Secretary-General's remarks upon arrival to UNHQ, (unofficial transcript)

SG: First of all, I think I have made it clear that I did not like the way it was handled. I think we could have handled it better and I wanted Mr. [Joseph] Connor to look into it to see what went wrong and to ensure that we draw lessons for how we handle this kind of material in the future and strengthen our procedures. I did speak to the Prime Minister on this issue as well as the Defence Minister, and I explained why my offer stood.

Q: Did you make an apology?

SG: No, I've told you what I discussed with the Prime Minister.

Q: Mr. Secretary-General, I have actually two questions. Could you please comment on the political changes in Indonesia today, and afterwards could you also comment on Iraqi criticism that you have not set a date for a second round of talks?

SG: On your first question, let me say that we have been following the developments in Indonesia very, very closely. I think what is important is the democratic process is being applied or being followed and of course the Parliament has designated Mrs. Megawati [Sukarnoputri] as the new President, and we wish her every success. And I hope that the kind of change that is taking place now will remain peaceful, it will be democratic, and that the nation will come together to get themselves out of this difficulty. Indonesia is an important nation, an important nation for the region and for the world, and we wish them every success.

On Iraq, I have made it clear to the Iraqis that the second round was going to take place once the [Security] Council has completed its own deliberations and that it would be counterproductive for me to engage in another round of talks while the Council itself is trying to define its direction. I think that is a reasonable position.

Q: After the G-8 statement on the possibility of sending observers to the Palestinian-Israeli situation there, what do you make out of the fact that the G-8 came out with that statement? And what do you think of the reaction by Mr. [Shimon] Peres and others in the [Israeli] Government speaking of the possibility of only enhancing the CIA [Central Intelligence Agency] presence, rather than what the G-8 called for?

SG: I think it was an important development that the G-8 unanimously recognized that a third party presence, a third party monitoring mechanism, was necessary. I think now that they have come up with that recommendation, we need to work at it and try to see when and how we implement it. I know what you are referring to, some of the statements that have been made by leading Israeli politicians, but I think I will wait to see what happens when other sustained contacts are made with regards to implementation.

Q: Can I follow up on this? When you say now, "we need to work at it" -- "we" is who now? And what role are you particularly playing?

SG: By "we," I mean the international community and particularly the capitals that also took the decision in Genoa. And the group that has been working together has been the US, EU, UN and now the Russian Federation. I think we all have to pool our efforts to try and calm the situation on the ground and move forward.

Q: Sir, on Cyprus, now that Mr. Denktash has said that he is going to come see you in New York, I'm wondering can you give us any update on how you see the outlook for a resumption of peace talks, and when might he be coming?

SG: I think I should be in a better position to answer your question later on, when I have had my meeting with Mr. Denktash. But I would hope that we will be able to get things moving in the not-too-distant future.

Q: Mr. Secretary-General, again on the international observer question. Are you aware of any requests so that the Security Council may meet in the next days or are you going to recommend something on it?

And if I may, a second question just because I'm from the German radio, I need your comment on the Kyoto Protocol finishing now. Is it progress, or is it not?

SG: I think, on the question of the Council, I'm not aware that the Council is planning a meeting on this issue. I think that the position that the Council has been pushing has now been embraced also universally by the G-8, and so I'm not sure the Council is planning another meeting. I've just got back, and I had no indications that they are planning any such meeting.

On Kyoto, I am pleased that after two night sessions, they were able to salvage the process and that Kyoto is alive, and that the Governments involved are determined to press ahead with its implementation. It is also important for us to notice that there has also been a shift in the US position, where President [George W.] Bush has indicated that they accept that it is important to do something about global warming, even though they don't think Kyoto is the vehicle. That is also an important development, and I hope that would mean that in time they would also come up with proposals that fit the spirit of Kyoto and work with other countries to do something about global warming.

Thank you. *****