Secretary-General's joint press stakeout with the President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union

Ladies and gentlemen of the media,

Good afternoon,

It is a great pleasure to see you again in Geneva.

First of all, I would like to extend my sincere congratulations to President Ben-Gurirab for his leadership in convening this World Conference of Speakers of Parliament which is held for the third time, after 2000 and 2005.

I have just met some of the most influential and powerful politicians in the world –the speakers of the world's parliaments gathered here by our good partner, the Inter-Parliamentary Union. As the voice of the people and as guardians of democracy, parliamentarians have a key role to play in the work of the United Nations.

In many countries, parliamentarians contribute to shaping the right policies and to promoting an ideal distribution of resources, through the budget and legislative processes. But in the twenty-first century and our globalized world, their role is becoming even more significant on the international stage. My attendance to this conference reflects the constructive and strategic partnership between IPU and the United Nations.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Earlier today I met with the heads of some of the UN agencies based in Geneva. We focused on the Millennium Development Goals, and how the UN system can pull together for a successful MDG Summit meeting to be held in September in New York and have a real push to accelerate progress towards 2015.

We will be helped in that effort by the MDG Advocates Group. As you know, I was in Madrid on Friday last week to launch its work. We have enlisted some big names who have done real work for real people in many fields, including Former Chilean President Michele Bachelet, Bill Gates, Graça Machel and Jeffrey Sachs and Nobel Peace Prize winners like Muhammad Yunus and Wangari Maathai. Our message is this: the MDGs are achievable but we are racing against the time.

The Advocates will mobilize their networks, and will promote innovative strategies and effective initiatives to accelerate progress towards implementation of the MDGs for the next 5 years.

In our discussions in Madrid, they focused on inclusive and green growth as well as on health and education. In a few days, we will issue a Madrid Declaration on the outcome of that meeting, and we will launch the Programme of Activities for 2010 and 2015 at the MDG Summit in September.

Negotiations among Member States are going on smoothly and I hope that we will have that document as soon as possible and I hope that leaders will come out with concrete action oriented plans.

Now, this [reflects] the great importance of my participation in this very important World Conference of Speakers of Parliaments. Their leadership and their commitment are crucially important at this time. We need collective leadership, collective commitment by all world leaders –- and also by business and civil society. And that is why I am here and I am very much impressed by the level of strong support by the Speakers of the world for the success of the MDGs and [for addressing] climate change and all other global issues. I count on your leadership. Thank you very much for your support.

Q: There are tensions between Colombia and Venezuela. If you could address that problem because this is a very, very delicate situation right now. If you could tell us about that.

SG: I know that there are some tensions between the two countries. But all these tensions and differences of opinions should be resolved, first of all, through dialogue in a peaceful manner. I know that the leaders are committed to resolve their problems between the two neighbours. If there is any role requested by the parties concerned, the United Nations stands ready to provide such assistance and technical assistance.

Q: You just met with the Iranian Speaker of the Parliament, Mr Larijani. I would like to know what subject did you treat. What did you talk about?

SG: First of all, I expressed my appreciation for his participation and I also emphasized the importance of speakers and parliamentarians of the world's national assemblies and parliaments in working together with the United Nations and IPU to realize our common aspirations - the MDGs, climate change, a world without fear of nuclear weapons. I asked about his thoughts and perspectives as a former chief negotiator of Iranian nuclear issues and we discussed how this nuclear issue of Iran could be harmoniously resolved. I emphasized the importance of the Iranian Government working together with the international community and resolve this issue through dialogue and negotiations.

Q: Yes, Catherine Fiankan from Fraternite Matin, Ivory Coast. Mr. Secretary-General I would like to know, we noticed today the absence of a delegation of Ivory Coast. What is your opinion about the situation there? Will they organize elections this year? And how is the United Nations going to react?

SG: I believe that the President of the IPU would be in a better position to answer that.

[President of IPU speaks]

Q: Mr. Secretary-General, Jamil Chade, O Estado de Sao Polo, Brazil. A question on Cuba. You were in Madrid. There were fifty-something dissidents that were freed, or at least promised to be freed, by the Cuban Government. Is this something that is enough in you point of view from the Cuban Government? Or does Cuba need to do something else to show a commitment towards, let's say a transition to a democracy?

SG: I followed closely the recent release of prisoners on the occasion of the visit of Spanish Foreign Minister Moratinos, and in fact I had some talks with the Foreign Minister of Spain when I was in Madrid and that is welcome news and encouraging. Of course, you know, we expect that there should be more reconciliatory measures taken by the Cuban authorities. Establishing rule of law and respecting human rights –those are fundamental principles of the United Nations Charter and that is what I would encourage.

Q: [translated from French] Nefail Maliqi, Albanian journalist. Mr. Secretary-General on 22 July in The Hague the International Court of Justice will give its advisory opinion on the independence of Kosovo. Do you think Kosovo will be a Member State of the United Nations after that?

SG: First of all, I am aware that the judgment on this Serbian Government's application for the legality of the independence of Kosovo is going to be made in an advisory opinion, at the request of the General Assembly. And I am awaiting that decision on 22 July. Whatever the decision may be, I respect, and I understand the Member States will also respect the decision of ICJ. This is the judiciary organization, organ, of the United Nations. For any political, legal implications coming from this advisory opinion, Member States, and particularly concerned parties, will need to coordinate and discuss the future course of actions. The United Nations, in accordance with the Security Council resolution 1244, and as we are maintaining UNMIK in Kosovo, we will also very closely discuss this matter with the directly concerned parties and the European Union and other key stakeholders [toward] an harmonious way of addressing this issue and to ensure peace and stability there. Until then, we will continue to work in accordance with 1244, in a status neutral way. Thank you very much.