SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN KI-MOON'S
 PRESS CONFERENCE

U.N.
HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

Monday, July
16, 2007

 [The noon briefing will resume Tuesday,
July 17, 2007]

"Good morning, ladies and gentlemen.

I have just returned from a two-week trip to Afghanistan and European
countries. We discussed a range of important matters, from migration in
Brussels, and millennium development goals; also climate change in Geneva. My
meetings in London were dominated by Browns as you may know—Gordon Brown;
Malloch Brown. They are big men, and I think they are good partners to work
with. I was very much assured by their strong commitment and support in London.

Before inviting your questions, I’d like to talk briefly about the issue that
dominated so many of our discussions. That is the situation in Darfur – where we
are now, and where we are going from now. We have made, I think, important
progress. We must now push the pace. Hard.

Last month, as you know, the government of Sudan has
accepted—unconditionally—the deployment of an AU-UN peacekeeping operation, a
hybrid operation. The Security Council has before it a draft resolution
authorizing this force. I sincerely hope that the Security Council will take the
necessary action within this week – which will allow more than 20,000 military
personnel and civilian police. The resolution calls on Member States to finalize
their contributions within 90 days.

I think this is fast, by UN standards. But I want to move more rapidly. The
political situation on the ground is too fragile, the humanitarian crisis too
dire, to waste more precious time.

Working with our many partners, chief among them the African Union, we must
start preparing the ground for our peacekeepers immediately. The Chinese
Government will soon send a contingent of military engineers in Darfur, where
they will begin the essential communications and logistical work that must
precede the mission. In fact, a preliminary reconnaissance group leaves for
Sudan tomorrow, July 17. I am informed that several hundred international
troops, or more, will be ready to deploy by October. I will push for September.

The first units of the so-called "heavy support package" will begin to deploy
this fall. I will push to accelerate our timetable to the maximum, to the extent
that security and logistics allow.

We will push no less hard on the political front. I have just received this
morning from my Special Envoy Mr. [Jan] Eliasson, who co-chaired a successful
first round of talks yesterday and today in Tripoli, Libya. Our intention is to
step up the pace of political negotiations involving all parties – rebel
leaders, tribal leaders, government leaders. The goal is to get them around a
table by early September.

I have been invited and intend to visit Sudan, including Darfur, at the
earliest possible moment. However the timing will depend on when I think my
visit could do most good in terms of cementing our advances. We must lock in our
partners’ commitments, on the ground and diplomatically.

Above all, we must remember that a peacekeeping force is only a first step.
It must be accompanied by an enduring political agreement. And any political
agreement must in turn be followed by development programmes that go to the root
causes of the conflict. Otherwise there can be no lasting solutions. As we move
forward, we will not forget the enormous financial needs of our on-going
humanitarian operations.

Ladies and gentlemen, I have a few other announcements before taking your
questions.

As you know, UN inspectors from the IAEA [International Atomic Energy Agency]
traveled to North Korea this weekend to verify whether or not the government of
North Korea has closed down its reactor at Yongbyon. I am told that the facility
has, in fact, been shut down.

This is welcome. As Secretary-General of the United Nations, and as a former
foreign minister of the Republic of Korea, I encourage the Democratic People’s
Republic of Korea and other parties to continue to implement their commitments
to realize the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula as soon as possible.

I also welcome any questions you might have on my visit to Afghanistan, which
for security reasons I could not disclose before arriving in Kabul. I met with
President Karzai and others. We spoke about the appalling casualties among the
civilian population, and the need to act forcefully to address the pandemic
problem of corruption at so many levels of government and society.

On Pakistan, I am especially concerned about the situation in Pakistan and
the loss of life and destruction of property there over the past week. I condemn
the terrorist attacks over the weekend that have claimed the lives of a large
number of security forces and innocent civilians. President [Pervez] Musharraf
has taken a strong stand against extremism. While I am in favour of firm action
against extremism, I am conscious that the Government faces a delicate balance
in ensuring the safety of its citizens.

Lastly, I am delighted to announce that next week, on July 26-27, I will make
an official visit to San Francisco, the birthplace of the United Nations. I look
forward to broadening my conversation with the American people and their leaders
about the critical role of the United Nations in our increasingly globalized
world. The trip will be organized in cooperation with the United Nations
Association of the USA.

