Secretary-General's press encounter (unofficial transcript)

SG: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. We've had a very good meeting here and very, very useful and constructive discussions, not just on the issue of AIDS and the fight against that pandemic and its impact on this continent, but also about conflict resolution, about economic and social development, about empowerment of women. And I hope we are all leaving this place encouraged and ready to continue the push for development and political stability on the continent. I am also very pleased with the way President Chissano and the people of Mozambique have received us, and the way this conference has been organized. I think they should be very proud of their achievement.

Q: Are there encouraging signs on Liberia?

SG: Yes, we have had a very good discussion on Liberia with the West African leaders. I've also been on the phone quite a lot with Secretary of State Colin Powell and I will be going to Washington on Monday to see, to discuss with President Bush and the American administration many issues including Liberia. But I am hopeful the leaders here of the ECOWAS have decided to put in troops and hopefully the first troops from ECOWAS will be going in the not-too-distant future. And if President Bush were to decide US troops should join the force, I hope it won't take them too long either to join.

Q: [inaudible, about Liberia]

SG: Well, the Court is an independent court and as I said the Court, the law will follow its course.

Q: How would a Liberian force be funded?

SG: Initially, I think they have indicated the first group of peacekeeping forces going in from the ECOWAS will have support from the United States and other countries. As I understand it, eventually we will put in a UN peacekeeping force to help maintain peace and stability in Liberia. And of course we will require a Security Council resolution, which I hope will be forthcoming.

Q: Will the UN have a role in installing some kind of transitional government in Liberia?

SG: I think the Liberian parties are at the table in Accra right now discussing the future of their country and with political reconciliation. And I believe that the question of the transitional administration will be an essential part of that decision. I have appointed a Special Representative for Liberia, Jacques Klein, who was my Representative in Bosnia and Eastern Slavonia. He will coordinate the UN activities in Liberia and also work with the Liberian government and civil society.

Q: You talked yesterday about the “heartbreak”, not just in Liberia but in the DRC as well. Were you disappointed that President Kabila didn't come to the Summit here?

SG: I had hoped President Kabila would be here –his Foreign Minister who is representing him is standing right behind you –and he had good reasons for not coming. But he sent a delegation, a delegation that was made up of all the parties in Kinshasa and representing all factions in the transitional government. So that was a very positive sign. I was pleased to meet with the delegation, and I'm on the phone with President Kabila and I think we are making progress on the political front and we are going to press ahead and stop the killing in the east, in Ituri, and in the Kivus.

Q: How will the draft resolution that the AU will vote on this afternoon on women's rights, how will it empower women in Africa?

SG: I feel very strongly about the role of women on our continent. I think they have not been appreciated enough. And as I indicated yesterday they are the lifeline of families on this continent. And I think that the fact that they are passing a resolution and I could talk about the role of women and the need to empower them, the need to have women play their full role in society. And I often tell them that even the most powerful bird, the eagle, cannot fly with one wing. It needs both wings.