Press encounter with President Enrique Bolanos of Nicaragua (unofficial transcript)

Q: [Translated from Spanish] What does the UN expect from the Monterrey conference, and specifically for the poorest countries of the hemisphere?

S-G: I think that at the Monterrey conference, we would want -since you are putting the emphasis on the poorest countries-we would expect the poorest countries to come prepared to participate fully in the conference. We will be discussing issues of great concern to them and their voices must be heard. We will be discussing the issue of debt relief, effective and credible debt relief. We will discuss the management of the global economy and how the poor countries participate in decisions affecting the global economy and it's management.

We will of course discuss the question of overseas development assistance and possibly increasing the resources. In fact, the proposal is that donor governments make an attempt to double the amount over the next two three years to be able to help the developing countries.

We will also talk about corruption, the need for the developing countries to get their act together, strengthen their institutions, and tackle corruption very seriously. Of course, I'm not implying that corruption is all on the side of the poor, but we need to tackle corruption quite seriously and I hope that when we are discussing the issues I have raised, which is of great concern to all of us from the south, we will be there ready to participate fully and protect our interests .

Q: [Translated from Spanish] I would like to talk a little bit on the subject of corruption, which you have already touched upon. The United States is taking important steps in the fight against corruption and recently a list was published of people related to corruption and who won't be allowed to enter the United States. What is the Secretary-General's perception on the subject of corruption in countries of Latin America, and particularly Nicaragua.

S-G: I think corruption is to be condemned wherever it is to be found and it is something that undermines societies, the efforts of governments and men and women of good will who try to build their own societies. And the UN has passed a General Assembly Resolution against corruption, we have a convention against corruption and we are working in our own development programs with governments to strengthen their institutions and to fight corruption. And I hope one of the issues that will be on the Agenda in Monterrey when we discuss corruption is how we repatriate monies that have been stolen from countries and put in banks in Western capitals and other capitals away from their own countries. If we have a mechanism for repatriating these amounts, I think not only would it be beneficial to the countries concerned but it would also dissuade those who would be inclined to engage in those kinds of activities. And let me add that with modern information technology and through cooperation among governments, it ought to be possible to track these sums. And in some cases it is already being done and some monies are being repatriated to third world countries.

Q: [Translated from Spanish] Given the recent experience in Argentina, do you think that you could ask in Monterrey for more flexibility for the enhanced structural adjustment programs and the multilateral donors such as the World Bank and the IMF?

S-G: A lot has happened with the programs of the IMF and the World Bank and I am not sure that one can say that the financial crisis and the economic crisis of Argentina is due to the fault of the World Bank or the IMF. Where does the fault lie? Does it lie with the policies of the government, with structural adjustment, the position of the IMF? I'm not sure that one can entirely blame the IMF and I think that we need to look at the situation much more closely before we blame structural adjustment for the difficulties Argentina is facing.

[The President was asked a question in Spanish which he answered in Spanish.]

Q: [Translated from Spanish] My question has to do with social aspects of Nicaragua. In the past, the UN was committed to helping achieve peace and helped with the Esquipulas accords. Now that we are at peace, what is the UN's commitment in economic and social terms.

S-G: First of all, I'm happy that we had a lady ask a question. I was wondering what was happening to gender balance. Let me say that on the issue of economic and social development, you'll be pleased to know that 80% of my discussion with the President was on that issue, on the vision for economic development of this country and what the UN and its agencies will do to help. We are committed and in fact we know that peace is not sustainable if you do not deal with the economic and social environment. And in fact we see economic development as an essential part of political development and stability for a country.

I have indicated to the President that the UN agencies here are doing what they can but we will redouble our efforts to work with the President and the government and we have discussed some specific things that we will be doing. And we also, as the UN, are very strong advocates of development assistance for countries like Nicaragua and we raise our voices in international fora for conditions to be improved in countries like yours and will continue to do that. *****