ACTIVITIES OF SECRETARY-GENERAL IN GUINEA, 9 JULY

14 July 1999

Press Release
SG/T/2192

ACTIVITIES OF SECRETARY-GENERAL IN GUINEA, 9 JULY

19990714 The Secretary-General arrived in Guinea from Liberia on the evening of 8 July and began his official programme the following morning, with a meeting with Guinean Foreign Minister Zainoul Abidine Sanoussi, initially one on one, and then with full delegations. The Foreign Minister said that Guinea had absorbed 2 million refugees during 10 years of instability in West Africa. At least 700,000, mostly from Sierra Leone, were still in Guinea. A donor's conference was scheduled for Brussels in October, seeking funds for Guinea for development. The Secretary-General said he would support this effort. The Foreign Minister also asked the Secretary-General to assist in improving relations between Guinea and neighbouring Guinea-Bissau. The Secretary- General said he had named an envoy to Guinea-Bissau and would assist in any way he could.

He then met briefly one on one with Prime Minister Lamine Sidime. With their delegations, they then again discussed the economic and ecological impact of the large number of refugees in the country. The Secretary-General said that the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees was doing what she could, but resources were always short. He would talk to her about Guinea. They discussed the security situation in Africa, the recent peace agreement in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Sierra Leone, and the need for stability in order to attract foreign investment. The Secretary-General suggested the Latin American regional economic organization -- the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR) -- as a possible model for West Africa. The Secretary-General and the Prime Minister then again met one on one.

The Secretary-General's last official meeting in Guinea was with President Lansana Conte, who expressed concern that the refugees in his country did not see the situation at home in Sierra Leone and Liberia as stable enough to return. They discussed regional issues and the dangers of the arms trade. The Secretary-General and the President then met one on one.

After a lunch hosted by the Prime Minister, the Secretary-General and his party were to travel by helicopter to two camps with refugees mostly from Sierra Leone. On his return to Conakry, the Secretary-General gave a press conference and then flew to Abuja, Nigeria.

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