UN Secretary General thanked President Halonen for Finland’s role as EU President

“UN Secretary General Kofi Annan thanked Finland for its role as the EU President in finding ways to resolve the Lebanon crisis”, President of the Republic of Finland Tarja Halonen said at a press conference at the UN Headquarters on Tuesday, 19 September, in New York City after meeting with the Secretary General. President Halonen and Annan discussed the deployment of the UN peacekeeping troops in Lebanon and how it will effect the underlying question of relations between Israel and the Palestinians.

President of the Republic of Finland Tarja Halonen met UN Secretary General Kofi Annan in New York. Photo: Petri Krook

President Halonen said they also talked about the UN investigation of the killing of UNTSO officers of which the UN is scheduled to release a report later on. Halonen said she met with Israeli Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni yesterday and thanked her for their report, released last week. “It is important that also Israel reflected on the events and compiled a report”, Halonen said.

The issue of Iran´s uranium enrichment programme was also discussed, and Halonen conveyed the EU position to the Secretary General. “We may occasionally have different views among the member states, but it is our consensus to promote dialogue. We are not talking about sanctions right now”, she said.

“I also expressed our appreciation to the Secretary General on promoting the UN reforms. Mr Annan has done a great deal to improve the status of the organisation during the past decade he has held the office”, Halonen said. When asked about her choice for a successor to Annan she said the candidate should be competent, efficient, and willing to take on the reform process. “I have encouraged the Asian candidates”, she added as she said it was time for the Asian continent to be represented in the highest rank of the United Nations.

President Halonen addressed the 61st General Assemby of the United Nations on behalf of the European Union on Tuesday, 19 September.

Address by President Halonen to the 61st General Assembly of the United Nations