Declaration of a Palestinian State beyond 4 May 1999 – SecGen press conference at UNOG – Press release (excerpts)

TRANSCRIPT OF PRESS CONFERENCE BY SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN

AT UNITED NATIONS OFFICE AT GENEVA, 26 JANUARY 1999

Following is the transcript of the Press Conference given today by Mr. Kofi Annan, Secretary-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva:

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QUESTION: Mr. Secretary­General, … The second question: what if the Palestinian authority proclaimed a State next May? What is your position, Sir?

The SECRETARY­GENERAL:

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On your second question: I have seen dispatches which seem to indicate that Chairman Arafat may postpone the declaration of a State beyond 4 May. I hope that in the meantime, and after the Israeli elections, the peace process will move forward and one can resolve some of these outstanding differences because I think all of us know the impact or the implication of the creation of a State on 4 May. I hope that what I am hearing is a right position.

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