Secretary-General's press encounter with Austrian Foreign Minister Benita Ferrero-Waldner (unofficial transcript)

SG: Thank you very much, Madame Minister. Good morning ladies and gentlemen. I think the Minister has given you a clear indication of the topics we discussed this morning. We also did touch on Cyprus and the future of the efforts to bring the two sides together. And of course, as the Minister indicated, we are both concerned about the Middle East situation and the need for the road map to be implemented as soon as possible, as soon as the Palestinian Prime Minister has been able to form his government, to put the road map on the table and press for its implementation.

I've also been able to thank the Minister for the very strong support Austria and the European Union have given to the United Nations throughout the past period, and particularly the recent past, as we all struggled with the crisis in Iraq. I know there are divisions amongst members, but serious attempts are being made to heal these divisions, so that the international community as a whole can focus on helping the Iraqi people and Iraq in rebuilding its State and move on to tackle other urgent issues that confront the international community.

Thank you very much, we'll take your questions.

Q: Mr. Secretary-General, what are you going to do to accelerate, to make the emergency programme for the people in Iraq more efficient? We learned that only half of the money has been spent now, any plans for that? Second question: did you do any talks about an Iraq conference in Vienna?

SG: I think on your first one, in fact, as recently as yesterday, the Council was discussing the Oil-for-Food and how the procedures can be streamlined to accelerate delivery of goods. Because it was a rather cumbersome procedure and of course there are historical reasons for that and attempts are being made to streamline it, to be able to facilitate shipment of goods into the country. And I think we will be seeing some considerable improvement in the coming weeks.

On the issue of a conference - we did not discuss it, because no such conference has been planned yet and therefore we can't even talk of a venue.

Q: Mr. Secretary-General, yesterday you said you would like to see the return of the UN inspectors. The United States is saying they do not want the inspectors back in Iraq. Is this struggle about the inspectors a major setback for the discussions on the future of Iraq?

SG: No, I think it is the Council resolution does require certification from the inspectors. Of course, the situation in Iraq has changed. The current resolution will demand that the inspectors go back. The Council is free to amend it and it may well do that. But until they do that, this is a resolution on the books and it is that resolution that is guiding Mr. Blix and Dr. ElBaradei here in Vienna. And until that changes that is the resolution that they should follow.

Q: Mr. Secretary-General, how do you think the UN sees the Americans threatening against Syria?

SG: First of all, let me say that I am encouraged to notice that the Americans themselves have indicated that Syria is cooperating with them and there has been a change in tone, which I welcome. And I think it is important that all these issues be solved peacefully and through dialogue and diplomatically, and I expect that's what will happen in the case of Syria.

Thank you.