 1999

QUESTION: Thank you, Mr. Secretary-General, for responding and coming to see us. We are always glad to see you here. This is your first press conference this year, and I would like to welcome you on behalf of the United Nations Correspondents Association.

The first question regards peacekeeping operations and the involvement of the United Nations in a certain region. Bearing in mind what has happened recently in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, in Iraq and in Africa, what are you intending to do to overcome certain setbacks to United Nations involvement in certain regions, and what have you discussed with Member States so as to avoid this kind of trend of trying to substitute for United Nations involvement other kinds of international [inaudible]?

Secondly, would you be so kind as to inform us about the status of the investigation of the involvement of peacekeepers in Srebrenica, in accordance with the General Assembly resolution on Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The SECRETARY-GENERAL: On the first question, let me first say that I know there has been concern in some circles that regional organizations and arrangements are doing more in the area of conflict resolution and peacekeeping. I do not think we should be unduly concerned about that. Our own Charter allows room for regional organizations and arrangements, and where they have the capacity and are able to play a role, I think we should welcome it and we should encourage it. The difficulties are that, apart from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), regional organizations do not have that capacity and, therefore, run into difficulties once they take on some of these operations. The Council itself, after its reluctance following the Somalia experience to get involved in peacekeeping operations, is beginning to look at these issues more critically and with a bit more of an open mind. Now one of the areas that the Council members have talked about, and are aware that they may have to become engaged in, is the Democratic Republic of the Congo. And so I am confident the pendulum will swing back at some future date, and I do not think we should be unduly worried about that.

On your second question, I cannot give you a detailed answer; I will have to talk to my colleagues in peacekeeping and others to see where we are.

QUESTION: Can you share with us what you think of the latest prospects for a resolution of the Libyan situation? Will they turn over the two suspects?

The SECRETARY-GENERAL: I met with the Libyan Ambassador yesterday to discuss this issue and to ask him about his Government's response, which I hope will be forthcoming shortly. Obviously, he was disturbed about press reports that there had been an ultimatum. And as most of you will know, the Council did not offer any such ultimatum. But we did discuss a reasonable period for Libya to respond since my last letter was given to them on 25 February, the day before the Council met. I have seen a press dispatch

- 3 - Press Release SG/SM/6913 2 March 1999

today saying that President -- leader -- Qadhafi has said that the answer will be forthcoming shortly -- I do not know if you have also seen it -- and I hope it will be a positive one. As I indicated last week, we have provided Libya with all the answers, clarifications and explanations that they have sought, and we are now waiting for a decision to be able to move on with a trial. And I hope it will be forthcoming soon.

QUESTION: Your response please to the latest reports in The Washington Post -- and there have been other reports over the last few months -- that the United States Government used the United Nations Special Commission (UNSCOM), a United Nations agency -- deceiving UNSCOM, the United Nations and the leaders of UNSCOM -- to spy on Iraq. Your response, and what action you intend to take.

The SECRETARY-GENERAL: First of all, let me repeat what I told the press earlier: that I personally had no direct knowledge of these things. As you know, UNSCOM does not report to me; it does report to the Council. I think the United Nations disarmament effort in Iraq has been an important step in international efforts to disarm, and I would hope that all of us, particularly the Council, would draw the right lessons from what has happened in Iraq and move on from there.

QUESTION: Are you outraged, though, by this?

The SECRETARY-GENERAL: This is an issue that I hope -- as I said -- the Council, which is responsible for UNSCOM, should draw the right lessons. I know the Council itself has not taken up the matter. But I hope that lessons will be drawn. Obviously, when you raise a question of outrage, I notice that Mr. Butler has indicated -- it has been indicated that [Richard] Butler [Executive Chairman of UNSCOM] and [Rolf] Ekeus [former UNSCOM Executive Chairman] may not have known anything about this. And, of course, we did not set up -- we went in to focus on disarmament and to implement the Council decisions, and we would have preferred for everyone involved, everyone on the United Nations ticket, to focus on that.

