Secretary-General looks to unification of Korean Peninsula on Anniversary of Accord

On the fifth anniversary of the historic summit meeting between the two countries of the Korean Peninsula, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan today called on both nations to continue dialogue and cooperation in the interest of furthering peace, prosperity, democracy and eventual unification.

In a statement issued by spokesman, Fred Eckhard, Mr. Annan called the Declaration, signed between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the Republic of Korea (ROK), on 15 June 2000, a guarantee of durable peace on the Peninsula, which he hoped would also be free of nuclear weapons.

Stressing his intention to do his utmost to assist the Korean people in attaining unification with the support of the international community, he also urged both sides to do everything possible to expedite and facilitate family reunions for those separated since the Korean War.