We are taking concrete and urgent steps to correct the managerial lapses which have been identified by the Volcker [Committee]. I must say that when we discuss this issue we tend to forget the reasons why the programme was set up. The programme was set up to assist the Iraqi population, because it was felt that as long as sanctions were there and they were not able to sell oil, they were going to suffer. And we were getting reports, from our own UNICEF, of malnutrition, death of children, so it was an urgent programme to assist the Iraqis, and I think it achieved its objective. Not only did it achieve its objective, we managed to reach almost the entire Iraqi population, and the fact that we used their distribution cards as the basis for the electoral rolls, indicates how extensive this thing was.
This does not, of course, excuse errors of fraud, or mistakes that have been made, but I think we need to put things into perspective. Quite frankly, some of the criticisms and the remarks, have gone beyond all zone of reasonableness. But I think when the full report comes out, I hope we will all understand.
I have a heavy agenda for the next eighteen months, working with the Member States to reform this organization; working with them to ensure that we put the fight against poverty at the centre of the Organization; working with them to ensure that we get effective and additional resources to fight HIV/AIDS, and also to strengthen the administration and managerial requirements of the Organization, and so I will be working full steam with the Member States. As you know, the French have a saying, "Les chiens aboient mais la caravanepasse," that is, "the dogs bark, but the caravan moves on." [laughter]
Question: In the year 2000 there was a Millennium meeting of global religious and spiritual leaders. Religious fundamentalism and fanaticism still involves the main causes of conflict and hatred and bitterness in the world. How do you intend to address that? Because if that area is neglected, then it will constantly fester. How are we going to bring about a harmony, at least a basic understanding between the great religions of the world, and will the United Nations, or UNESCO, or one of its agencies, continue to play a leadership role in this area?
Question: Your Excellency, while assessing the progress made on the Asian platform for action, during a March meeting in New York, we have all realized that member nations have not moved much, and I do not see much in the plan proposed in your Report which you just explained, and in your lecture. What is the UN going to do about 50:50 gender balance within the institution and member nations? Thank you.
Question: Mr. Secretary-General, my question relates to goal number one in your programme relating to poverty, hunger and these issues. India, a number of times, through theILO, had proposed the establishment of an international skills development fund, with a view to emphasize the removal of poverty, because without skills development, the one dollar question cannot adequately be tackled; it is a link with primary education. A number of things happened under the international level –IPEC, HIV/AIDS, they are all successful programmes, but India, you took initiative through Paul Martin's report and it was very well received in this part of the world in the developing countries, but without skills development nothing really can go. And could I draw your personal attention that this issue is sponsored by the ILO's governing body? Could you react to it? What place does it have in your agenda?
Question: I just wanted to ask the Secretary-General how far it is progressive to introduce the caste system in the United Nations? Permanent members, with veto powers, without veto powers, we have been trying laboriously, and for a long time nobody is caste in India.
Question: Excellency, in your lecture you mentioned about the CTBT. I think you are in love with the CTBT, and India hates the CTBT. How to reconcile your love and our hate forCTBT?
Question: I am delighted to get an impression from your reform agenda that your main objective for the running team is to strengthen the rule of law, and larger freedom, everything else is based on that component – the strengthening of the rule of law. But when it comes to precise proposals, how come you have not paid attention to the reforms of two leading law institutions at the international level – one, the International Law Commission, and second, the International Court of Justice? And supplement to this question is, you cannot have rule of law at the international level unless you bring non-state actors into compliance with the rule of law. Have you, or your think tank, paid attention about the strategies to bring non-state entities into compliance with the rule of law?
Question: Mr. Secretary-General, "In Larger Freedom: the Changing Role of the United Nations", this is a very engaging title for a manifesto on reform of the United Nations. I would like to know how could you reconcile this message that is based on the rule of law, on the elimination of the caste system of the United Nations, on the elimination of privileges of the United Nations, how can all this be reconciled with the proposal, one of the two proposals for reform of the Security Council, simply prorogating by just enlarging privileges to other countries, in eternity, permanently. How can this be reconciled with the criterion of accountability of the rule of law?
And the second question is, you enumerated very clearly the criteria for which countries could be part of the Security Council, and I appreciate very much the distance that you showed and the equilibrium in saying being a member of the Security Council without specifying permanent or non-permanent, in rotation, following regional criteria and whatever. But if these are the criteria that should drive the [General] Assembly to elect the permanent members of the Security Council, we could enumerate more than 25 countries that could respond to these criteria – countries that are very strong contributors in terms of peacekeeping operations and financial…
Kofi Annan: I think I get your drift.
Question: So how can we tackle that?
Kofi Annan: Let me start with the question on interfaith dialogue and what the UN is doing to ensure that we counter fundamentalism and some of the tension between civilizations and groups. You may recall that a couple of years ago the UN did organize a major General Assembly session on Dialogue among Civilizations. In fact the idea came from the Iranian President [Mohammed] Khatami, and he played a very active role with us, where we brought a group of people together to discuss this issue and UNESCO is permanently engaged in this and does have a programme on it.