ACTIVITIES OF SECRETARY-GENERAL IN WASHINGTON, D.C., 12 - 13 NOVEMBER
The Secretary-General travelled to Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, 12 November, to accept the International Visionaries Award offered by the United Nations Association of the United States (UNA-USA) and the Business Council for the United Nations.
At that event, he was introduced by United States Secretary of State Colin Powell, who said of him, “He works with the high and mighty, but never forgets the least of God’s children.”
In accepting the Award, the Secretary-General said that the world had rarely needed the United Nations as much as it does today. He welcomed the unanimous Security Council resolution for the return of United Nations weapons inspectors to Iraq. But he added, “Just as important will be the broader effort to fight against terrorism, and defeat those forces of hatred, distrust and repression that enable it.”
“Just as terrorism must never be excused”, he went on, “so must genuine grievances never be ignored ... Otherwise, we risk losing that most central of wars –- the war for the hearts and minds of mankind.”
“We must act with equal determination,” he said, “to solve the political disputes and long-standing conflicts, which generate an atmosphere conducive to the support of terrorism.”
“Only then”, he concluded, “can we truly say that the war on terrorism has been won.” (See Press Release SG/SM/8488.)
On his arrival in Washington that afternoon, the Secretary-General met with Mr. Powell, first one on one for 15 minutes, then with delegations. The fast-paced talks touched on Iraq, political and humanitarian aspects of the Israeli-Palestinian issue, Cyprus, Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria-Cameroon territorial issues, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Somalia, Sudan, Afghanistan, and United States-United Nations issues such as funding for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Capital Master Plan. The Security-General went out of his way to thank Secretary Powell for United States efforts to pay its arrears to the United Nations.
Afterwards, the two men addressed the press. On the subject of Iraq, the Secretary-General said, “Yes, we do have a resolution, but it is a beginning. It is a beginning. We are looking forward to receiving a letter from the Iraqis by the 15th, and then we will move from there.”
Asked whether Iraq is getting imports that it shouldn’t, due to loopholes in the “oil-for-food” programme, the Secretary-General replied, “It is not excluded that there may be items which are of civilian use, but may have other uses that may get through, but we try to ensure that any items that could be put to military use and are of military importance are kept out of the list.”
The Secretary-General on Wednesday analysed the state of play in efforts to bring peace to the Middle East in delivering the Anwar Sadat Lecture for Peace at the University of Maryland. “An atmosphere of gloom and defeatism has descended on the region”, he said. What is missing on each side is trust in the other. “Without that trust”, he said, “the hope of peace becomes hard to sustain.”
Restoring that trust is the objective of the Quartet -– the United Nations, the United States, the European Union and the Russian Federation -– which is finalizing a road map to achieving the peaceful two-State solution that the majority on both sides desire.
President Sadat, he stated, understood the vital importance of psychology in war and peace. People need to feel accepted by their neighbours in order to find the courage to renew negotiations in good faith and to make the necessary concessions.
“In the stage the conflict has now reached”, he observed, “I believe both sides are aching for that sense of acceptance.”
The international community stands ready to help both Palestinians and Israelis break through the barrier of suspicion and rejection, he concluded.
“What is needed on both sides is true leadership, such as Anwar Sadat provided in his time”, he said. “Let us pray that they find it before it is too late.” (See Press Release SG/SM/8491.)
After delivering the lecture, the Secretary-General was awarded an honorary doctorate.
Returning to Washington, he went to the White House to meet with President George W. Bush. Each of them made brief comments to the press before their meeting. The Secretary-General said that terrorism “is a scourge that affects all of us, regardless of region or religion. And we need to stand together to defeat terrorism”. In this context, he praised the work of the United Nations Security Council in getting all nations to work together on it.
On Iraq, he thanked the President for taking the multilateral route through the United Nations.
In his meeting with the President, Vice-President Dick Cheney, National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice, and Secretary of State Colin Powell, among others, were also present. They talked of the current changing of the guard in China, the new Security Council resolution on Iraq, peace efforts in the Middle East, a range of African and Latin American issues, the Secretary-General’s recent initiative on Cyprus, Afghanistan, international terror, Chechnya, and the United Nations Capital Master Plan for revamping the Headquarters Building.
At a press encounter after the meeting, the Secretary-General was asked whether the letter he received that day from Iraq saying they would admit United Nations weapons inspectors was in compliance with Security Council resolution 1441. “Yes”, he replied. “Iraq has accepted.”
“What’s your level of confidence that things are different now, or are they?”, he was then asked.
“We all have to be a bit patient”, he answered. “The inspectors will be there in a few days ... and we’re going to test it.”
Asked whether he thought acceptance of the resolution had delayed military action, he said, “I think the issue is not the acceptance but performance on the ground ... I think that is the real test we are all waiting for.”
A journalist asked him about Cyprus, and he said he was sure President Bush would do everything he could to help find a settlement. “And I think we really have a chance”, he added.
He then returned to New York.