13 February 2001

Today the President presided over an informal brainstorming session of the General Committee. The aim of the meeting was to look at the working methods of the General Assembly and to come up with some specific ways that they could be improved. The members of the General Committee, which are the 21 Vice-Presidents of the General Assembly and the Chairpersons of the Six Main Committees, participated in the session, as did a number of Permanent Representatives of other delegations. Mr. Holkeri made opening remarks in the beginning of the meeting, emphasizing that as the President of the General Assembly it is his duty to continue the process of reform, which is also in accordance with the mandate given by the Millennium Summit. The full text of his opening remarks is available on the "Statements and Messages" page.

The President met with General John de Chastelain of Canada. The General and Mr. Holkeri were two of the three members of the International Body, chaired by Senator George Mitchell of the United States. The group was set up by the governments of United Kingdom and Ireland, on the issue of decommissioning of illegal weapons in Northern Ireland. Later they served as Independent Chairmen of the Northern Ireland Peace Process, which led to the accord known as Good Friday Agreement. Mr. Holkeri also attended a lunch in honor of General de Chastelain, hosted by H.E. Mr. Michael Phillips, Consul General of Canada.