Press encounter following Secretary-General's meeting with French President Jacques Chirac (unofficial transcript)

I have indicated that it would be unwise to attack Iraq now. It will raise international tensions of course. I am sure President Bush and his team will bear this in mind. But I was encouraged yesterday when he said that he would consult the international community and I hope that he will also include the Security Council, which is at the centre of that community.

Q: [in French on Bakassi Peninsula] A propos de Bakassi, il y a une reunion avec les deux chefs d'etat et que peux faire les nations unies pour faciliter la situation?

SG: La situation du bon voisinage est d'accepter les decisions de la communauté internationale. Il faut démilitariser Bakassi.

Q: Do you believe that the UN should set a deadline for the return of inspectors to Iraq?

SG: I think this is something that the Security Council will have to decide. As you know, I myself have had three sessions with the Iraqi Foreign Minister and saw [Deputy Prime Minister] a few days ago in Johannesburg and encouraged him to accept a return of the inspectors. And I am not the only one. Many heads of state including many in the Middle East are encouraging them to do that. And I hope that will happen, but of course the Council has always been seized of the subject, and I trust they will continue to discuss it particularly at this critical stage. On my return to New York I am sure I will have the chance of discussing this issue with the Security Council.