ACTIVITIES OF SECRETARY-GENERAL IN DENMARK, 18 JUNE
United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan arrived in Copenhagen, Denmark, in the morning of Sunday, 18 June, to attend the World Food Programme’s (WFP) biennial Global Meeting.
Prior to addressing the meeting, the Secretary-General was hosted by Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen at a working lunch at his official residence, Marienborg, just outside of Copenhagen. Also attending the luncheon was the Danish Foreign Minister, Per Stig Møller, and the Development Minister, Ulla Tornæs.
Following the luncheon, the Secretary-General and the Prime Minister held a press encounter. The Secretary-General thanked the Danish Government for its continued support to the United Nations. He especially noted that Denmark was one of the few countries that had honoured its commitment to spend 0.07 per cent of its gross national income on official development assistance (ODA). He also thanked Denmark for its support of the United Nations efforts in Iraq, most notably its offer of a dedicated transport plane for the United Nations Mission in Iraq.
Speaking about discussions on Iran’s nuclear programme, the Secretary-General said there was currently an opportunity to resolve the crisis diplomatically. “In my own contacts with the Iranians, I can say that they are taking this offer seriously, they are studying it, and I hope they will respond in the not-too-distant future,” he told the journalists.
Asked about the current United Nations budget impasse, the Secretary-General expressed optimism that the situation would be resolved soon. “There has been a considerable mistrust within the membership and between groups,” the Secretary-General said, “and I think that is dissipating and all of them seem to be working very seriously now towards reform.”
The Secretary-General was also queried about the events surrounding the publication in Denmark of caricatures of the Prophet Mohammed. He said he considered the matter closed, but added that everyone had learned lessons and had needed to make adjustments.
Later that day, the Secretary-General attended the World Food Programme’s Global Meeting which, every two years, brings together WFP’s managers. He congratulated the agency’s team for the work they do throughout the world, especially in their ability to rapidly deliver aid to the needy. The Secretary-General noted the “visionary leadership” of the agency’s Executive Director, Jim Morris, for his efforts in reaching out to stakeholders outside the organization, such as non-governmental organizations and the private sector, to expand WFP’s work.
The Secretary-General left Copenhagen for Geneva that evening.