This is the text of the statement delivered today by Secretary-General Kofi Annan at the National Press Club, in Washington, D.C.:
WASHINGTON, D.C., 22-23 January -- Upon arrival in Washington, D.C., yesterday, 22 January, Secretary-General Kofi Annan and his party travelled directly to the Capitol building, where they were received by Congressman Benjamin Gilman (Republican-New York).
Following is the statement made today by Secretary-General Kofi Annan on the occasion of the ceremonial take-over by the United Republic of Tanzania from Costa Rica of the Chairmanship of the "Group of 77" developing countries and China:
The Secretary-General was shocked by the killing of three Spanish aid workers and the wounding of an American aid worker employed by Médecins du Monde in Ruhengeri, Rwanda.
Secretary-General Kofi Annan today took personal direction of United Nations reform in a 90-minute Saturday morning meeting with senior advisers that addressed the time-frame and the process for the reform effort.
The Secretary-General is very much encouraged by the conclusion of an agreement regarding Hebron and other important issues, which has now been reached between Israel and the Palestinians.
The Secretary-General was shocked to learn of another massacre by the Burundi Army, on 10 January, of 122 Burundi refugees returning from the United Republic of Tanzania, in the province of Muyinga.
