Press encounter with CNN upon arrival at UNHQ

SG: Well, I heard it also on the news, and at this stage it seems as if they are not giving in an inch, but I think we are at early stages yet.

Q: How do you respond to his statement that the UN must honour its obligations?

SG: That is not new. In effect, this is what was part of the nineteen questions they gave to the UN earlier this year. In effect, it is a repetition of the questions which were circulated to the [Security] Council members.

Q: And you do you think that Colombia is now on its way to some sort of normalcy in the new Presidency or do the bombs that blew up foreshadow some more troubles?

SG: There is a new President, and I wish him every success. Of course, there is a difficult situation to deal with. We have been monitoring it for some time. We will see what develops.

Q: Should Saddam Hussein give up on his nineteen questions? Should he not expect them since you tried to get answers from the Council?

SG: I think that is an issue for the Council members to answer, and in fact some of the questions I am not sure the Council as a whole can answer. It looks as if they were directed to individual member states.

Q: You haven't received any reply from Iraq, have you?

SG: No, I haven't. I have got some answers through the public pronouncements, but no formal reply yet.

Q: Would you like to make any comment about Catherine Bertini?

SG: I have a meeting...