Brussels, 17/12/2004 (Agence Europe) - During a press conference that followed the meeting between the United Nations Secretary General and the Heads of State and Government of the European Union on Friday in Brussels, Jan Peter Balkenende urged for an "effective multilateral system". The European Council welcomed the High Level Group's report on reform of the UN and gave its "very clear support" to the Secretary General, the Dutch Prime Minister said. Kofi Annan welcomed the quality of relations between the UN and the EU and the positive way in which European leaders acclaimed the "excellent" report on UN reform. José Manuel Barroso reassured Kofi Annan that he could "count on our support" and added: "Although it is already excellent, I should like cooperation between the United Nations and the Commission to be intensified over the next five years".
In answer to questions on Cyprus, Mr Annan said: "I am following developments closely (…). It trust that, in the future, there will be positive developments (…) so that the question of Cyprus does not pose any problems for the Union". Evoking reunification of Cyprus, Kofi Annan added: "Once the parties are willing to move forward, I shall propose my good offices (…) but for now, I shall wait".
Mr Annan also answered a question about reform of the Security Council. "The question of single representation (Ed.: of the EU) is not raised for now. I hope an equitable decision for all regions will be found", he said. In response to the allegations of corruption in the context of the Oil for Food programme, Mr Annan explained that "these allegations are being taken very seriously". He recalled that an independent fact-finding team had been set in place to "have the facts ready before drawing any conclusions".