Secretary-General's encounter upon arrival at UNHQ (use of this transcript MUST be attributed to CNN)

SG: I've written to the Iraqi government and I'm expecting to hear formally from them. So I don't want to put too much on what the Parliament has said until I hear from the Government.

Q: Is this a new letter or are you talking about the fax from Friday?

SG: The Friday fax. So I expect to hear from them by the 15th.

Q: Is it a bad sign?

SG: Governments have a way of managing their own environment and I think most of it was for their own people.

Q: How do you think the inspectors will do when they go in there? What kind of level of trust do you have on Hans Blix, previous inspectors, chief inspectors you have sometimes had difficulties with?

SG: I think Mr. Blix is a very experienced man, with keen judgement. He has work in Iraq before and he is familiar with the Iraqis. And I expect him to do very well. And they are going with their hands strengthened with a new resolution. And I expect Dr. Blix and Dr. ElBaradei will use those new tools very effectively.

Q: How do you explain the differences between the US saying they can do what they want to do and the [Security] Council saying there will be a meeting if there's a problem with Iraq?

SG: I think the resolution is very clear. If the inspectors do report back that Iraq is defiant, there will be a Council meeting to discuss the situation and to determine what to do.

Q: What about the President of the United States? You're seeing him. Would it be to congratulate him on the election results or do you need anything on Iraq?

SG: No, we have quite a few other issues to discuss. The world is a big place.