San Francisco is a place close to my heart. I was a young foreign exchange
student in the Bay Area, a long long time ago in 1962. The kind lady who opened
her home to me lives just across the Bay Bridge. I cannot wait to see her.

And, of course, California is famous for something else close to my heart as
Secretary-General of the UN. It is at the very forefront of the global war
against climate change.

I plan to meet with the Guvernator …. the honorable California Governor
Arnold Schwarzenegger to discuss one of my main priorities at the UN. Together
we will tour local businesses in the Bay Area that are using green technologies.
I look forward to seeing first-hand how California leads the world on this issue
of supreme importance.

Today I have mainly touched on the situation in Darfur. But that does not
mean that I’m not paying attention to other geopolitical issues. I will continue
to devote myself to matters concerning the Middle East, Kosovo, UN reform and
the Millennium Development Goals.

Thank you, ladies and gentlemen.

Merci de votre présence. Je serai heureux de répondre à vos questions. Comme
vous le voyez, je continue à faire des efforts et des progrès en français. De
plus en plus, je parle français avec des amis comme Alpha Konaré et avec ma
Porte-parole. Mais pour les réponses, je préférerais aujourd'hui parler
anglais."

[Interpretation from French] Thank you for coming. I will be pleased to
answer your questions. As you know, I am continuing to make efforts and progress
in French. More and more I am speaking French with my friends such as Alpha
Konare and in particular with my Spokesperson, Ms. Montas, in French. During
today’s press conference I would prefer to speak English. Thank you very much.

SUMMARY OF ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS AT PRESS
CONFERENCE

On Sudan

Asked about a new Security Council resolution on Sudan, the
Secretary-General said that he would urge the Security Council to take action
authorising a joint AU-UN hybrid operation as soon as possible. He noted that it
would be appropriate to do so, one month after the Security Council visited
Khartoum and received an agreement by Sudan on the hybrid proposal.

Asked about a US contribution to the hybrid force, he said
that the agreement was that the troops for that operation would come as much as
possible from African Union countries; if more troops are required, non-African
troops would be sought.

He said he appreciated President Bush’s strong support for
his initiative, adding that a US contribution would be immensely important and
that he has been coordinating on that with the US special envoy dealing with
Sudan.

Asked why Darfur is a high priority for him, the
Secretary-General said that this has been his highest priority since he began
his job, because unless the issue is addressed, there will be more suffering by
the people of Darfur, who have already suffered too much.

The Secretary-General, in response to a question, added
that he would soon designate a distinguished person to be the head of the UN
Mission in Sudan.

On Iraq

Asked about his position on any possibly US withdrawal from
Iraq, the Secretary-General stressed that great caution should be taken, for the
sake of the Iraqi people, adding that they should not be abandoned by the
international community. He warned that an abrupt withdrawal could lead to a
further deterioration in Iraq.

The United Nations, he said, has been deeply involved in
helping Iraq, including through its work in political facilitation and
humanitarian assistance. Ban said he would like to see “harmonious coordination”
if any withdrawal takes place.

Asked about the UN stance on the Iraq war, and whether it
as illegal, the Secretary-General said that everyone is fully aware of what has
transpired over the past four years, and he pointed to the need to look to the
future rather than backward.

He noted the launching of the International Compact with
Iraq under his chairmanship last May, and said he would chair another meeting of
the Compact next week in New York as a follow-up.

On the Middle East

Asked whether the United Nations would help to facilitate
any peace talks between Israel and Syria, the Secretary-General said that he
found it encouraging that Israel was willing to meet with Syria and all major
regional players, and would be happy, if asked, to facilitate any peace
initiatives.

He added that he was encouraged to see that Israeli Prime
Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas had met again.

Asked about the fate of the Israeli soldiers held by
Hezbollah and Hamas, the Secretary-General said that the less said publicly
about them may be the better for efforts to secure their release. He said his
facilitator continued his work to obtain the release of the two Israeli soldiers
held by Hezbollah.

The Secretary-General added that he continued to urge the
release of the soldier held by the Palestinians, Corporal Gilad Shalit. These
efforts will continue, he said.

On Kosovo

Asked about the slow progress in the Security Council on
approving a resolution for Kosovo, the Secretary-General said he was deeply
concerned about the lack of progress.

Any further delay on this issue, he said, will have a very
negative impact, not only in Kosovo but in the wider region.

He said he has been engaged in consultations with the
leaders of the Security Council members, including with Russian President
Vladimir Putin, as well as with Kosovo President Fatmir Sejdiu earlier this
month in Brussels.

