Press encounter upon arrival, (unofficial transcript)
Press events | Kofi Annan, Former Secretary-General
SG: When you talk of the increase in American troops in the region are you thinking of Afghanistan as well or are you only thinking of the Middle East?
Q: I am thinking of the Middle East because there are reports that some German troops and some American troops and so and so are coming to the region - except what is there already.
SG: I have no details of any additional troops and the numbers of troops that are coming - so I cannot comment on that.
Q: Mr. Annan, are you determined to visit Iraq trying to do something before it's too late, taking into consideration that the UN itself called the inspectors out of Iraq in 1998 not the Iraqi Government.
SG: I have no plans to go to Iraq at the moment. The Secretary-General of the Arab League, who has just come from Iraq, will be seeing me later in the week, early next week.
Q: Mr. Annan, your main purpose for your visit to Qatar what are you going to say?
SG: I am going to exchange some ideas with the Emir and to discuss developments in the region and also the Afghanistan situation. Thank you. *****