20 September 2000

The General Debate continued today with statements by the Foreign Ministers or other representatives from Slovakia, Azerbaijan, Namibia, Singapore, Kyrgyzstan, Lesotho, Palau, Cambodia, Liberia, Central African Republic, Bolivia, Myanmar, Andorra, Haiti and Vanuatu.

Mr. Holkeri met over breakfast with the Chairman of the Fourth Committee, H.E. Prof. Matia Mulumba Semakula Kiwanuka of Uganda. One of the Committee Vice-Chairs as well as the secretary of the Committee also attended the meeting. Discussions centred around the programme for the upcoming session and ways to increase the effectiveness of the Committee's work.

The President had a luncheon meeting with the President of the Security Council, H.E. Mr. Moctar Ouane of Mali. The discussion focused on how both the Security Council and the General Assembly will deal with the report of the Panel on United Nations Peace Operations, the so called Brahimi Report, and how its recommendations could be reflected in the work of the Security Council.

During his meeting with Mr. Holkeri, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh, H.E. Mr. Alhaj Abdus Samad Azad stressed the importance of the United Nations to least developed countries. Issues related to education were also discussed and Mr. Alhaj Abdus Samad Azad explained the advances made in promoting girls' education in his country.

Later in the day the President and his staff had an informal get together with the President of the 54th Session on the General Assembly and his staff where they exchanged views about the role of the Office of the
President.

Mr. Holkeri also attended an Italian cultural evening and dinner hosted by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Italy, Mr. Franco Danieli.