Press encounter at 54th World Health Assembly,

SG: Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen. I have had a few very productive days in Europe on this side of the Atlantic. I participated in the Conference on Least Developed Countries in Brussels. I think that is a very important conference. I was very impressed with the participation and the new format where we had Governments, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector talking about development and opening up trade access. I was also able to raise the issue of AIDS with some of the Ministers that I met, and in the evening of Monday (14 May) I had a working dinner with the 15 European Union Foreign Ministers. We discussed the crisis in the Middle East, the Balkans, the crisis in Africa, and of course the global fund for AIDS. My expectation is that they will all join the global approach that I have outlined and make contributions to the fund. Of course today, I addressed the World Health Assembly. You all know that. I will take your questions.

Q: Do you have any plans to visit the two Koreas, and do you have any message to them or suggestions concerning their efforts towards reconciliation.

SG: I have always supported the efforts to bring the two Koreas together. I am on record as supporting the sunshine policy of President Kim Dae-Jung. I have already been to Seoul, and I do intend to visit the two Koreas at some time in the future. But I have not fixed a date, and I do not know what will happen next year.

Q: Do you have any reaction to the British proposal to reduce the level of sanctions against Iraq?

SG: I was in Moscow as you know where there was a review of those proposals. And there again, we discussed the crisis in the Balkans, the Middle East and Iraq. They have started reviewing the British proposals. The Council as a whole will have to consider it and take some decisions. Some of you might be aware that I had met earlier this year with an Iraqi delegation and we were to have a second round which I have postponed until this review is completed. I do not know how long it will take the Council to act. There are some suggestions that they should conclude their deliberations in time for the extension of the oil-for-food scheme on 6 June, as we enter the tenth phase. If that does happen, then we will have a new proposal.

Q: Do you think that the British proposal to limit the sanctions to weapons would be useful?

SG: We all know that the public at large and also the region had been very concerned about the impact of sanctions on the average Iraqi, on the Iraqi economy, and particularly on children. So any attempts that would ease the impact of sanctions on the population and allow the people to have a normal life is something that we should all support.

Q: You speak of the global fund to fight AIDS and Mrs. Brundtland speaks of the international fund. How do you feel about this?

SG: When I launched the fund, I referred to a global fund and not a UN fund as such. It was on purpose because I wanted to attract others to join the fight. I launched the fund and I think I also explained the purposes for which the fund would be used. So it is an international fund and it is a global fund which will be open to donor Governments, to the private sector, to foundations, and to individuals. I hope some Governments from the South will also make contributions because some of them do have the capacity. I should add here that when I was in Abuja for the African AIDS summit, the African leaders themselves decided to make an additional contribution for AIDS by undertaking to increase their budget allocation for health to up to 15 per cent of their budget, mainly for AIDS.

Q: Are there any new developments on the Cyprus issue?

SG: No specific development to announce, but we have not given up our efforts and it is not excluded that sometime in the future, or between now and the end of the year, we may come together again.

Q: What is your opinion of the decision of the United States to withdraw from the Kyoto Protocol?

SG: I think that was an unfortunate decision. Since that decision, I have noticed that the United States' Administration has taken several positive steps or decisions on other environment-related issues. Global warming is real. It does exist. We have enough scientific evidence to know that it is real. I would hope that the Member States would work together to ensure that we tackle global warming. I think there is a debate in the United States itself where environmental activists and others have raised their voice. I do not think the United States decision or the decision that President Bush announced should be taken as something that is immutable. It is something which I think is part of a process. My own belief as someone who lives in the United States is that the Americans do care about the environment. They are concerned about environmental degradation. And I am sure that President Bush himself shares that view. My hope is that as the debate continues, the United States will join other countries from the North and the South to protect our environment. Each time I talk about the environment, I am reminded of the old African proverb that says that Earth is not ours, it is a treasure we hold in trust for our children and their children. I hope my generation will be worthy of this trust.

Q: What is the role of youth leaders in the fight against HIV/AIDS?

SG: I think that young people and youth leaders really have a role to play. First of all, AIDS today is hitting the young the hardest. The number of people between the age of 13 to 25 who have been hit is a very high proportion of the populations infected. I saw a young youth leader at a big conference in Addis Ababa, talking to young people and adults, trying to share her own experience with the population. She was AIDS infected. Perhaps she was one of the most powerful advocates or spokespersons. I sat with her over coffee and I said don't you think there should be more like you, young people taking the lead and speaking about AIDS. She said yes, and I said who will the young listen to, you or me? She said I think they are more likely listen to me and share my experience. She may be right. But I think the young people talking to each other and talking to their peers is an important part of the struggle. That does not mean that leaders should not speak up. I think if we are going to win this fight, it does require leadership from the top for us to do this. But the young have an important role to play and I would encourage them to do this. We should give them space to speak out and play a role. Thank you very much. *****