Secretary-General's joint press encounter with Prime Minister Jose Socrates at the Residence of the Prime Minister

Secretary-General: …I've had the chance this morning, as the Prime Minister indicated, to discuss many issues with him. We went over the UN reform, we discussed Portuguese participation in United Nations peacekeeping operations, East Timor and its current status, its development and its situation in regional relations with its neighbors.

We also had the chance, as the Prime Minister said, to discuss economic development and assistance, particularly to some of the African countries. We mentioned specifically Mozambique, Angola and Guinea Bissau.

I also had the chance to thank the Prime Minister for the strong support Portugal has given to the United Nations and its activities and to me. And during this process of reform, they have been with us together with other European Union members, realizing that the UN has to be adapted to be effective in the 21st century and to be able to carry on the challenges that it has.

We both agreed that the summit has taken some important steps forwards, although there are areas that we still need to work on like non-proliferation and disarmament and the Security Council reform.

But once again, Mr. Prime Minister, I want thank Portugal for its 50 years of membership and the contribution it has made –whether as a member of the Security Council, in peacekeeping operations, in areas of reconciliation, we have appreciated your effort and I look to our continued collaboration.

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