LOC09:17
06:17 GMT
UNITED NATIONS, Jan 17 (KUNA) -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon this week expressed appreciation to the Kuwaiti initiative to hold the first Arab Economic Summit to be held in Kuwait on Monday, as a response to the economic challenges in the region.
"I appreciate this initiative as a response to the economic challenges in the region, and I hope it will be a successful summit," Ban told KUNA in an interview prior to his Mideast trip.
Asked what his message for the two-day summit would be and what he would like to see achieved, he said "I would certainly like to see the leaders involved discuss what they can do to help overcome the current economic crisis, and I trust that the countries involved will participate at a high level and consider how they can contribute to dealing with the crisis." As to what leading role he would see for the GCC, or for a particular country in the Gulf regarding the global financial crisis, he said "I see a role for all the Arab nations that are participating, including those of the Gulf. I look forward to seeing all of them participating in the summit." On whether the decrease in oil prices would affect the Arab countries' economic performance at home and their pledges to the less fortunate ones to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs,) he said "while I am sympathetic to the economic difficulties that countries have faced in recent months, I believe that all nations must move forward on implementing the MDGs.
"Those Goals are too important to the well-being of all the people of the world to be neglected, particularly during difficult economic times." On the situation in Gaza and the monitoring mechanisms he is taking with him to the region, Ban said that while "I am traveling and discussing these issues with leaders in the region, I will not be able to comment on specific plans or details of monitoring mechanisms. What is important is to develop mechanisms that are acceptable to all sides, which can contribute to a durable ceasefire." Asked whether the US position in support of Israel is complicating his efforts, he said "I have been working with any Governments that have an influence to make sure that they can use it to push for an immediate and durable ceasefire.
"To that end, I have been in constant contact with the US Government, including with President (George) Bush and Secretary of State (Condoleezza) Rice, and I believe that they have been doing what they can to contribute to those efforts." On whether the rockets fired on Israel from south Lebanon would complicate the situation underway in Gaza, he said "there is always the danger that the current crisis could affect the region as a whole. In Lebanon, UNIFIL has been making sure that the parties exercise restraint, and I continue to remind the parties of their obligations to fully adhere to Security Council resolution 1701 and respect the cessation of hostilities agreement." Asked what he would state in the report that the Security Council requested from him in order to get Iraq out of Chapter 7, he said "I will be providing a report in the coming weeks that will spell out what we believe is needed. I continue to place a high priority on the issues of Kuwaiti detainees and property, as is evident from the continuing work of the UN High-Level Coordinator Gennady Tarasov. (end) sj.tg KUNA 170917 Jan 09NNNN