QUESTION: On East Timor, if I may. The Indonesian army admits that it has been arming civilians, and independent agencies such as the Red Cross report that bloodshed has been on the rise there. I wonder, first, whether you suspect the Indonesian Government may wish to foment violence in East Timor as a way of aborting the move towards independence or, secondly, might they wish to see an East Timor born into independence in chaos and bloodshed as a warning to other separatist provinces in Indonesia. Thirdly, do you think President Habibie has full control of his armed forces?

The SECRETARY-GENERAL: That is more of a comment than a question, but let me also comment on your comment.

Let me say that, as far as I know, the Indonesian authorities have always denied supplying weapons to the inhabitants of East Timor, whether they

- 4 - Press Release SG/SM/6913 2 March 1999

are pro-Indonesia or not. In fact, I raised this issue directly with Minister Alatas when he was here, and he denied it.

We would hope that the transition of East Timor, either to autonomous status or to independence, would be peaceful, and we would hope -- and I believe -- that the Government of Indonesia understands that it is in its interest to work with us to make it a peaceful transition and to leave in a dignified manner. If there were to be violence, I do not think that it would be in the interest of Indonesia or of its neighbours, whether it is intended to set an example for one region or the other, and so I fail to believe that it is a deliberate policy to destabilize East Timor.

QUESTION: Mr. Secretary-General, among the trouble spots you mentioned, you forgot Haiti, which is going from worse to even worse.

The SECRETARY-GENERAL: I know it has been a rather disappointing situation. We have tried to work with the Government and elected representatives, but, of course, you also need the support and cooperation of political forces on the ground. Unless the political forces and the leaders come together to work in the interest of the nation, rather than undermining each other regardless of the impact on society, I do not think that we are going to make much progress. I am not pleased with what is happening in Haiti, and I do not think anybody could be. I wish that the leaders periodically would think of the Haitian people, their needs and their future, and really develop that sense of compromise and concern for their needs that will allow us to move forward.

QUESTION: Mr. Secretary-General, you mentioned the presidential elections in Nigeria as one of the [inaudible] of this year. But you also are aware that the defeated candidate has not conceded to the winner. With the information at your disposal, how would you react to the fears that actually Nigeria has not crossed to the other side of its transition?

Secondly, the situation in Angola. Right now the United Nations mission is pulling out. If by some miracle the parties agree to talk and to stop fighting, would the United Nations be ready to send another mission to that country? Would you be in a position to recommend another mission?

The SECRETARY-GENERAL: On your first question, I am aware that Mr. Falae has questioned the election results. But I am also aware that the independent electoral commission has declared Mr. Obasanjo the winner, and I hope that whatever complaints they have about irregular activities will be investigated and looked into by the legal mechanism established for that purpose. In the meantime, we will have to live with the results as pronounced by the properly constituted electoral commission. I would hope that all Nigerians will come together and work with the new Government to make this transition a true success and lead Nigeria into an era of democracy and prosperity.

- 5 - Press Release SG/SM/6913 2 March 1999

I also want to congratulate General Abubakar for the work he has done in honouring his commitment and in working purposefully with the Nigerians and the international community to make this transition possible in a relatively short period of about eight months.

On your second question, if the parties agreed to a peace settlement and the climate were right for a United Nations presence or further United Nations action, I am sure that the Council would reconsider its position. But for the moment, the will does not seem to be there. There seems to be a determined effort for an all-out war.

QUESTION (interpretation from French): My question concerns Angola. How do you foresee a humanitarian presence, given that the fighting continues, the death toll is rising and the United Nations has been declared undesirable?

The SECRETARY-GENERAL (interpretation from French): Yes, but they have decided to accept humanitarian assistance and human rights officials. We shall, therefore, be pursuing our efforts and our work if possible, if we have access and if they work with us. If we decide that we cannot continue our work with the two parties, then we shall have to review our situation. In any case, we are going to do our best.

