ACTIVITIES OF SECRETARY-GENERAL IN CANADA, 8 - 9 MARCH
Secretary-General Kofi Annan arrived in Ottawa to begin a state visit in the afternoon of Monday 8 March.
He was greeted by Canada’s Governor-General, Adrienne Clarkson, with a 21-gun salute at her official residence, Rideau Hall.
In his welcoming remarks, the Secretary-General said that Canada was a truly diverse and multilingual society which forms a kind of United Nations of its own.
Canadians, he noted, are born multilateralists. The partnership between Canada and the United Nations is strong and valuable, he told the Governor-General in answer to her welcoming remarks. (See Press Release SG/SM/9189.)
That evening, the Secretary-General and Nane Annan attended a State dinner at the CanadianMuseum of Civilization.
In his toast to the more than 300 assembled guests, the Secretary-General hailed Canada’s legendary role in United Nations peacekeeping operations. He added that Louise Arbour’s new assignment as High Commissioner for Human Rights symbolizes Canada’s long-time commitment as a defender of human rights and the rule of law.
In closing, the Secretary-General said that he knew he could count on Canada’s unstinting and imaginative engagement to fulfil the many challenges on the United Nations’ agenda, notably the task of translating into reality the Millennium Development Goals.
The Secretary-General began his day on Tuesday by laying a wreath at Canada’s memorial to fallen United Nations peacekeepers.
He was guided through the memorial by retired Col. John Gardam, a veteran of United Nations peacekeeping missions.
The Secretary-General had a brief one-on-one meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin, after which he addressed the Canadian Parliament. He was introduced by Prime Minister Martin to the Parliament, and he received a standing ovation, as did several Canadians who were also noted by the Prime Minister for their contributions to the United Nations, including Deputy Secretary-General Louise Fréchette, envoys Stephen Lewis and Maurice Strong, incoming High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour and retired General Romeo Dallaire.
In his speech, the Secretary-General said that Canada has been a pillar of support for the United Nations over the years. He noted Canada’s leadership in promoting new ideas on strengthening peaceful global governance, including its focus on the rights and dignity of the individual. He noted, in that context, the approaching 10-year anniversary of the genocide in Rwanda, and said that, in order to avoid similar atrocities in the future, he has proposed the establishment of a special rapporteur or adviser on the prevention of genocide. He also made a special plea for long-term commitment to help the people of Haiti. He warned that the “half-hearted efforts of the past have been insufficient” and added, “We cannot afford to fail this time”. (See Press Release SG/SM/9190.)
He then had an extended meeting with Prime Minister Paul Martin and members of his cabinet. The discussion, which lasted close to an hour, focused mainly on the situation in Haiti.
Prior to holding a joint press conference, the Secretary-General and the Prime Minister witnessed the signing of a contribution arrangement between the Government of Canada and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The arrangement was signed by Aileen Carroll, Canada’s Minister for International Cooperation and Dr. Mohammed Chambers, Executive Secretary of the Economic Community of Western African States.
During his press conference the Secretary-General was asked about international involvement in Haiti. He said that the commitment to Haiti would take a lot of time, and could be needed “for 10 years or more”.
Asked about President Jean-Bertrand Aristide’s ouster, he said that the Security Council had acted on the basis of a letter of resignation and the transfer of power to the Chief Justice, and had determined that a multinational force was needed in the country because of the volatile environment.
Asked about reports of a United Nations plan to broker peace between Israel and Syria, the Secretary-General said “there is no such plan at the moment”, although there have been discussions and working papers on what to do on the Syrian track “when the time comes”.
That press encounter was followed by a working lunch with the Prime Minister, which included discussions on Iraq, Afghanistan and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, among other issues.
Mr. Annan then laid a wreath at the Monument to Canadian Aid Workers, which honours aid workers who were killed while working abroad.
Later in the afternoon, the Secretary-General met for about an hour with Aileen Carroll, Minister for International Cooperation of Canada, Dr. Maureen O’Neill, President of the International Development Research Centre, and other representatives of Canadian civil society. They discussed in depth the role of non-governmental organizations and of Canada in implementing the Millennium Development Goals.
The Secretary-General also met with the High Commissioner for Human Rights-designate Louise Arbour at the Governor-General’s residence.
On Tuesday morning, while her husband met with Prime Minister Martin, Mrs. Annan told a gathering of civil society representatives in Ottawa that the inequalities that exist between men and women had come to a head in the face of the global AIDS epidemic. “We know about inequalities such as the feminization of poverty”, she said, “but now with the growing AIDS crisis, equality can be a question of life and death for women”.
Mrs. Annan hailed the Global Coalition on Women and AIDS, formed in February 2004, as “a growing movement of women and men committed to mitigate the impact of AIDS on women and girls worldwide”. She also drew on her personal experience to highlight the crucial role being played by courageous women living with HIV/AIDS who are speaking out to warn others despite the stigma and discrimination they face.
She also spoke of the young men and women she had met who are working together as peer educators to stop the disease from spreading. “They have been passionate, caring, sometimes bold and direct, and you could see that these were not ‘nerds’, but ‘cool’ young people to whom others will listen.”
The event was organized by the United Nations Association in Canada in support of International Women’s Week. It attracted about 125 guests from government, non-governmental organizations and the media. Other speakers included Jean Augustine, Canada’s Secretary of State for Multiculturalism and the Status of Women.
Before departing Ottawa, the Secretary-General received honorary degrees from CarletonUniversity and the University of Ottawa, and he noted, at that occasion, the truth behind Canadian Marshall McLuhan’s words, that we live in “a global village”. (See Press Release SG/SM/9191.)
Throughout his visit to Canada, he was accompanied by his Deputy, Canadian Louise Fréchette.
The Secretary-General returned to New York that evening.