SG/T/2252

ACTIVITIES OF SECRETARY-GENERAL IN BELGIUM, 5 OCTOBER

The Secretary-General flew from Paris to Brussels early on Thursday morning, 5 October. Upon his arrival in Belgium, he headed straight to a meeting with Belgium Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt. During the 30-minute meeting, the Prime Minister and the Secretary-General discussed, among other issues, the current crisis in the Middle East. Concerning the Democratic Republic of the Congo, they also explored various ways in which the Belgian Government could assist in reviving the Lusaka peace process.

Before leaving the Prime Minister�s office, the Secretary-General answered a few questions from journalists. In answer to a question on the Middle East, the Secretary-General said that he was in almost daily contact with Mr. Barak and Mr. Arafat, and that the United Nations �was going to continue to work with them to calm the situation�.

The Secretary-General was then received by Javier Solana, Secretary-General of the European Council of Ministers and High Representative for Common Defence and Foreign Policy. The discussion between the two centred on how the proposed European Rapid Reaction Force could be of use to United Nations peace operations.

In a press encounter following the meeting, the two answered questions on a wide variety of topics. Asked if the new European Union common defence initiative posed a threat to other organizations, the Secretary-General said he welcomed the initiative. �For Europe to organize itself to be able to respond is a positive development. It should not be seen as a competition or in conflict with other powers or other power.�

The High Representative then hosted an informal lunch for the Secretary- General.

On Thursday afternoon, the Secretary-General went to the headquarters of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). He first met with the alliance�s Secretary-General, Lord Robertson. During this meeting, the discussion centred on issues relating to the former Yugoslavia, where the United Nations operates peace missions concurrently with NATO. They also shared their analysis of the current leadership in Belgrade. He then met with the Atlantic Council and answered a series of questions from the representatives of NATO member States. In his introductory remarks, the Secretary-General outlined some of the steps he had already taken to reform peacekeeping operations, following the recommendations included in the Brahimi Report on United Nations peace operations.

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The Secretary-General met briefly with the press to give them an overview of his day's meetings. When asked about the dramatic events in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, he responded, "The people of Serbia have spoken. They have made a clear choice. They are asking for democratic rule. They want to have a say in the decisions affecting them, and I hope this choice and their voice will be heard."

Before leaving NATO, the Secretary-General met with General Rupert Smith, Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe.

The Secretary-General then returned to Paris by plane. The remainder of his programme was private.

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