9 March 2001

Today the President presided over a discussion in the General Assembly concerning the destruction of relics and monuments in Afghanistan. The Assembly adopted a resolution asking the Taliban to take immediate action to prevent the further destruction of the irreplaceable relics, monuments or artifacts of Afghanistan's cultural heritage. The adopted resolution also calls upon Member States to help to safeguard the sculptures including, if necessary, their temporary relocation or removal from public view.

The President held his regular monthly luncheon meeting with the President of the Security Council, currently the Ambassador of Ukraine, H.E. Mr. Volodymyr Yu. Yel'chenko. The discussion focused on current issues before the Security Council and its programme of work.

Later today the President met with representatives of the permanent members of the Security Council (P-5): H.E. Mr. Wang Yingfan of China, H.E. Mr. Sergey V. Lavrov of the Russian Federation, H.E. Mr. Jeremy Greenstock of the United Kingdom, H.E. Mr. James Cunningham of the United States of America and Mr. Yves Doutriaux of France. They discussed the issues related to the work of the Open-ended Working Group on Security Council reform, which is scheduled to meet each day next week.

The work of the Open-ended Working Group on Security Council reform was also discussed during the President's meeting with the Permanent Representative of Australia, H.E. Ms. Penny Wensley, Permanent Representative of Belgium, H.E. Mr. André Adam, and Permanent Representative of Ireland, H.E. Mr. Richard Ryan.

The President also met with Under-Secretary-General Mr. Ibrahim Gambari, who was recently appointed as Secretary-Generals Adviser for Special Assignments in Africa. They discussed the work of the open-ended working group on Africa.

During a meeting with the Permanent Representative of South Africa, H.E. Mr. Dumisani Shadrack Kumalo, and with H.E. Mr. Bagher Asadi of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the President was briefed about this morning's meeting of the Joint Coordinating Committee (JCC) of the Non-Aligned Movement and the Group of 77. The JCC had expressed its support to the efforts to improve the working methods of the General Assembly. The President assured his interlocutors that enough time would be given to the consideration of this important issue.

The President also met separately with Mr. Timo Relander, Director General of the Statistics Finland and with H.E. Ms. Marjatta Rasi, Permanent Representative of Finland.