U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan Hosts Round of Bilateral Discussions with World Leaders

Strategic Insights -

As the U.N. Millennium Summit kicked off, Secretary-General Kofi Annan began a round of bilateral discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, marking the start of a historic gathering of world leaders. Annan and Barak's 35-minute session covered a range of topics, including the Middle East peace process, Iraq, and the Israeli airman Ron Arad missing in Lebanon since 1986. Iranian President Mohammad Khatami was also in attendance, speaking to hundreds of Iranians and Iranian-Americans and launching the Iran-sponsored Year of Dialogue Among Civilizations.

Key Takeaways:

  • The U.N. Millennium Summit, the largest gathering of world leaders in history, officially began Wednesday and will last through Friday, with over 150 heads of state and government expected to attend.
  • Secretary-General Kofi Annan will meet with most of the attending leaders and facilitate over 700 bilateral talks within U.N. space.
  • The summit will focus on topics such as globalization, U.N. reform, and the impact of AIDS, with the Security Council's reform being a longstanding issue in deadlock.
  • New York City police are on high alert, with 6,000 personnel assigned to security and hundreds of federal agents deployed to handle potential protests and incidents.
  • The presence of world leaders has led to the closure of large swaths of Midtown Manhattan, with residents and visitors warned to use public transportation.

Statistics:

  • 150+ heads of state and government expected to attend the U.N. Millennium Summit.
  • 700+ bilateral talks facilitated by the U.N. within its own space.
  • 6,000 police assigned to security duties.
  • 41,000-strong police force on alert.
  • Over 700 expected bilateral meetings, including those within U.N. space, in various country missions, and in nearby hotels.

Sources:

  • "U.N. Secretary-General, Israeli Prime Minister Meet in First of Bilateral Talks," by William M. Reilly, UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 4.
  • U.N. Press Release: "Millennium Summit 2000 - The Largest Gathering of World Leaders in History"