New York

08 June 2001

Encounter upon arrival at Headquarters

Kofi Annan, Former Secretary-General

(unofficial transcript)

Q: Can you comment on reports that the Security Council will nominate your candidacy for a second term and that will be confirmed by the end of the month by the General Assembly?

SG: Well I think this is an issue for the Member States. They set their timetable and their agenda. And obviously, I'll be honoured if the Member States endorsed me and appointed me to continue the work that I'm doing.

Q: Have you been informed that that is going to happen?

SG: I am aware of that.

Q: When that happens, will that increase your ability to really make things happen, your clout, that kind of unprecedented endorsement as opposed to having to wait until the end of the year?

SG: I think I will continue to work as actively as I've been doing in trying to move the Organization forward, [and to] focus and concentrate on the issues that I'm working on. But of course that endorsement will be helpful. *****