Secretary-General's press encounter upon arrival at UNHQ [unofficial transcript]

SG: It is tragic and I'm sorry that so many people lost their lives. These acts must be totally condemned, and I hope this is a wake up call for everyone that terrorism is not over yet and that we must all remain vigilant.

Q: Now that you've had a chance over a few days to study and examine the US draft resolution on Iraq, does it provide a truly vital role for the UN that will give the unique legitimacy of the UN to what's going on in Iraq, the recovery of that country?

SG: I think the resolution touches on most of the issues we've been discussing. There are one or two issues it doesn't deal with. The Council members are discussing it, and I think with a good, open, constructive and flexible attitude they will be able to come up with a resolution that will be helpful for everybody.

Q: How do you interpret though, in the resolution, it's obviously somewhat vague, so that this work can be done by the Council, but how do you interpret what the political role for the United Nations might be, or are you willing to say at this point what you hope it should be?

SG: No, I think first of all the discussions are going on, and I think some clarifications are being asked for, and I suspect there will be some adjustments and refinements, and so I think we should give it a few more days yet.

Q: You have requested some troops, - - I think from France-- to be sent to the DRC, to deal with the looming crisis there. What kind of a response have you gotten to that –what do you expect to happen there?

SG: It wasn't a request only to France. It was a request to governments with capacity. France has indicated that in principle it is prepared to participate in such a force, provided there is a clear mandate, and other governments join in. So we are in touch with other governments trying to see if they will join France in such an effort.

Q: And what sort of response have you had from the Ugandan government with your communications there?

SG: Well, I think we are in touch, and my representative on the ground is in touch with them, and I also spoke to President Mbeki this morning, who's also talking to the leaders in the region. But we have asked the Ugandan government to cooperate and to use its influence in the region to ensure that the militia and the people in the region restrain themselves and do not escalate tensions in the region.