Press conference (unofficial transcript)

Before I start, let me express my deepest sympathies to the Government and the People of Kenya for the tragic bus accident that occurred last weekend, and for the terrible fire in a boarding school where a large number of students perished.

I am delighted to be here in Nairobi and in Africa again. As you know, I am brought here on this occasion to attend the first session of ACC for the year 2001, and I am very pleased that this meeting is taking place in Nairobi. This city is the UN's only duty station in Africa and, of course, in the developing world. And the work we are doing at this year's ACC has particularly strong relevance to the people of Africa.

More than six months have passed since the world's leaders gathered in New York for the Millennium Summit and pledged themselves to free their peoples - from the scourge of war, from abject and dehumanizing poverty, and from the threat of living on a polluted planet with few natural resources left.

Nowhere in the world are those challenges more acute than here in Africa, so it is more than fitting that the entire UN family should be meeting here, in Nairobi, to discuss how we can work out and work most effectively for the implementation of the Millennium goals that our leaders set. And it is entirely appropriate that we spent part of this morning discussing the need for a mobilization of all actors against AIDS in Africa; but let me hasten to add that AIDS is not just an African issue. AIDS is a global problem, but for the moment, Africa is the worst hit.

It is a global problem and we should be concerned about fighting the epidemic in other parts of the world. This afternoon, as I said we spoke a lot about AIDS in Africa and that we should spend a good deal of tomorrow focusing on ways to strengthen the system-wide support for sustainable development on this continent.

The Millennium targets are ambitious, and they are not self-implementing. In themselves, they hardly do more than express a wish or an aspiration. Their impact on reality depends on an unprecedented effort by Member States and the UN family. We, the family, are here to discuss how each of us can best play our part. And we are here to discuss how we can spur our Member States to play their role to the fullest. For the ultimate responsibility - collective and individual - in ensuring that the Millennium goals translate into reality rests with them. I hope that the UN system that is meeting here in Nairobi, and are having a lively debate will also play her own part and I can assure you that we are determined to work in partnerships with governments, NGOs, civil society and the private sector and other stakeholders to ensure that we meet our Millennium commitments. I will now be pleased to answer your questions.

Q: Mr. Secretary-General what is your opinion with respect to the decision of President Bush not to sign the Kyoto Protocol?

SG: I think the environment is one of the key issues we face today and those of you who have seen my report The Millennium Summit - We the People will notice that I devoted a large chunk of that report to environmental issues. I regret the US decision, but I think that gives us one more reason to fight in a more determined manner to bring environmental issues into focus. We need to take steps to halt climate warming. It is a fact. Yes probably not all the scientific evidence is in, but there is enough evidence and an overwhelming majority of scientists agree that it is phenomenon that we need to fight. I think on the issue of environment, when we discuss it often reminds me of an old African proverb that says that the Earth is not ours, it is a treasure we hold in trust for future generations for our children and their children, and I hope my generation or this generation will be worthy of that trust and we can hand over a healthy climate, a healthy planet to our children, and if we are going to do that, we need to work more urgently to fight the environmental degradation, which is a reality.

Q: Can you please comment on the arrest of Mr. Milosevic?

SG: Yes, I have issued a statement this morning here in Nairobi, but basically I believe that the Government of President Kostunica is moving in the right direction. The arrest of Milosevic I think is a right step and of course he also has charges to answer for before the Yugoslav Tribunal in the Hague and I hope in time he would be placed before the dock there as well.

Q: Mr. Secretary-General, what is your position on the foreign troops in the Democratic Republic of Congo now that the peace process is starting all over again there?

SG: I think the signs there are a bit more hopeful in the Democratic Republic of Congo following the discussions in New York with the Security Council. The parties have begun to move to implement the Lusaka Agreement and the redeployment plan that they all agreed upon and the UN observer force has been deployed and they are monitoring the deployment of these troops. We have also begun to move in .. who will be working with the observers. On the issue of a political dialogue, there has been a very good meeting between President Masire and President Kabila who has agreed to cooperate with him and I hope all parties will cooperate with former President Masire so that we can move forward the political process. We cannot succeed on the military front if we do not move forward on the political process as well. The two go hand in hand, and so I would urge that they come together as quickly as possible and work with President Mesere to resolve the internal political situation and create a system that will be open to all Congolese and that they will have the possibility of participating freely in the government of their own country.

Q: Mr. Secretary-General I would like to get your comments on the crisis between Guinea and Liberia?

