20 March 2001

The President hosted a luncheon on the occasion of the Third Session of the Preparatory Committee for the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons. The luncheon was one of a series of lunches to tie in all up-coming events as a holistic approach to the follow-up of the Millennium Summit. The President urged the Preparatory Committee to use its best efforts to reach the ambitions goals set in the Millennium Report and the Summit and produce concrete results

Mr. Holkeri presided over the organizational session of the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Causes of Conflict and the Promotion of Durable Peace and Sustainable Development in Africa. The meeting adopted the main themes for the upcoming discussions and the programme of work.

During his meeting with the President, Mr. Kenzo Oshima, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, briefed the President about his mission to Afghanistan which took place 12 to 17 February.

Later in the day the President attended a reception to bid farewell, hosted by H.E. Mr. Ahmed Snoussi, Permanent Representative of Morocco.