Press encounter following Secretary-General's speech at the Annual Conference of the Council on Foundations (unofficial transcript)
Press events | Kofi Annan, Former Secretary-General
SG: A hundred days is a relatively short in the scheme of things. But let me say that in my own discussions with him and his team, they have indicated their support for the UN and I think they take the issue of AIDS very seriously. I think they have indicated strong determination on the issue of free trade, and I hope that we'll be able to work with them on other international issues. And I'm encouraged.
Q: Any progress on US dues?
SG: In December last year, we came to an agreement with the US Government, and we are waiting for payment of about $600 million, to be specifia, $582 million. In my discussions with the President and his team, including Secretary of State Colin Powell, there are indications that the fund is coming. I think everybody is on board. It's a question of certain administrative and legislative matters which have to be cleared up. And I expect the money to come very shortly.
Q: Mr. Secretary, you did lay out the issue very well on all in the speech. But what is the biggest challenge for you right now regarding AIDS, putting all of them -- private and the government forces together -- what is the biggest challenge?
SG: I indicated the biggest challenge is to get national leaders to lead -- to accept the leadership challenge and the fact they have to mobilize their society. They have to give the issue priority, priority not just in speeches, but also in their budgetary allocation, and to come up and work with us with plans to fight the disease. That is what the leaders of the countries in Africa and others have to do. But those in the industrialized countries have to also help by making funds and resources available, by lending their expertise and by engaging not just the governments, but the civil society and the private sector. As I indicated in my statement, the pharmaceutical companies are beginning to move, and have moved, but it is not only them. Other companies have a role to play. And of course, now that the Fund has been announced, I'm expecting Governments to make firm commitments to the Fund. The heavy lifting will have to be done by them, and I would hope that foundations, companies and individuals would also want to contribute.
Q: Can I ask about [the Democratic Republic of the] Congo? President [Yoweri] Museveni of Uganda says he wants to break [inaudible], to pull out of the [Lusaka] Agreement. Have you spoken to him [inaudible]
SG: I haven't spoken to him yet, but I want to study the full text of his statement. If indeed he is withdrawing his troops from the [Democratic Republic of the] Congo and pulling them back to Uganda, that is in accordance with the Agreement. We will monitor to see that what happens. But eventually, it's not just Uganda, all the foreign forces in the [Democratic Republic of the] Congo are required to withdraw in accordance with the Agreement they signed.
Q: Do you have a goal for this AIDS fund, a size that you would like to reach? What would it do that other allocations aren't already doing?
SG: First of all there are no other allocations. We are not spending anywhere near what is required on AIDS. I have indicated that we'll need $7-10 billion in additional money, new money, annually to fight the epidemic around the world. In fact the amounts of money being spent on the epidemic, on a problem this size, is pitiful.
Q: What role did your meeting with Bill Gates play in this initiative? Has he promised any additional monies or matching funds? Were you successful?
SG: The Gates Foundation has already issued a statement supporting the five objectives I put forward, and also the fact that we need additional money to fight the disease. I think they are happy that we have a comprehensive approach, an approach that is getting the message across, that it is not a choice between treatment and prevention and that we need to do both, and that we can come up with a strategy to do it, and raise the funds to do it. The funds are there. What we have to do is to generate the will of Governments to make those funds available.
Q: What kind of leadership do you need from the United States [inaudible]?
SG: I would hope that the US Government will join with other donor Governments in making funds available and not just funds, but also becoming actively engaged in the fight against the disease. As I indicated from the discussions I have had, which I intend to continue, I am hopeful that they will play their rightful role.
Q: You said that you wanted to raise $7-10 billion to fight AIDS. What would be the United States share of that?
SG: That would be up to the Government to decide. It would be a bit presumptuous of me to tell them how much they should pay. But given the size of the US economy and their leadership in the world, I hope they will pay a substantial portion.
Q: How much would you hope to see from the G7?
SG: The G7 will have this item on their agenda when they meet in July in Italy. And there are discussions going on amongst themselves and I'll be in touch with some of the leaders individually. But I am hesitant to sort of indicate how much they should pay. This is something that one will have to keep discussing with them in private. Don't get me to embarrass those I am hoping to get money from before they have signed the check.
Q: The meeting with [Foreign Minister of Israel] Shimon Peres later, there are talks of this Egyptian/Jordanian peace plan. Is this something that gets your hopes up or is this just more skirmishing?
SG: You are right. When I return to New York this afternoon, I'll be seeing Foreign Minister Shimon Peres of Israel. We will discuss the Egyptian-Jordanian plan. He has just returned from visits to Egypt and Jordan. And I think it is an encouraging sign that there is a proposal on the table that both sides are prepared to look at. But it is too early to say whether it is going to fly or not. We've seen many proposals in that region. I'll be extremely happy if it were to fly because I would hope that both countries and both leaders would now want to pull back from the precipice. The situation in the Middle East is extremely dangerous and no one would want to see it get worse. So I am encouraged that they are now discussing a proposal, and I look forward to hearing from Foreign Minister Peres, not only about the proposal, but the nature of his discussions with Egypt and Jordan. And I will continue to work with the parties.
Q: Can we expect [inaudible] Fidel Castro - on the health issue in Africa?
SG: Yes, I would hope so. The Cuban government has sent many doctors.
Q: More than anybody else?
SG: That's correct. To Africa, I think they have about 3,000 or so Cuban doctors who are working in small villages to assist. The last time I spoke to him when he was here during the General Assembly last September, he indicated that he wants to continue that assistance. And I hope it will continue because the African governments need that help. *****