SecGen press encounter at The Hague (30 Jan.) – Palestinian elections – Transcript (excerpts)

Secretary-General’s Joint Press Encounter with Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende

The Hague, 30 January 2006

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SG: Thank you very much Mr. Prime Minister, Madame Minister. I am also extremely happy to be here, to have this opportunity to exchange ideas on important issues of the day. I have been very pleased with the strong support The Netherlands has given to the UN reform. [The] Netherlands and the European Union together have been really part of the motor behind the reform process.

We are working on establishing the Human Rights Council.  I hope the Member States will be able to do that by 15th of February, and we can then press on with the other reforms, management, mandate review and other essential aspects of reform. But we are determined to press ahead and achieve the objectives that the Heads of States set for us in September.

From here, I’ll be going to London where I would attend the Quartet meeting and also a donor conference on Afghanistan.

On the Quartet meeting, I think you are all aware of the developments in the region. We will discuss the next steps following the Palestinian elections and, of course, the Israeli elections around the corner in March.

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