QUESTION: I have two questions, but they could have "yes" or "no" answers.

The first one: do you support the establishment of an international tribunal on Cambodia? Number two: do you support the United States and the United Kingdom's rather tough enforcement of their no-flight zones in Iraq?

The SECRETARY-GENERAL: On the first question, as you know, I have received the report from my team in Cambodia. We are analysing it. On 8 March, we will issue the summary of conclusions and recommendations. We will make that public and, on 15 March, I will issue the entire report, and copies will go to the General Assembly members and to the Council. As to what I will recommend or what I will do, we are analysing the report and I have not made up my mind yet. I am discussing the matter with my staff and the legal team.

On the question of the United States/British action on Iraq, again, as I have indicated on the whole Iraq issue, the Council is so actively engaged now and is in the lead. I will follow their lead and I think I am waiting for them to indicate what the next step should be, along with the results of the panels. But I think it is very much an issue for the Council, which is fully seized of that dossier, rather than for the Secretary-General.

QUESTION: You have [inaudible] and political forces and leadership. In the South Asian region, the situation is changing. The Taliban are back at the negotiating table with Lakhdar Brahimi [Special Envoy of the Secretary- General for Afghanistan]. Indian and Pakistani leaders are talking to each

- 6 - Press Release SG/SM/6913 2 March 1999

other, making public commitments to resolve their issues, including Kashmir and [inaudible]. What is your comment on both these situations? Do you plan to visit the region sooner than you planned or to keep away until the bilateralism is worked out?

The SECRETARY-GENERAL: First of all, let me say that these are very encouraging developments, and I was particularly pleased with the meeting between Prime Minister Vajpayee and Prime Minister Sharif. I hope that this is only a beginning and that the dialogue will continue, and we will see results sooner rather than later.

On the question of Afghanistan, as you know, Mr. Brahimi is there or has been there recently. We have sent two security missions in, and I have allowed two missions to go to, Kabul and Badakhshan, which we sent in because of the emergency situation there. We are reassessing our own return to Afghanistan, and probably I will have an announcement in the next week to 10 days, depending upon what reports I get.

On my own visit to the region, I still plan to go the region and I don't think it is directly tied to the talks which are going on. I would hope that it will be sooner rather than later, but I cannot give you a date yet.

QUESTION: There is a throw-away comment in The New York Times this morning about your attitude to General Pinochet, saying that you're concerned about General Pinochet's arrest. Is that an accurate characterization of your views?

The SECRETARY-GENERAL: First of all, I don't know where that quote came from. I think people have been discovering so many confidants, close associates, advisers -- most of them I don't know. So I don't know who gave away that quote.

Obviously, that is not my view. My sense is that each situation differs from the others; and governments handle these issues differently. South Africans went through the Truth Commission; we have done interesting work in El Salvador; this week I received the commission on Guatemala, and we have circulated the conclusions and all that. So, what is in the paper does not reflect my view. And, as I said, I will be submitting the report to the Council and the General Assembly on 15 March. It will be submitted with a forwarding memorandum from me, and hopefully in that memorandum you will know my views. But those are not my views.

On Pinochet, I think I did speak to you -- the press -- at the time. I did indicate that this is an issue before the legal system and I did not want to comment or be drawn in or say anything that might affect ongoing proceedings. I also indicated at the time that what had happened in London indicated in a sense how humanitarian law and international law were developing in this area, and I do not think I have anything to add to that.

- 7 - Press Release SG/SM/6913 2 March 1999

QUESTION: Mr. Secretary-General, you mentioned that the Iraq matter is in the hands of the Council. But, at the same time, because the value of UNSCOM as a model for other disarmament work of the United Nations has been stressed, do you feel that any disarmament body of the United Nations can carry out its work if there are suspicions, or for that matter confirmations, that some of its members have been drawn into espionage work and possibly even into covert efforts to destabilize governments?

