Presentation of credentials by U.S. Ambassador, John Negroponte, UNHQ

SG: Thank you very much, and welcome. You've come at a critical time. A lot is happening here, and we're going to have a lot to do together, so I welcome you to the UN. You've come at a time when the international community is thinking of putting together a coalition to fight terrorism, and I think you must have seen the resolutions of the Security Council and the General Assembly, the sort of unanimous condemnation and the support that came out of the membership and the desire to move ahead and work together to fight this scourge. So we have a lot to do. Welcome.

Amb. Negroponte: Thank you very much, Mr. Secretary-General. I couldn't agree with you more that we have an extraordinarily full agenda ahead of us at this very critical time. And of course we've noted that the United Nations did its part the very first day by passing resolutions both at the Security Council and in the General Assembly, for which we are extremely grateful. As President Bush said this morning, we're all working hard to form this international coalition against terrorism. I look forward to working with you, your colleagues and with the other Permanent Representatives here at the United Nations on this highly important project in the days and weeks ahead. Thank you so much for welcoming me.

SG: Thank you very much. Come and meet some of our colleagues. *****