SG: The development in that sub-region is of great concern to the United Nations and to me personally. We have had a series of crises. It first started in Liberia then to Sierra Leone and now of course we have a conflict on the Guinea and Liberian border. I have here with me the High Commissioner for Refugees who some couple of months ago on his first visit ever as High Commissioner went to the region to discuss with the leaders how best they will cooperate with us to help the refugees and those in need and I think he was able to make some progress, but the leaders in the region and the UN are trying to work with the three leaders in the region, that is Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea to defuse the situation and a summit is being planned in the next week or so between Presidents Taylor and Konte of Guinea and I hope at that meeting they will agree to continue to talk and resolve their differences politically rather than through military means. And I think generally that is a message African leaders must embrace to solve their problems through dialogue and through political means and not through the barrel of the gun. That is only an illusion that you can solve these problems through fighting.

Q: If Milosevic is convicted in Yugoslavia or in Serbia, what are the chances of him being extradited so that he can go to the Hague and what will the United Nations do to implement that extradition?

SG: I think obviously this will be an issue for the Tribunal to decide, but from what I have gathered the Yugoslav court will be trying Milosevic on charges dealing with corruption and abuse of power, but not on the charges that have been put forward by the Tribunal and the Hague. The Tribunal is accusing him of war crimes against humanity and so it would seem to me that the court should be able to try him on those charges, which are not the charges on which he is going to be tried in Serbia. In other words, the question of double jeopardy, which was implied in your question will not be applicable.

Q: I just wanted to know in terms of security for yourself and your staff coming in the wake of a hostage and abduction situation in Mogadishu what have you discussed about that.

SG: Security for myself, no, obviously I do have some security, I always try to keep it to the minimum and because sometimes it does hamper your mobility and activities, but we take appropriate precautions, but I am not going to be walking around with an army and I hope I will be free to go about doing my work, but we do take appropriate precautions, but thank you for the concern.

Q: What is the future of UNEP here in Nairobi, it's just a programme, it not an organization. Are there some plans to give this house a decision making competence?

SG: I think UNEP is the only global organization in the UN system dealing with environmental issues. By implication, I think you are raising more the question of resources and others. I think when it comes to decision-making authority and delegated authority, the head of this office has considerable margin for manoeuvre, of course, he cannot decide everything, a lot also depends on the member states, but he does have considerable authority. What is sometimes lacks is the adequate resources to carry out the huge mandate that he has and this is where both of us will be working with the Member States to give him additional resources for him to carry out his tasks. And I take it that the same goes for Habitat, don't feel that you [turning to Mrs. Tibaijuka, Executive Director of Habitat] have been left out I think you both need the additional resources to be effective and I hope it will be forthcoming.

Q: There are allegations of human rights abuses in Sudan is specifically because of oil, what is the UN information on this and are we now seeing a case of human rights abuses in the name of oil, in the name of economy?

SG: I am aware of those charges. In fact, I have Mrs. Robinson here with me and in fact she has assigned a human rights officer to Sudan to follow up on developments. He will be there on a regular basis. In addition, we will be designating a rapporteur who would also be looking into this situation. I don't think anyone should abuse the rights of the other people in the name of economy and in the name of commercial interest . And I think in order to encourage governments and companies to work together and to be sensitive to issues of human rights and others, that is why I came up with the proposal of global compact I launched the global compact in Davos and the key areas where I want companies to engage in is to respect core labour standards, human rights of the workers and the people in the region and to be environmentally sensitive. And I must say the response has been very good and the compact is not just for companies, it includes trade unions and NGOs and I think basically what we are doing is we are using the dialogue and transparency as powerful tools to steer the behaviour of companies in the right direction.

Q: Mr. Secretary-General, following the conclusion of the Lockerbie Trial what step or what action is the UN planning to do regarding the downing of the Egypt Air 767 off the coast of New York where more than 35 Egyptian Generals died. And lastly, what is UN's reaction regarding the downgrading of the Nairobi City from B to C?

SG: Let me say that the last question is the responsibility for the Kenyan Government. We would be prepared to give them any advice or help should they need it, but they have the primary responsibility for that and so those of us in the UN system both here and beyond will be prepared to provide whatever assistance that we can. On your second question, the UN Security Council is not seized on the matter that you referred to. The issue of Lockerbie bombing was before the UN when the two accused were delivered, sanctions were suspended. Now sanctions are in suspension. What the Libyan authorities are seeking is a definitive lifting of the sanctions. The case is in appeal and I think that we will perhaps have to await the outcome of the appeal.

Thank you very much. Have a good day.

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