RUSSIAN DEPUTY MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS YURI FEDOTOV MEETS WITH UN UNDER-SECRETARY-GENERAL FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC INFORMATION SHASHI THAROOR

Unofficial translation from Russian

PRESS RELEASE

On June 18 Russian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Yuri Fedotov received UN Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information Shashi Tharoor.

During the talk, the sides discussed questions of improving the information activities of the United Nations. A common opinion was expressed that these activities should adequately reflect the UN agenda priorities, of which the main ones are still the maintenance of international peace and security, peacemaking, including the prevention and pacific settlement of conflicts, and the fight against international terrorism.

Special attention was devoted to the concrete steps taken by the Secretariat of the United Nations to reform and raise the efficiency of UN activities in the information field. The Russian side expressed support for continued work in this direction.

The constructive nature of the meeting has borne out the high quality of dialogue and cooperation between Russia and senior UN Secretariat officials in the interest of further strengthening the central role of the worldwide Organization in dealing with topical international problems.

June 18, 2003