Liberty Medal Press Conference, (unofficial transcript)

SG: First of all, let me say good morning to you, ladies and gentlemen, and thank you for coming to join me this afternoon. Now to the question.

I think we need to apply more resources to the search for vaccine and cure. And recently, we have seen more activity in that field. In fact, we have another fund called the Global Alliance for Vaccines, and we've raised about a billion dollars in search of vaccines for all types of diseases and making donations for research centres that are doing that kind of work. I think we need to take the AIDS epidemic very seriously. It is a global problem. Obviously today Africa is the hardest hit. But it is spreading fast in Asia, in Eastern Europe and in the Caribbean and in some parts of Latin America. And if we do not tackle it and take it seriously, we are going to have a major crisis -- a catastrophic crisis -- on our hands. The estimates are that if we don't take it seriously, in about 5 years or so, we could have a hundred million infected. Today we have 36 million infected, 13 million orphans, and last year alone, 5 million new people were infected. And everyday we have [7,000] people infected. So your question is an important one. We need to do whatever we can to accelerate the search for a vaccine and do that. Otherwise, we will have, in effect, start a third world war if you consider the numbers of people who've been killed already by this epidemic.

About the genocide, I think basically I've indirectly answered it, that if we do not tackle the issue, we are going to lose many more people and many more people are going to be infected. Many more children are going to lose their parents. As I say, we have 13 million orphans already. How many orphans do we have to get to wake up?

Q: Could you describe your emotions today, standing here in what is considered the nation's cradle [inaudible], receiving this Medal. Can you describe what your emotions were like seating up there among all the people [inaudible].

SG: I was very moved. I was very moved by the event, by the celebration, and to see so many people out there in the square celebrating the birthday of the nation. And those or someone who grew up like America in the colonial territory, I grew up in the Gold Coast, which was a British colony. And the struggle for independence, as I've had the chance to say to many people, was inspired by what happened here in this country. Almost all the colonial territories that fought for independence looked at this. And for me to sit there and know that this is where it all began, this is where the Declaration [of Independence] was written, and this is where people first came together and said, "We have to assert our independence, our uniqueness, our freedom and our dignity." And it was a very moving and touching experience there for me, both because of the work I do and also my own background, having lived in a colony.

Q: [inaudible]

SG: I think there are a couple of areas where the US and the other developed and richer countries and make a contribution. First, it's a question of development assistance. I think they can offer a bit more. The developed and the industrial world ten years ago committed themselves to making available 0.7 percent of their GDP for development assistance. The average today is at 0.2. Only a handful of countries have attained that target. No way is it [inaudible] a little over 1 percent is ahead of the pack. And I would urge that one offers a bit more development assistance.

The other issue that has been discussed is the question of debt relief. Today the poorer countries are paying more money to service their debt than they are spending on areas of education, health and others. There's more money flowing out of these poor countries to service debt than are going in. So I hope that debt relief, which has been on the agenda of the industrialized nations for many years, will be accelerated, and that help will be given to the poorer nations. Last year at the Millennium Summit, the heads of state and government did set an agenda, with timetable, for alleviation of poverty. And they did agree that by 2015, we should aim at reducing the people living in poverty by 50 percent. They have targets for education, for AIDS [inaudible] attempt to stop the spread of the AIDS [inaudible] and governance and also the environment. So we do need the resources to carry out those mandates.

Q: On the Rwanda massacre. What is the possibility that this would not happen again [inaudible].

SG: I think this is an area that we are trying to improve our peacekeeping operations. I commissioned a report, which the Member States have endorsed, and we are trying to implement it now. In fact, the General Assembly will be discussing that report later on this year again, on strengthening UN peacekeeping operations. But let me perhaps expand your question a little bit. When we talk of the UN and UN peacekeepers and UN troops, the UN troops are troops which are offered by your government, mine, and other governments. The UN has no troops. We borrow troops from governments. In situations where governments are reluctant to put their troops in because they are afraid that the troops will be at risk, and the UN is not able to raise the troops or get the resources that we need, there is very little that the UN, as a Secretariat, can do. There are two UNs: the UN that is the Secretariat, and the UN that is made up of the Member States that take the decisions and give instructions to the Secretariat. The Secretariat is an instrument. The real means is in the hands of the Member States. So the other part of the question is, if we are faced with a similar situation, will the Member States make the troops available. Will the political will be there to intervene or to do something about it. And that is a debate that is going on. And in Rwanda, and let's not forget, at the time of the crisis the UN had about 250 men. 250 men can do something, but not very much, in a nationwide genocide. A request for additional resources did not come, so the question is, will the will be there the next time? Will the troops be made available? I hope you will all write about it in your papers and join the debate.

