12 February 2001

The President hosted a working luncheon on the issue of the follow-up to the outcome of the Millennium Summit, with Deputy Secretary-General Louise Frechette and a number of Permanent Representatives from various regions attending. During the luncheon, views and information were exchanged on how the follow-up process is proceeding both at the intergovernmental level and in the United Nations Secretariat.

The President spoke at the opening of the second session of the Preparatory Committee for the High-level International Intergovernmental Event on Financing for Development. In his remarks, Mr. Holkeri emphasized his personal commitment to the Financing for Development process, which in his view is searching for fresh angles and interlinkages, rather than preparing merely for an isolated event. The full text of his remarks is available on the "Statements and Messages" page.

The President met with the Director of State Forestry at the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of Finland, Mr. Pekka Patosaari. They discussed the work of the United Nations Forum on Forests, now in session in the Headquarters.