PRESS CONFERENCE BY AFRICAN GROUP OF STATES

Saying that Secretary-General Kofi Annan “continues to impress us all with his grace, dignity, human concern and respect for others,” the Permanent Representative of Djibouti, Roble Olhaye told correspondents at a Headquarters press conference this morning that the African Group of States had created a task force to monitor developments relating to his candidacy for another term once he made his position clear.  The Secretary-General’s five-year term expires at the end of 2001.

Other permanent representatives present were Nana Effah-Apenteng (Ghana), Abdallah Baali (Algeria), Anand Priyay Neewoor (Mauritius), Dumisani Shadrack Kumalo (South Africa), Denis Dnague Rewaka (Gabon) and Daudi Ngelautwa Mwakawago (United Republic of Tanzania).

Mr. Olhaye announced the African Group had sent a letter to the Secretary-General, dated 13 March, strongly encouraging him to consider serving another term and indicating the Group’s readiness to fully support him.  That move, he stressed, was not intended in any way to dash the hopes of any individual or group. 

The Group would soon be interacting with colleagues from other regions, he added. It had surveyed and assessed the mood of Member States and had found an overwhelming interest in the incumbent continuing in office for another term.

He said the Secretary-General’s achievements included the far-reaching and comprehensive reform process that already had a visible impact on decision-making, coordination and accountability and which must be completed.  The Secretary-General had also recognized the need to interact with the general public and had reached out to the business community.

Among other achievements, Mr. Olhaye mentioned the Secretary-General’s initiating an overhaul of peacekeeping operations, which was now under way.  Through painstaking and patient diplomacy, he had been able to draw the international community’s attention to pernicious conflicts, particularly in Africa.  He had been able to re-engage the United Nations in a number of situations, areas and issues that, over the years, had become off-limits to the Secretariat.  For the first time in its existence, the United Nations, under his stewardship, accepted its failures in Bosnia and Rwanda.

Asked whether the Secretary-General had done enough for Africa, Mr. Kumalo (South Africa) said the Secretary-General had been able to engage other regions of the world in focusing on the problems of Africa.

Mr. Baali (Algeria), in reaction to a question, said that recognition of the United Nations failures in Bosnia and Rwanda was just one the Secretary-General’s many achievements.  Mr. Effah-Apenteng (Ghana) added that that recognition had led to the “Brahimi” Panel to look at problems related to peacekeeping.

Asked about contacts with the Asian Group, Mr. Neewoor (Mauritius) said there had not been any contact, since the task force first wanted to convince Mr. Annan to seek a second term.  The Secretary-General was likely to announce his decision by the end of March.

Asked what differences the Group saw between the current Secretary-General and his predecessor -- both from Africa -- Mr. Mwakawago (United Republic of Tanzania) left that assessment to the representatives of the media, as they were the best judges.  He said Mr. Annan was the right person for the current time, as he commanded the respect of Member States from all regions.  The Secretary-General had managed to have the United Nations system work in concert for the first time and to engage the Bretton Woods institutions.  That kind of leadership should be continued.

Mr. Baali (Algeria) added that people from Africa, confronted as the continent was with conflicts, misery and diseases, might have more to give than representatives from other continents.  The two Secretaries-General had brought with them the vision of Africa and the compassion of Africans for people who were suffering.  Both had treated all regions of the world in a fair way, even though Mr. Annan had focused on Africa because Africans had the impression that the United Nations was not doing enough for them.

Answering another correspondent’s question, Mr. Olhaye (Djibouti) said the Group had not had any communications with the five permanent Members of the Security Council.  It had just been assessing the mood.

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