THE PRESIDENT TO ATTEND WILTON PARK CONFERENCE

THE PRESIDENT TO ATTEND WILTON PARK CONFERENCE

H.E. Prof. Guido de Marco, President of Malta, on Monday, 22^nd May leaves Malta for London, where he will address the 601^st Wilton Park Conference with the theme "A United Nations for the 21^st Century".

The four-day conference, being held at Wilton Park in West Sussex, will focus on the deliberations currently underway within the United Nations and its member states as they gear up for the Millennium Assembly of the UN, in September this year. Discussions will include topics such as peace, security and disarmament, eradication of poverty, human rights, sustainable development and the environment and globalisation.

The conference will address the following questions:- What role should the UN have in the 21^stCentury? Is too much expected of it? Do expectations vary too widely and how can they be reconciled? Can we ensure the UN has the resources to carry out the demands put upon it? Do changes need to be made and how can they be achieved? Should there be new links with regional organisations?

The President will open the conference on Monday afternoon with a speech entitled "A United Nations for all Nations." Prof. de Marco has just been to New York where he attended the meeting of the Council of Presidents of the United Nations General Assembly at the UN Headquarters. In New York, the President also met with UN secretary general Kofi Annan, who praised Malta for its efforts to help make the United Nations more operative.

The President returns to Malta on Tuesday 23^rd May. Dr Guze` Cassar will be Acting President.