17 November 2000

Today the General Assembly concluded its discussion on the reform of the Security Council. More than 100 speakers were heard during the two-day debate. Many speakers noted that the issue had now been discussed for seven years and that even as everyone agreed on the necessity for reform, there was still not agreement on how. The President of the General Assembly will chair the open-ended working on Security Council reform group next year.

Mr. Holkeri met with the President of the Republic of Croatia, H.E. Mr. Stjepan Mesic. They discussed follow-up to the Millennium Summit and the admission of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to membership of the United Nations which was seen as being a positive development and in the interests of the stability of the whole region of South-Eastern Europe.

The President also met with the President of the Christian Mission for the United Nations community, Dr. Gary Allen. A Photograph of their meeting can be viewed on the "Photos" page.

In the evening, Mr. Holkeri attended the Sasakawa Environment Prize Award ceremony hosted by the Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme, Mr. Klaus Topfer.