30/1/2004
Annan Visits Brussels For Talks With EU Leaders And To Receive Sakahrov Prize On Behalf Of UN

Secretary General of the United Nations, Secretary-General Kofi Annan visited the European Commission on 28th January 2004 where he enjoyed a working lunch with European Commissioners and received the prestigious Sakharov Prize awarded to the United Nations by the European Parliament. The text of Mr Annan's acceptance speech is given here.

High on the agenda of his talks with EU leaders was action to strengthen EU-UN relations and to advance the process of UN reform where the EU is already contributing to a high-level panel. The discussion also ranged over other areas of shared concern including key foreign policy issues. The full text of a press conference given later by Mr Annan and European leaders is included here in this issue of EuropaWorld.

The UN Secretary-General was welcomed into the Chamber of the European Parliament to receive the Sakharov Prize on behalf of the United Nations by the Parliament's President, Pat Cox, who also welcomed a number of former winners of the prize including the President of East Timor, Mr Xanana Gusmão (1999); the President of Kosovo, Mr Ibrahim Rugova (1998); Ms. Senka Kurtovic (for Oslobodjenje) (1993); Mr. Wei Jingsheng (1996); Ms. Salima Ghezali (1997); Basta Ya (2000); Dom Zacharias Kamwenho (2001).

He recalled the continuing fight for freedom and democracy which prevented Aung San Suu Kyi from being present. Leyla Zana was not free and continued her incarceration, though Mr Cox had received a letter from her expressing her solidarity and her wish for a century of peace and democracy. Oswaldo Payá was also prevented from attending by the Cuban authorities. He had sent a message of solidarity and dedication to the cause of human rights.

Mr Cox explained that the occasion was symbolic, giving Parliament and the UN an opportunity to mark and to celebrate the values and public purpose that we share. "Ours," he said, "is a Union of values based on pluralist democracy, respect for the rule of law, respect for individual and minority rights, sustainability, solidarity, open economy respect for cultural diversity. Arguably our European Union is the most successful conflict resolution process the world has ever seen."

The President expressed Parliament's strong belief in the value and worth of the United Nations, its Charter and multilateralism. He stated: "We support the fight against global terrorism, but we also recognise the duty to fight against global poverty. As regards Weapons of Mass Destruction, we stand firmly on the side of non-proliferation, but our instinctive European response is for engagement and not isolation." He also emphasised Parliament's support for the Kyoto protocol and its clear preference for the due process of the International Criminal Court rather than the lack of process at Guantanamo Bay.

Mr Cox pledged that Parliament would be a reliable regional partner for the United Nations and what it stands for. He also recognised the solemn purpose of the occasion, noting that on 19 August 2003, in Baghdad, terrorism reached a new low, when twenty-two UN staff members paid the ultimate price in the service of peace.
He then welcomed a number of the relatives of the victims to the chamber.

Finally the President addressed Mr Annan directly: "For defending freedom and for promoting the values we believe in in this House, it is my privilege to award to you, the United Nations, the Sakharov Prize of the European Parliament."