Press encounter following meeting with President George W. Bush (unofficial transcript)

SG: I have had a very constructive discussion with the President. We did discuss the situation in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia [FYROM]; we talked about AIDS and the UN Conference coming up. We talked about the fight against poverty and about trade, and the fact that the poor would much rather trade themselves out of poverty and live on handouts, and that we hopefully will do whatever we can to open up world trade. And we talked about the US-UN relationship and we were both satisfied that we have put behind us the difficult budgetary issue that has made our relationship difficult and promised to work very closely together on issues of mutual concern to the UN and the US. I'll take your questions.

Q: Secretary-General, do you feel you now have US backing for a second term?

SG: The President did offer it and made a statement to the press. Yes.

Q: Did you talk about Iraq?

SG: The Iraqi issue also came up, and the review that is going on, and the fact that I will be going to the Arab Summit this weekend where this issue will also come up.

Q: What about the Middle East, Sir?

SG: It was discussed and, of course, you are also aware that when Prime Minister Sharon was here, he also came to see me in New York and we believe that we have to do everything possible to stop the violence and move the parties back on to the negotiating table. And I'm sure this is also an issue that I'll be discussing a lot at the beginning of next week in Amman when I go to meet the Arab leaders.

Q: What, if anything, did you decide on [the former Yugoslav Republic of] Macedonia with the President?

SG: Our sense is that, while we should support the Macedonian Government in its attempts to put down the rebellion, the government has to be careful not to handle the situation in a manner that would exacerbate it -- pull out refugees, and perhaps divide the society even further. But we are firm on the territorial integrity and the unity of FYROM. Thank you very much.*****