AFR 11 September 2002 – Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen in New York

Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen will visit New York to participate in the commemoration ceremony that one year has passed since the terrorist attack on the USA on 11 September 2001.

The next day, Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen will attend the opening of the UN General Assembly.

On the occasion of the visit, Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen states:

”My visit to New York will both be retrospective and forward-looking. Together with the American authorities, I shall take part in a mourning service in commemoration of the victims of 11 September 2001. I participate on behalf of Denmark and the EU as a sign of our solidarity with the USA. However, I shall also bring a message to the Americans on continued co-operation in the fight against terrorism. In the EU, we stand side by side with the USA when it comes to tracking down and prosecuting terrorists and cutting off funding for the terrorist networks.

I shall use the visit to deliver the EU’s annual address at the opening of the UN General Assembly. The agenda for this occasion is also concerned with alleviation of poverty and promoting human rights, as well as other EU priorities.”

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Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen’s programme in New York will include, among other things, the following events (subject to change):

Wednesday 11 September

- 08:46 AM Observing one minute of silence together with the staff of the Danish UN Mission in New York (the time when the first plane crashed into the World Trade Centre).

- 09:15 AM: Meeting the Danish press at the UN Mission (1 Dag Hammarskjold Plaza, 885 Second Avenue, 18th Floor, New York).

- In the course of the day, bilateral talks with:

- Indian Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

- Bulgarian President and Chairman of the UN Security Council Georgi Parvanov.

- Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf.

- 7:00 PM: Attending in a memorial service at the temporary monument for the World Trade Centre, ”The Sphere”, in Battery Park. New York Mayor Bloomberg will be host. Danish Minister for Foreign Affairs Per Stig Møller will also attend the memorial ceremony in Battery Park.

Thursday 12 September 2002

- 09:00 AM: Meeting the Danish press at the UN Mission concerning the Prime Minister’s opening address to the UN General Assembly.

- 10:00 AM: Opening of the 57th General Assembly of the UN.

- Approximately 12:30 PM: the Prime Minister to speak in the general debate.

-12:45 PM –1:00 PM: Reception and lunch for Heads of State and Government hosted by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.

- In the course of the day, bilateral talks with:

- UN Secretary General Kofi Annan

- Columbian President Alvaro Uribe

4:00 PM: International press briefing, UN briefing room, the UN building.

7:00 PM – 10:00 PM: Reception hosted by President George Bush.

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Further information:

Copenhagen: Jesper Fersløv Andersen +45 3392 2235 New York: Michael Christian Helbo +1 917-292-6435