SECRETARY-GENERAL'S VISIT TO JAPAN: 20-22 OCTOBER 1998
Press Release
SG/T/2153
SECRETARY-GENERAL'S VISIT TO JAPAN: 20-22 OCTOBER 1998
19981106 Secretary-General Kofi Annan arrived at Narita Airport, in Tokyo, in the afternoon of Tuesday, 20 October, where he was greeted by Ambassador Hisashi Owada. In brief remarks at the airport, the Secretary-General expressed gratitude to the Government of Japan for organizing the Second Tokyo International Conference on African Development, noting that, in this year of worldwide financial crisis, such a meeting would "encourage us not to despair but to carry on with this critical work". He then attended an official Conference dinner hosted by Foreign Minister Masahiko Koumura.Next day, the Secretary-General delivered a message of hope to a session of the Conference, where he represented the United Nations as one of three co-chairs -- the United Nations, Japan and the Global Coalition for Africa. Recognizing that the security situation in Africa remained "ambivalent", the Secretary-General said that conflicts were made, and could be unmade, by the force of human will. He said he was encouraged that African leaders realized that "chronically insecure neighbourhoods are not the ones that attract attention".
While admitting that Africa's development performance was similarly "mixed", he pointed out that dramatic gains had been achieved in life expectancy, literacy, the fight against disease and other areas. He further cited the latest report of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), which noted that Africa, in 1991, gave the highest rate of return (approximately 31 per cent) on investments from the United States. That compared with 17 per cent for the Middle East, 13 per cent for Asia and the Pacific, and 12 per cent for Latin America. Here in Tokyo, he concluded, "we have the makings of a new and powerful alliance for Africa. Let us make it work". (For text of the Secretary-General's remarks, see press release SG/SM/6761-AFR/107 of 20 October 1998.
At a meeting with the Prime Minister of Japan, Keizo Obuchi, the Secretary-General expressed his appreciation that Japan had by and large sustained its level of contributions to the United Nations system, despite domestic budget cutbacks. The two leaders also discussed United Nations reform, specifically relating to the Security Council. "Member States should continue their efforts to restructure the Security Council", the Secretary General said. "The United Nations should not appear to be in stuck in the past."
After the meeting with Prime Minister Obuchi, the Secretary-General was granted an audience with His Majesty the Emperor of Japan, at the Imperial Palace. The Secretary-General then attended a luncheon held in his honour, hosted by Prime Minister Obuchi. After lunch, the Secretary-General met with Thabo Mbeki, Deputy President of South Africa. In a discussion on the recently resolved conflict in Lesotho, the Secretary-General offered United Nations electoral assistance, should it be needed. On the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Secretary-General reaffirmed his intention to send a high-level delegation, headed by Assistant Secretary-General Ibrahima Fall, to the 26 October meeting in Lusaka, Zambia. On Angola, he affirmed the United Nations policy to maintain contact with all parties, a policy that his Special Representative for Angola, Issa Diallo, was pursuing.
The Secretary-General, at the closing session of the African Development Conference, said the United Nations had an "extraordinary delivery capacity" ready to move forward in every African country. But, to implement the Tokyo Agenda for Action agreed to at the conference, he said, we will need "major new resources". (For text of the Secretary-General's remarks see press release SG/SM/6762-AFR/108 of 21 October 1998.
After the close of the meeting, the Secretary-General met one-on-one with Prime Minister Meles Zenawi of Ethiopia, before going on to a meeting with members of Japan's Parliamentary Association for the United Nations. This meeting was followed by a reception hosted by the United Nations Association of Japan, which was attended by parliamentarians, business and government leaders, academics, UN officials, and diplomats.
The Secretary-General's day ended with a private dinner hosted by Ambassador Hisashi Owada, the Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations, and his designated successor, Ambassador Yukio Satoh.
On Wednesday, 22 October, the final day of his official visit, the Secretary-General met with the Parliamentary Group for Japan's Contribution to the United Nations. He thanked the parliamentarians for their support in bridging the gap between the United Nations and the people in the street. Topics discussed during the meeting were Security Council reform, Japan's financial contribution to the United Nations, and the security of United Nations personnel.
The Secretary-General then met with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Sadako Ogata, to review the situation of refugees and displaced persons in Kosovo. With Japan's Finance Minister and former Prime Minister, Kiichi Miyazawa, the Secretary-General discussed the global financial situation, particularly relating to Japan's role in alleviating the current Asian crisis. Mr. Miyazawa raised the issues of Kosovo and the International Criminal Court.
- 3 - Press Release SG/T/2153 6 November 1998
At a meeting and lunch with Foreign Minister Masahiko Koumura, the Secretary-General discussed conflicts in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and in Kosovo, small arms, demining, children in armed conflict, United Nations and Security Council reform, the Japanese contribution to the United Nations, and other subjects.
The Secretary-General then visited the United Nations University, where he met with Rector Hans van Ginkel and talked with Japanese University students about humanitarian intervention, the role of the Secretary-General, and the choice of both public and private-sector careers.
While at the United Nations University, the Secretary-General inaugurated the Japanese branch of the New York-based Academic Council for the United Nations, an organization set up to promote better understanding of the United Nations and to help find multilateral approaches to world problems. He stressed the need for such an organization, saying, "The United Nations must not limit itself to its own expertise. We need to reach out and tap the knowledge of the world at large." The Secretary-General noted that, until now, the Academic Council been centred in Europe and North America, and declared, "Today we broaden that horizon with the establishment of the Academic Council for the United Nations in Japan, with its headquarters at the University of Tokyo."
Following a press conference at the Press Center of Japan, Secretary-General Annan met with Yoshihiko Tsuchiya, the Governor of the Saitama Prefecture, who sought advice on developing grass roots support for international peace.
The Secretary-General left Tokyo in the evening to begin his official visit to the Republic of Korea.
* *** *