Accra

28 July 2004

Secretary-General's press encounter following his meeting with Ghanaian President John Kufuor

Kofi Annan, Former Secretary-General

[The Secretary-General was asked about his expectations for the next day's summit meeting on Cote d'Ivoire.]

SG: You guys don't give up. [laughter]

No, I am hopeful. I'm hopeful that we will be able to build on the progress we made in Addis Ababa and help move the process forward. But it is extremely important that the leaders who are coming here put their nation first and come determined to patch up their differences, to forget individual ambitions and to think of the people and the nation.

And I think if they come with that spirit, they may surprise themselves.

Thank you.