ACTIVITIES OF SECRETARY-GENERAL IN DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, 28-29 JUNE

The Secretary-General arrived in Dubai on Monday, 28 June 2004, on the first leg of a trip which would take him to Qatar, the Sudan, Chad, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya, Thailand and Austria.

He was met at the airport upon arrival by Mr. Mohamad Al Gargawi, head of the Dubai Investment Authority.

Before moving on to Doha, Qatar, on Tuesday, he was stopped by Dubai-TV, giving him the opportunity for his first live comment on the handover of power in Iraq.

“I hope that they will use this important step as an opportunity to come together,” he said, “in dialogue, and reconcile, and try and bring everybody under the tent.”  He added, “I believe they will be able to run their country.”