Remarks upon arrival at UNHQ, (unofficial transcript)

SG: I don't have the details and obviously it's a decision for the [Security] Council, but I'm not quite sure how close the Council is to taking any such action. And I've been on the road and I'll be talking to the Council members to see what there is to this.

Q: Sir, people are saying now that the situation in the Middle East has gotten to the point where it is explosive. Is there anything new that you or the Security Council should be doing or can be doing?

SG: I'm in touch with the leaders in the region, both with Prime Minister [Ariel] Sharon and Mr. [Yasser] Arafat, and other leaders in the region and in Europe and also here. And I think what we are all trying to do is to work with the parties to try and end the violence and move on to ease the economic situation of the Palestinians, and of course, prepare the ground for talks. I know there are those who believe that as long as the violence is going on, one should not talk. I, personally, disagree with that. I think that is one more reason to talk and it underscores the urgency of bringing the parties together. And I would work with others to see what we can do to bring the violence to an end.

Q: Mr. Secretary, is it time for the UN, yourself, to get involved in the US-China dispute?

SG: I think they seem to be talking directly. For a while, they seemed to be making progress, but I hope the direct discussions will lead to results. But if my good offices are needed, I'm always available.

Q: On Kyoto, Secretary-General, do you see a role for yourself and the UN in trying to get that back on track after the American government having rescinded the agreement?

SG: I consider that decision unfortunate, but then the UN has a mandate to press ahead on environmental issues. Global warming is real. There's enough scientific evidence to indicate that it is real and that we need to take every step possible to try and halt it. I think the UN will press ahead with the Member States to ensure that this is done. And I hope the US position is not immutable.

Q: Mr. Secretary-General, are you satisfied with the steps that the Yugoslav Government is taking regarding former President [Slobodan] Milosevic?

SG: I think his arrest is a first step. And obviously, as President [Vojislav] Kostunica had said, he has charges to answer for before his own people. But I hope that does not mean that he will not eventually end up in The Hague.

Q: You've just returned from Amman where you met with lots of Arab leaders. Now that you're back at Headquarters, what can you do, what will you do, in order to contain the situation on the ground on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict?

SG: I will continue my contacts with the leaders and work with other interested parties to try and calm the situation, end the violence and move on, as I said, to ease the economic condition and eventually bring the parties to the negotiating table.

Q: How do two big powers say they are sorry?

SG: I think they will find ways of doing it. There are so many ways to do it, and I think they will find a way of doing it. *****