The Secretary-General expressed his hope that the parties
concerned should not take any premature unilateral action on Kosovo.

Asked about any precedent created if Kosovo becomes
independent, Ban said that Kosovo is a sui generis issue, and should not create
any precedents.

On Iran

Asked about Iran’s compliance with Security Council
resolutions, the Secretary-General said that he was encouraged by the recent
Iranian decision to talk to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on
resolving outstanding issues.

On Afghanistan

Asked about reducing civilian
casualties in Afghanistan, the Secretary-General said that when he visited
Kabul, he made his concerns about civilian casualties clear to the Afghan
authorities, as well as to the commander of the NATO forces on the ground, and
also talked about it with the NATO Secretary-General. He said that the NATO
officials assured him that they will do their utmost to avoid such casualties in
the future. He added that the Taliban made matters difficult by hiding among
civilians.

On his visit to Washington, D.C.

Asked about his meeting on Tuesday with US President George
W. Bush, the Secretary-General said that they would discuss a range of
geopolitical issues, including climate change, Iraq, UN reform and the funding
of UN peacekeeping operations.

On climate change, he said, he was encouraged by the high
level of expectations generated by the 24 September special session at the
United Nations. He would use that meeting to generate strong political momentum
for the meeting in Bali later this year.

He said he would discuss those issues with President Bush,
to try to encourage high-level US participation at the September session. The
Secretary-General added that he was encouraged by the position that President
Bush had taken on climate change during the recent Group of Eight summit.

On Cyprus

Asked about UN work in Cyprus, the Secretary-General said
that he had held good talks with one of the Cypriot leaders, Mehmet Ali Talat of
the Turkish Cypriots, last Friday, and was continuing to encourage the leaders
of the two communities to engage in dialogue.

On the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK)

Asked whether it was time to lift Security Council
sanctions on the DPRK, the Secretary-General said that the DPRK has taken one
step in a larger road map. It also needs to take measures to dis-enable its
nuclear facilities and dismantle its nuclear weapons programmes.

Ban added that what has happened at Yongbyon is “just one
step, but I think it is a very important and encouraging step”.

On DPRK audit

Asked about the progress of the audit being done on UN
operations in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the Secretary-General
noted that he had taken quick and early action as soon as reports of
irregularities about the UN in the DPRK came to his attention. He had ordered an
audit be conducted by Board of External Auditors.

That first phase is now complete, Ban said. While that
audit did not show widespread misuse of funds, it did reveal enough
irregularities that the auditors need to conduct a second phase, which has
begun, and which needs to include travel to Pyongyang. He has requested the
Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions that the
investigation be continued.

He has also contacted UN Development Programme (UNDP)
leaders, including Administrator Kemal Dervis, his deputy Ad Melkert and members
of the UNDP board to look into what further activity may be needed if the Board
of Auditors’ work does not satisfy them.

On the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Asked about the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the
Secretary-General said that he is concerned about the situation, especially in
the Kivus. He said that he has asked President Laurent Kabila to refrain from
military action.

As for concerns about activities attributed to UN
peacekeeping troops, the Secretary-General noted that it is up to the countries
who sent the troops to bring them to justice if they commit any wrongdoing, and
he urged troop contributing countries to take the necessary administrative and
judicial measures. He noted that the UN internal justice system is antiquated,
and he intended to take up that matter with the General Assembly.

On Africa

Asked about the shifting of responsibilities from the post
of a UN Special Adviser on Africa to other UN posts, the Secretary-General said
that he was trying to integrate and consolidate the UN’s work on African issues.

He said that the responsibility for the New Partnership on
Africa’s Development (NEPAD) would fall under his High Representative dealing
with least developed countries, land-locked states and small island developing
states. That official would also deal with the UN Conference on Trade and
Development (UNCTAD).

The Secretary-General defended the high priority he has
placed on Africa, and noted that his deputy, Asha-Rose Migiro, comes from
Africa, and that he has a special adviser, Ibrahim Gambari, who deals with
African as well as other political issues.

About his management of the United Nations

The Secretary-General responded to recent media accounts
criticizing some of his management style by saying that, although he is aware
that any public figure will be scrutinized, some of the charges made against him
were unfair.

Regarding a question that he was “too close” to some
countries, he said, “I regard myself as a middle of the road man, as taught by
Confucius.” Ban said that he tries to have good relations with everybody.