Q: Secretary Annan, how successful can the formation of the African Union be?

SG: They just agreed to form an African Union when they met in Syrte in Libya. And next week in Lusaka they will begin to give it form and meaning. I will be there. I think they have a long way to go. Formation of a union is a major undertaking, particularly if it entails economic and social and political cooperation. We have seen the European Union, which has made great strides, but is still a work in progress. I would hope that, now that they have taken the decision, they will begin to undertake the essential building blocks that are needed to give that union form. It is not going to be easy. It is going to take long, long and hard work. I hope that the determination will be there. I will be able to discuss it with the leaders when I am in Lusaka. But I think, at least they have taken the initial decision, and it is a positive direction to go. Which also implies, union implies, harmony, certain stability and nations at peace, working together. So we need to begin tackling seriously the crises in Africa. They need to resolve all these political crises and military conflicts so that they can focus on building that union, they can focus on economic and social development and prosperity of the people. Thank you.

Q: [inaudible, on contributions to the Global AIDS and Health Fund]

SG: We have received a large deposit on Monday, the Japanese Government paid in $200 million. I think we are in the area of $900 million today.

Q: How is the United States doing about that?

SG: The United States has paid $200 million, which President Bush described as a "founding" contribution, with indication that more would be forthcoming. I notice that the Congress in its discussions is trying to appropriate $750 million in next year's budget. So I think the indications are that more will come and I hope other governments will do more and of course the public and the foundations, and corporations too.

Q: Do you [inaudible] have any plans to meet President Bush here in Philadelphia?

SG: No, we wouldn't be meeting. Our schedules are both very tight, and I will be leaving for New York this afternoon, but I am happy that we are both sharing this Fourth of July, Independence Day celebration, here in Philadelphia. It is a great city.

Q: To follow up on the AIDS issue, there has been a lot of talk about medicine for AIDS patients, what about [inaudible]

SG: I think that is also part of the issue. In fact the UN organization, the World Food Programme, is very much engaged, working out a programme to provide food where it is needed, also to help fight the disease. We have lots of exciting initiatives taking place. I mean, obviously, you have to fight the disease on all fronts - prevention and treatment [inaudible]. Treatment reinforces prevention, so we are going to need medication, we are going to continue the search for a vaccine and a cure. We are going to try and tackle very aggressively the most vicious of all transmissions, from mother to child. The question of food and poverty is part of the problem. We are going to see what we can do to deal with that as well. The UN World Food Programme is working on that angle.

Another exciting programme, to show you how creative people are getting, is Bernard Kouchner, who is the French Minister of Health, called me about six weeks ago, he said, I have an idea. To help the developing countries who do not have top notch medical facilities I have got agreement from all the hospitals in three European countries that they will twin their hospitals with hospitals in the developing countries, and when he came for the Conference last week, that number has [increased] to nine states that are prepared to send their doctors to these areas, adopt hospitals, twin with them, be used as reference point. So there are lots of creative ways one can help.

Q: Mr. Secretary, we have heard your name pronounced more about three different ways today. Can we be sure we have it pronounced correctly?

SG: It is pronounced Annan, as in "cannon".

Q: [inaudible, on basketball player, Dikembe Mutombo, getting involved in the fight against HIV/AIDS]

SG: I was very happy to receive him, and to know about his project. For somebody who has done well wanting to go back and do something for his society and to create a hospital that will help look after the health of the community, help those with AIDS and other diseases, I think is a major contribution. It also indicates and sends out a message that individuals can make a difference. An individual who is in a position to assist should reach out and do it. I am always impressed and fascinated by people like him who have done well and put something back. I often say they remind me of farmers. A farmer knows instinctively that if you take something from the earth today, you need to put something back to be able to return tomorrow to harvest. Sometimes we forget it when we move into the cities and become very successful, that you do need to give something back, you need to give something back to make things move on and turn around. So I was very excited to hear about his projects and I was very proud of him.