Remarks on arrival in Kotoka International Airport

SG: Mr. Minister, let me tell you how happy I am to be back in Ghana. This is my first visit since the elections in December and I think the way the elections were conducted, in an open and fair way, helped to project the image of Ghana to the outside world, and I think they were all extremely happy that Ghanaians were able to undertake such a smooth democratic change and I think it is now important that we focus on the essential work of nation-building. Of course, the government cannot do it alone--all of its citizens, and private sector, NGOs, all have to play a role in working with the government and I am sure we will do this with lots of goodwill, but also a lot is expected from us. We have friends outside who want to help but we have to make it possible for them to help us. That is my brief message.

Dr. G.M. Brandful, Director of Foreign Affairs Protocol: Thank you very much, may I on behalf of my colleagues welcome you to Ghana. We are reliably informed that you are passing through to Abuja for an OAU Summit on AIDS. We are aware that the UN, an august body, shall be privileged to have a Ghanaian who is interested in human development.

Q: What is the organisation doing to check the alarming increase in AIDS? How does the organisation intend to help countries which are not able to cope with the spread of such an epidemic, which is a threat to the world?

SG: First of all, let me say that the African leaders have an opportunity in Abuja, to come together to join the fight against HIV/AIDS. Recently we are seeing new energy and new engagement on the part of leaders on this continent and around the world. The people are speaking out now, the conspiracy of silence is broken, and we need to have a comprehensive approach to the disease which combines the prevention and treatment.

We are engaged with other partners from around the world, the pharmaceutical companies, the donor community and the global civil society for all of us to work together to tackle this epidemic. But it also requires complete social mobilisation at the national level where action has to be taken, where it requires leadership of all of us, and in some countries in Africa, where the leader has been forthcoming, they have been able to reverse the trend in the spread of AIDS and I think we have very good examples on the continent from Senegal to Uganda. And now of course there's a big fight going on in Bostwana, so I will really urge all of us to get involved. Recently the pharmaceutical companies have also reduced the prices of their medications, but of course that alone is not enough, we need to strengthen our health system, we need to be able in our budget promises to give health a priority and this is an area that I hope the UN agencies can help, with governments, in coming up with the right programmes.

Q: Sir, are the circumstances ripe for your re-election as a Secretary-General?

SG: I hope so, I hope so.

Q: Mr. Secretary-General are you hopeful about DR Congo?

SG: I think there are hopeful signs coming out of the Congo and we went through a gloomy patch, but since January with the change in leadership, President Joseph Kabila, is determined to work with his compatriots to end the conflict, he is open to dialogue with them and is working much more effectively than with former President Masire. This is something we have not seen in the Congo for a while, the protagonists themselves are co-operating with us in redeploying their troops in accordance with the agreements they have signed, so we are now beginning to make some progress but we still have a long way to go.

Q: Mr. Secretary-General, Ghana your home country has gone HIPC, how does that make you feel?

SG: I think this has to be determined by the economic conditions and the situation that the government has to deal with. I don't think it's a choice that the government would have made if the conditions did not demand that that sort of option be considered.

Q: Do you thing we've made the right decision?

SG: I think the government assessed all the facts and took a decision and I think we have a wise and democratically elected government and I think they are right to take the decisions they believe are in the interest of the nation, and I will support that decision.

Q: Your Excellency, I wanted to know the relationship between the UN and the current leader of Israel.

SG: The UN as an international organization deals with all governments and I as Secretary-General of the organization am in touch with the leaders in the region, with the Prime Minister Sharon, with President Arafat and other leaders in the region like President Mubarak, King Abdullah and others in an attempt to try and work with them, in ending the violence, and push the political process forward. So we are dealing with Prime Minister Sharon as we are with others.*****