Regarding management, he dismissed reports that he had
brought in a number of Korean officials, saying that only one senior Korean
official accompanied him to the United Nations.

Asked whether senior appointments at the United Nations
have gone to a few key nations, he said that he based his appointments on the
qualifications of the people concerned, as well as on gender balance and
geographical representation. He noted that a number of key officials, including
the Deputy Secretary-General and key envoys in the field, are African.

OTHER DEVELOPMENTS IN THE U.N. SYSTEM

UN ENVOY IN IRAQ CONEMNS KIRKUK
BOMBING: The Special
Representative of the United Nations Secretary- General for Iraq Ashraf Qazi
condemned in the strongest terms the car bombings in
Kirkuk earlier today. Qazi described the bombing, which reportedly killed and
wounded more than 200 innocent civilians, as a deplorable crime aimed at
exacerbating tensions further in the city and the governorate. He noted
that during his visit to the Northern Region last week, he had met with Deputy
Governor Abdrahman Mustafa and reaffirmed the United Nations’ support for the
peaceful resolution of outstanding issues with regard to Kirkuk and the region.

UN ENVOY WELCOMES OUTCOME OF
TALKS ON DARFUR PEACE: Jan Eliasson, the UN Special Envoy for Darfur, who
co-chaired with the African Union an
international meeting on the Darfur peace process in Tripoli, Libya, said:
"We are very happy that this meeting has
concluded with a strong message of peace and beginning of negotiations. We are
pleased that the Tripoli Meeting reconfirmed the AU-UN lead of the political
process in partnership with regional actors. The meeting has also established
that the pre- negotiations phase of the joint AU-UN Roadmap is to be launched
early August with the Arusha meeting that (AU Special Envoy for Darfur Salim
Ahmed) Salim and myself intend to convene with leading personalities of the non
signatory movements from 3-5 August 2007 to facilitate the preparations for
negotiations. The political process jointly led by the AU and UN in partnership
with regional actors has gained significant momentum and reinforced credibility
with the Tripoli Meeting."

SECURITY COUNCIL EXTENDS U.N.
MISSION IN COTE D’IVOIRE: The Security
Council this morning extended the mandate of the UN Operation in Cote d’Ivoire
(UNOCI) and the French forces which support it until 15 January 2008, to support
the organization of free, open, fair and transparent elections in that country.
The Council went on to hold a formal meeting to discuss its recent mission to
Africa, which included stops in Addis Ababa, Khartoum, Accra, Abidjan and
Kinshasa.

SECURITY COUNCIL TO HOLD CONSULTATIONS ON KOSOVO
TODAY: This afternoon, at 3:00, Council members will hold consultations on
Kosovo.

UNIFIL CONFIRMS EXPLOSION INVOLVING U.N. POLICE
VEHICLE: The UN Interim Force in Lebanon
(UNIFIL) today confirmed that an explosion occurred in the area of Qasmieyah
Bridge, involving one UNIFIL military police vehicle. A UNIFIL investigation
team has been dispatched to the location and the Lebanese Army is on the spot as
well.  The UN peacekeeping force said that no casualties have been reported --
only damages to the vehicle.

U.N. MISSION OPENS NEW OFFICE IN CENTRAL
AFGHANISTAN: The UN Assistance Mission in
Afghanistan (UNAMA) opened on Saturday a new office in the central province of
Ghor, where staff will help local communities with development, humanitarian
efforts, human rights, good governance and the rule of law. “UNAMA is well aware
that Ghor has suffered greatly from its isolation and it continues to struggle
to gain the attention it deserves. It is our hope that the days of Ghor being
overlooked are slowly drawing to a close,” said the Secretary-General Special
Representative, Tom Koenigs, at a launch ceremony in Chaghcharan on Saturday.

REPORT ISSUED OF SECURITY COUNCIL MISSION TO
AFRICA: Available today is the final report of the Security Council
delegation that visited Africa on 14-21 June. The delegation, which comprised
representatives of all current members of the Council, visited Addis Ababa for
talks with the African Union, Sudan for consultations on the planned UN/AU
peacekeeping deployment in Darfur and Accra for discussions with AU President
John Kufuor. The delegation also visited Abidjan in Cote d’Ivoire and Kinshasa
in the Democratic Republic of the Congo for discussion with local and United
Nations officials.

Office of the Spokesman for the
Secretary-General
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