26 October 2000

The General Assembly elected Mr. Ruud Lubbers from the Netherlands as the new United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to replace Mrs. Sadako Ogata who retires at the end of the year. The General Assembly adopted a resolution exempting six States from sanctions for unpaid dues that would have deprived them of their vote in the General Assembly. It also adopted a resolution on the elimination of coercive economic measures as a means of economic and political compulsion.

The President made introductory remarks emphasizing the importance of the International Court of Justice when the General Assembly began its discussion today on the Court. The full text of President's remarks is available in the "Statements and Messages" page. The General Assembly also began its discussion on Oceans and the Law of the Sea.

The President hosted a luncheon in honour of the President of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), H.E. Mr. Gilbert Guillaume, with whom he had met earlier in the day. Under-Secretaries-General Hans Corell and Joseph Connor, as well as Mr. Roger Rotkirch, Mr. Hans Wilhelm Longva, Mr. Chusei Yamada and Mr. Michael Wood attended the luncheon. The discussion focused on the important role of the ICJ as the principal judicial organ of the United Nations and the need for it to have adequate resources.

Mr. Holkeri met with the Secretary-General of United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Mr. Rubens Ricupero, to discuss the upcoming UN Conference on Least Developed Countries (LDC-III) taking place in Brussels in May 2001. In their meeting, Mr. Holkeri and Mr. Ricupero exchanged views on LDC-related issues, trade policies and requirements for successful domestic economic development. Photograph of their meeting can be viewed on the "Photos" page.

Mr. Holkeri presented Certificates to three journalists, from Botswana, Chile and Egypt, who this year received Dag Hammarskjold fellowships to cover the General Assembly.

The President and the Secretary-General of the International Telecommunications Union, Mr. Yoshio Utsumi, discussed the importance of information and communications technology for development.