ACTIVITIES OF SECRETARY-GENERAL IN UNITED KINGDOM, 30 JUNE - 3 JULY
United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, accompanied by his wife Nane, arrived in Edinburgh on Thursday, 30 June, on the first leg of a mission that was also taking him to the African Union and the G-8 summits.
On Thursday evening, the Secretary-General delivered a speech at the 500th anniversary dinner of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. (See Press Release SG/SM/9976.)
In that speech, he called for new and serious efforts to build health systems in the developing world, and noted that Africa alone will require 1 million new health workers to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. He also said that, while progress is possible, it will depend on the will of governments, such as the Group of Eight countries, which will meet just down the road from Edinburgh, in Gleneagles, next week.
He also told them, “One of the reasons I am here tonight is that one of your Fellows, Professor James Garden, saved the life of my colleague and friend, Sir Kieran Prendergast, (the outgoing Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs). For that, you have a special place in my heart.”
On Friday, the Secretary-General and Mrs. Annan toured the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh before he received an Honorary Fellowship at the College’s diploma ceremony.
In a press encounter shortly before the ceremony began, the Secretary-General was asked about the upcoming G-8 summit in nearby Gleneagles.
“I hope the focus on Africa, the fight against poverty, will help move our concerns forward. Already, there have been very good developments”, he told reporters. “The European Union members have more or less doubled the development assistance to poorer countries, and 50 per cent of that will go to Africa. There are good indications that the G-8 heads of State confirmed the debt relief that has been recommended by their foreign ministers. And I hope they would also be forward-looking and take some concrete steps on trade and trade negotiations, the ‘Doha Round’ as we call it, so that it would also become truly a development round. And that would level the field for goods coming from the Third World”, he said.
“And of course, we are also interested in environmental degradation, so we are very excited that [UK] Prime Minister [Tony] Blair has put those two issues at the centre of the discussions this weekend”, he said.
Responding to a question about his message to the G-8 leaders, the Secretary-General said: “The poor need you, don’t forget them.”
He attended a reception hosted by the College President, John A.R. Smith, at EdinburghCastle, before departing for London Friday evening.
In London Saturday afternoon, the Secretary-General and Mrs. Annan went to the Live 8 concert in Hyde Park, aimed at the leaders gathering at the 2005 G-8 summit. The Secretary-General later made a brief appearance on stage. “This is really a United Nations”, he told the crowd. “The whole world has come together in solidarity with the poor.”
He then thanked them “on behalf of the poor, the voiceless and the weak”.
Earlier in the day, the Secretary-General issued a statement voicing his support for the Live 8 concert. “I came here to show support for all the millions of people in the world who stand to benefit if the Millennium Development Goals are reached -- especially the children who will be saved from malaria or AIDS, who will grow up healthy, go to school and have the chance to earn their living and enjoy life”, he said. (See Press Release SG/SM/9977.)
“I also came to express my thanks to the artists who are devoting their time and talents to such a vital cause. There are many important decisions that only governments can take. But they will do so only if they see that ordinary voters really want those decisions, and are ready to support them”, he said.
“So I believe events like this really can contribute to change the world. It’s wonderful to see so many young people become engaged in this anti-poverty campaign. This generation -- with its voice, with its votes, with its hard work -– really can make poverty history. They believe a better world is possible, if we have the will to build it. And so do I.”
He heard performances by top artists such as Bono and U2, Paul McCartney, Elton John, Coldplay, REM and Youssou N’Dour, and met with some of them informally, as well as with Bill Gates who was also attending the concert. A group of children from the African Children’s Choir, who were waiting in the wings to perform later in the concert, broke out into song for the Secretary-General and Mrs. Annan when they stopped to have a conversation with them.
The Secretary-General departed London for Tripoli, Libya, on Sunday morning.