The SECRETARY-GENERAL: There is no doubt that these allegations will make disarmament regimes or future efforts difficult if governments believe that this kind of thing can happen. But I still believe that the Council will have to draw the right lessons and assess the situation.

QUESTION: On Guatemala, on the Truth Commission: there have been a lot of suggestions that maybe some of the military leaders during the 1980s -- Rios Mont, Lucas García -- are the kinds of people whom maybe courts should be looking at to prosecute for crimes, including genocide. Do you have any view? Do you think that this is an area that is worth pursuing, or that, along the lines of some other peace agreements in the past, the focus should be on reconciliation?

The SECRETARY-GENERAL: I think the report has been made public, and I think that, in itself, is a very healthy development. I applaud the commissioners for the solid work that they did, and the frankness and determination with which they approached their work. We have released a report, and the Government and the people of Guatemala are discussing this. Of course, the findings are not binding as such, and so the Government will have to decide what the next steps should be.

QUESTION: Given this Washington Post report this morning about the United States using UNSCOM unbeknownst to the United Nations to plant military intelligence, and your response just now that that will make future efforts difficult, what do you think is the most likely procedure within the United Nations to establish future guidelines that can prevent this? How could that be handled in the United Nations?

The SECRETARY-GENERAL: I am not sure I can give you an answer to that. We have several United Nations entities that are involved with this kind of work, and I think each of them, from the chemical weapons to the atomic agency and others, will have to assess the situation and determine what steps they have to take to ensure the sanctity of their work and to make sure that their staff focus on the work that has been assigned to them.

QUESTION: Have you received any indications from Prakash Shah [Special Envoy of the Secretary-General in Baghdad] or others that Iraq might be willing to allow members of the panel assessing disarmament into the country?

- 8 - Press Release SG/SM/6913 2 March 1999

And the second question: the charter airline that owned the two planes that crashed in Angola filed a report with Benon Sevan [United Nations Security Coordinator] about both incidents. What more can you tell us about the crashes?

The SECRETARY-GENERAL: On your first question, I have received no assurance from Mr. Shah or from anybody in the Iraqi authorities as to what their reaction will be, or their future plans are, with regard to the relationship with the Security Council.

On the second question, we are still continuing our investigations into the two plane crashes and I have no details at this stage to provide to you.

QUESTION: Sir, there is an ongoing crisis between Greece and Turkey lately over the Kurds. Some diplomats even fear a war. Do you plan to intervene in any way, and what is the latest from Cyprus?

The SECRETARY-GENERAL: Well, I hope that there will be no war between Greece and Turkey. We have all followed the developments with the arrest of Ocalan, and also the relationship between Turkey and Greece. But I hope that this difficult period, this tension, will be overcome and that it is not going to lead to any war.

On Cyprus, as you know, based on the work that Dame Ann Hercus [Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Cyprus] did, the S-300 missiles were not deployed, which has helped reduce tension somewhat. We will continue our efforts to try to seek a solution to the conflict. It is not an easy conflict and, as you know, we have lived with it for quite a while, and it has become a bit more complicated for various reasons. But we would hope that, in the course of this year, we may be able to move the process forward a bit more as a result of certain initiatives we are taking. But I am not in a position to go into details at this stage.

QUESTION: How goes the search for a replacement for Ambassador Butler, who has said he does not think he will continue after his contract expires? And, on Cambodia, have you got any kind of assurances from the Government that they will be willing to follow the panel's recommendation for a tribunal and a truth commission? Are you concerned that the Government and, perhaps, some members of the Security Council may not want to follow that recommendation?

The SECRETARY-GENERAL: On your first question, we have not commenced a search for Mr. Butler's replacement.

On the second question, I hope to receive the Foreign Minister of Cambodia here next week, and I will be able to discuss some of the issues you have raised with him personally.

