Secretary-General's joint press encounter with Micheline Calmy-Rey, President of the Swiss Confederation

SG: (prenant la parole après Mme Calmy-Rey, Présidente de la Confédération suisse) : Merci beaucoup, Madame la Présidente. Mesdames et Messieurs, bonsoir. Je suis très heureux d'être ici pour ma première visite officielle - en tant que Secrétaire général des Nations Unies - dans un pays qui soutient si activement et si fermement les Nations Unies. Les nombreux fonds, programmes et institutions constituant la famille des Nations Unies qui ont choisi d'établir leur siège en Suisse se sentent les bienvenus ici. J'ai eu un bon entretien avec Madame la Présidente. Parce qu'elle a déjà expliqué ce que nous avons discuté, je n'ai pas beaucoup à ajouter ; mais nous avons discuté particulièrement au sujet de la réforme des Nations Unies dans le domaine institutionnel et aussi de la méthode de fonctionnement. Je voudrais continuer notre entretien pour discuter des sujets relatifs aux situations au Darfour, au Moyen-Orient, en Somalie et à d'autres situations. Je l'ai remerciée pour la coopération généreuse et aussi pour la participation très active du Gouvernement de la Suisse aux activités des Nations Unies. Je compte dans l'avenir sur la coopération du Gouvernement de la Suisse. Je vous remercie. Pour les questions, je voudrais répondre en anglais, parce que je pourrais peut-être améliorer mon français à l'avenir. Merci beaucoup.

Q: Mr. Secretary-General, you haven't been to Geneva so far in the last four months. You have traveled all over the world almost so we can assume that in Geneva everything is working so well that you don't have to go there. Or we can assume that the European Headquarters of the United Nations are not important enough for you to go there...Which version is correct?

SG: I'm sure that during my tenure as Secretary-General I will have many, many more occasions to visit Switzerland, particularly Geneva. During the last three-and-a-little-over-[month]-period as the new Secretary-General, I have, in fact, been traveling to many places. In fact, some of our staff were asking why I have not visited Geneva yet, but I am going to Geneva tomorrow. I am very much proud and grateful to Switzerland's Government for hosting so many UN offices and agencies here. Geneva has, in fact, become the largest international conference city for which you should be very much proud. I am going to encourage the Swiss Government to do more for the international [community] and the international community should fully utilize and benefit [from] such [an] offer from the Swiss Government.

Q: Mr. Secretary-General, we heard some rumors in Geneva that maybe some of the UN offices could leave Geneva because it is much too expensive. What about these rumors? Can you tell us something about them?

SG: I am not much aware about that rumor. There may be some considerations for all living costs and conditions, but I have always heard good assessments. Many people have been enjoying working in Geneva, enjoying all benefits and hospitalities offered by the Swiss Government and citizens of Switzerland. I have not heard such a rumor.

Q: Former Secretary-General of the UN, Kofi Annan, has expressed his intention to settle a new international humanitarian forum in Geneva, in contact with Swiss authorities, as well. What is your vision of that project and have you talked about it today with the President of the Swiss Confederation?

SG: As the immediate successor of former Secretary-General Kofi Annan I would welcome any initiative, any plan, Secretary-General Kofi Annan would plan. I think it would be a good idea for him to, and for the international community, and for him also, to fully utilize his know-how and experience he has gained during the last ten years in service as Secretary-General. And he has worked, I think, more than forty years as a United Nations official. The international community has a deep admiration and respect for his achievement. I heard that report and Switzerland, and particularly Geneva, I think may provide a good opportunity and atmosphere. You have all human rights-related institutions starting from the Human Rights Council and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and there are many related international organizations. Even though I do not have any specific details of plans, I would welcome and support his ideas and I hope that the Swiss Government, I am quite confident that Switzerland's Government will help with such an initiative.

Q: I have a question concerning Iraq. I would like to know if you foresee in the very near future the coming back of the UN in Iraq, and especially in Baghdad.

SG: I think everybody, including myself, in the world should be very much concerned and troubled by this ongoing violence and instability in Iraq. The international community has been trying to help in many aspects. The United Nations has also been trying to help the Iraqi Government and people in their very difficult and daunting, but noble, efforts to secure their security and political stability and economic and social stability. I hope the international community will continue as part of the ongoing efforts by the United Nations and the international community. I am going to officially launch an International Compact for Iraq on May 3rd in Sharm el-Sheikh together with Prime Minister [Nuri al-]Maliki of Iraq. That will be followed immediately by an expanded ministerial meeting of [the countries] in the region as well as some other major countries. I hope these two international events will also play an important momentum to help the Iraqi Government to restore peace and security. At the same time I would urge the Iraqi Government, in parallel with the international cooperation?Iraqi Government leaders should also engage in an inclusive or political process to promote national reconciliation. And also the countries in the region should be prepared to help such a process.

Q: I didn't get your answer about the presence of the UN in the field?

SG: This is part of ongoing United Nations efforts to increase our presence and role in Iraq?The United Nations, I told you at first, has really been helping?all our efforts. At this time the United Nations has been largely constrained and limited, by the situation on the ground. There may be many other ways for the United Nations to strengthen our role. There may be an idea of increasing our physical presence, but this physical presence and maneuverability have been very much dictated by security on the ground. As a part of all continuing efforts, we are going to open this International Compact to help them, politically and economically and socially help their process.

Q: There are a lot of Kosovo people living in Switzerland as refugees and others. They are all wondering when their country will get its independence. We all wonder. Can you tell them something about the timeline?

SG: This timeline for dealing with the Kosovo future process will have to be decided by the members of the Security Council. As you know very well, my Special Envoy, Mr. [Martti] Ahtisaari, has presented, together with my full support, those recommendations to the Security Council at the end of March. The members of the Security Council have been discussing and consulting on this issue, the timeline, as well as how to proceed with this issue. This is a very important and sensitive issue for the future of Kosovo as well as security and peace in the Balkan area. I am convinced that his recommendations have contained all reasonable solutions, considering all historical and political aspects and the administration of the United Nations during the last several years. The Special Envoy has been engaged in dialogue and consultations with the parties concerned, mainly Serbians and Kosovars. His conclusion is that because the positions are diametrically opposed between the two parties, his negotiation and settlement proposals are the most realistic and thus he has presented them to the Security Council for their deliberation and decision. I have made it clear that, as Secretary-General, I fully support it. I hope that with the missions of the Security Council who are going to visit both places –Pristina and Belgrade –after that they will be able to consult on this matter and make decisions.

Q: Mr. Secretary-General, today you heard that the Government of Sudan used some of the UN planes to transport weapons. Do you have any further information about that?

SG: I'm in the process of finding out what has happened in this issue. It is very much surprising that the Sudanese Government has been using United Nations planes for other purposes. I have instructed to look into this case. And I may have some more. A panel of experts has been instructed to look into this case and make a report to the Security Council.

Q: Do you plan that, in the future, Switzerland will be more asked to have a greater implication in terms of troops in peacekeeping operations? Do you think this collaboration between the UN and Switzerland is likely to?

SG: Please, I didn't follow your questions?

Q: Is it planned that the UN will ask more from Switzerland in terms of troops in the frame of peacekeeping operations?

SG: I have already discussed this matter with the President and Defense Minister. As Secretary-General of the United Nations, I fully appreciate and commend the very generous and active participation and contribution of Switzerland's Government to peacekeeping operations financially and ... by sending troops. It is my sincere hope that, considering its national strength, the policies of the Swiss Government to want to see peace and security in the world will continue to strengthen the Swiss Government's contribution to peacekeeping operations and increase its participation.

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