Press encounter upon arrival at Headquarters

SG: No, I think that has been explained. The UN team went there to see what had happened and also to check if there was any need for humanitarian assistance, and in the process gathered the fact-finding information that the villagers shared with them and they reported this to Headquarters in Kabul and they were asked to clarify some of the judgements and comments in the report. So they went back and reviewed it further and Mr. Brahimi has shared the report with the Government of Afghanistan and also with the US authorities in Kabul who are conducting their own investigation and I hope the work the UN has done will help them move forward with the investigations speedily.

Q: Was the UN qualified in a preliminary report to judge that the US might have moved evidence or cleansed the site of blood?

SG: I think they reported the facts as they were informed - they were not on the ground. They got this information from the villagers and recorded them in their report which we have shared with those concerned.

Q: Is this a UN embarrassment at all?

SG: I don't think it is a UN embarrassment. I think there should be no embarrassment - a group of UN officials who happen to be at the site attempting to ascertain the facts. They work in the region, the people know them, they were the ones on the ground and the villagers shared with them their version of what happened.

Q: So which version do you believe?

SG: Well, I think Mr. Brahimi has given the final report to the others and I think the final report that has been given must be the correct one, because the first report was not rejected. They just asked for further clarification of statements which had been made, and so I think the Organization stands by the final report which we have shared with others.

Q: On another topic, I know you hate smoking but tobacco - there's a big conference in the building regarding the smuggling of cigarettes and how that perhaps finances terrorism and other things. Will you have a comment on the importance of the conference?

SG: I think any kind of smuggling that is used to support terrorism must be condemned and we should do everything we can to stop it. Smuggling is not something we condone, and particularly when it is linked to terrorist activities, given what we all know about terrorism, it is something that we need to do - and you will recall one of the Security Council resolutions demanded that all Member States try to take steps to ensure that terrorists do not get financial or logistical support and this should be seen as part of that effort.

Q: I don't know if you are aware - are you comfortable with your name being signed on to a petition in the Washington D.C's mayor's race? Do you endorse him?

SG: No, it is quite amazing because, in fact this came up yesterday when I met a group of journalists and I was able to clarify for the record that I am neither a Democrat nor a Republican and what's more, as a foreigner, I don't have a vote here.

Q: Another MidEast bombing - your Spokesman and I were debating even asking this question since it seems almost routine and you condemn that and others?. I mean, do you see any light?

SG: No, I think really what - we are at a stage today where we all share a common vision. The two parties - Israel and the Palestinians - have indicated that they are prepared to accept two States. I think what we need to do is to find a way to get there - as we need an operational pathway to get there in three years, which everybody seems to have agreed upon and this has been the issue that is occupying the Quartet and all those that want to see movement on this issue. And, I suspect in the next couple of meetings, our envoys and the task forces and working groups we've set up will be working assiduously on this issue.

Q: Does the US insistence on condemnation on Palestinian terrorism, the Al Aksa Brigades and Hamas and any new Palestinian resolution help bring the matter closer towards a dialogue?

SG: Well, the US has a position on some of these issues which is not entirely shared by the Quartet, but there is a broad area of agreement that we want to work on and bring this issue to closure.

Q: Real Madrid, Rome -- who are you rooting for?

SG: I'm going to welcome both teams to New York and I support the cause for which they are playing. You know they are playing in solidarity with Aids victims and I think it is a great idea and I am really very grateful to both teams that they came here to do that. Thank you very much.