- 9 - Press Release SG/SM/6913 2 March 1999

QUESTION: Yes, Mr. Secretary-General, back to the no-flight zone in Iraq, given the fact that the United Nations is the international body or organ to prevent conflict and so on, what do you intend to report to the Council in your next report concerning the "oil-for-food" programme and the no-flight zone issue, especially given that the Humanitarian Coordinator said that it may interrupt the flow of goods allowed into Iraq and also the flow of oil?

The SECRETARY-GENERAL: If the indications are that the flow of oil was stopped -- that the going into Turkey was stopped, I think, about 48 hours ago -- and Iraq indicated that its capacity has been damaged by one of the bombs -- if they are not able to repair it and the situation were to affect negatively Iraq's capacity to pump and sell oil, it will have a negative impact on the humanitarian operations, in that we will not have sufficient money to cover the costs of the operations and we will, therefore, have to report it to the Council in our next report. If it is able to be repaired and we are able to carry on with our work, that will also be reflected. But on the enforcement of the no-flight zone and the no-flight zone itself, I think I have given you an answer: it is really an issue for the Council.

QUESTION: Mr. Secretary-General, you recently appointed Ambassador Vorontsov as your Special Representative to the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries. Do you have any specific tasks in mind that you will ask Ambassador Vorontsov to fulfil, and when is he going to go into business?

The SECRETARY-GENERAL: Let me say, first of all, that he is not so much going to focus on CIS countries. We are operating in that region and we periodically need advice, both in terms of our dealings in Moscow and in the countries that we deal with. We wanted an experienced person who can give us some advice periodically. Let me stress that the appointment is on an as-and when-employed basis -- when advice is offered. It is not a full-time assignment that requires him to come here or to open an office in Moscow or somewhere in the region. But we will approach him periodically for advice.

QUESTION: Are you encouraged by what you heard from Mr. Qadhafi? Do you view it as a positive sign?

But the question is on Iraq really. You have been a man who has played a role in Iraq. It is very peculiar, actually, that you just say, "It's the Council, it's the Council." You are a man who took a position, saying, "We want to implement Security Council resolutions." So why wouldn't you make a démarche to the United States on the issue of UNSCOM's spying or the United States spying on UNSCOM? And why can't you tell us what your reading is -- is the no-flight zone based on Security Council resolutions? Does this have the authority of the Security Council or not?

The SECRETARY-GENERAL: On the question of Libya, as I said, I did not hear from leader Qadhafi directly. I read it in the press. And if it is indeed accurate, it is an encouraging sign.

- 10 - Press Release SG/SM/6913 2 March 1999

On the question of Iraq, let us be quite clear here. Iraq has always been a responsibility of the Council. I stepped in last February because we had a problem of access into the palaces. In my negotiations with the Iraqi leadership, I was able to gain access, and it worked for about five months or so, and we were back to where we were. Obviously, I tried to press the Iraqi authorities to comply and comply fully with Security Council resolutions through peaceful means. My efforts obviously were deemed insufficient, and other approaches are being tried now. I think we need to wait and see how they develop.

So this is where I said that the Council is running the Iraqi operation. The Council has set up three panels.

On the question of the no-flight zone, the Council has been aware of this from the beginning. Has it acquiesced by its silence? Has it endorsed it? Does the Council have a problem with it? I think all the 15 members occupy this building with us, and you can ask them.

QUESTION: So will you make a démarche or will you not?

The SECRETARY-GENERAL: I will not make a démarche. I think the Council should take this on.

QUESTION: Given the UNSCOM spying allegations and the fact that it is pretty clear now that United States policy favours a change in leadership in Iraq, what is the incentive for the Iraqis to commit to any kind of cooperation with the United Nations again? And do you think that the United States policy is undermining the United Nations disarmament effort in Iraq?

The SECRETARY-GENERAL: That is a very good question. I think you are ready to take on Fred, and I would not want to stand in your way. But that is a very good question.

* *** *