Press encounter by the Secretary-General with the President of the European Union (unofficial transcript)

SG: Thank you very much, Mr President. I have enjoyed our discussions and we've had very, very good and close cooperation and we are going to intensify that cooperation in many areas. We are working on many practical things, and we are working together in several parts of the world –the Balkans to Africa. And this evening we had the chance to discuss other projects that we will embark on together. And above all, I'm extremely happy that the European Union has received the report for reforms so favourably, and I look forward to working with them as we move forward to the Summit in September 2005. And I'm really, really grateful for the cooperation we have.

Q: Secretary-General, the commander of the AU force in Sudan insists that the Sudanese Government is pouring arms into the Darfur region with the aim of preparing a major offensive there. What's your reaction to that?

SG: I didn't see the report. And if indeed the Government is doing that, it is a major violation of the ceasefire and the understanding that they have with the international community. And any such action will only create more difficulties for the internally displaced and the people in that region who have suffered far too much. And so I hope the Government will refrain from any action of the kind that you indicate that the African Union commander has stated.