Q: Mr. Secretary-General, can you comment about the Middle East, about the developing, worsening situation in Rafah?
SG: It is very worrying, and you saw my statement this morning. I have since been in touch with [US] Secretary of State [Colin] Powell and also [US] National Security Adviser Condi Rice, discussing the situation with them and the need for all of us to do whatever we can to bring it under control. I also had a call from Chairman [Yasser] Arafat just before I came down to the Security Council lunch, appealing for assistance from the international community, and pleading with the UN and the international community to do something, and indicating that the civilians are under threat, and that this morning's attack killed many children and women.
Q: How important is the UN resolution that's currently before the Security Council? How important is its adoption? What could it do?
SG: I know the Council is going to discuss it this afternoon. But I think the fact that the Council is taking it up and discussing [it] sends a message –a message of international concern. And of course, it would also depend on what the statement, what the Security Council actually says. And I think they are taking it very seriously, and we will have to wait and see the outcome of their discussions.
Q: Sir, if I could, just on one point, in the past, you've recognized Israel's legitimate right to self-defense. Do you reject, in this scenario, that this is being done within their right to self-defense?
SG: I think the statement I issued this morning was very clear as to how I saw Israel's responsibility –responsibility for the protection of civilians. And I stand by that statement.
Q: I know, we've still said it's television and we can't show a piece of paper. I wonder if you could express your concern or outrage over what is happening there?
SG: You mean I can't show the piece of paper?
Q: Can you explain why you object to what's happening in Rafah?
SG: I think you have seen the destruction of homes. You have seen civilians caught in this conflict. We are, at the moment, having to look after 1,600 people who are now homeless. And if the destruction continues, UNRWA is going to have to take responsibility for many more. And it's becoming extremely difficult for us to operate and the conditions for the civilians are becoming harder and harder and much, much more difficult. And this is why we believe every action should be taken to protect the civilians. That's why I appeal to the Israeli Government to halt this action and exercise much more restraint.
Q: Mr. Secretary-General, on Iraq, the US representative told the Security Council today that he believes that it should be up to the Iraqis to set the limits of the new interim government in their discussions with Mr. [Lakhdar] Brahimi. Is this something that you think is a good idea and do you have any idea how those discussions are going and when we might hear from him, when he might be back?
SG: Well, obviously, Mr. Brahimi is engaging [in] very sensitive and discrete negotiations, discussions, that I don't want to go into details on it here. But there's no doubt that the powers of the government will have to be defined. There has to be clarity on that so that we know who is responsible for what. And in fact, at the lunch with the Council, I stressed the importance of clarity in the triangular relationships between the new Iraqi government, the former occupying powers, and the UN as we move forward after 30 June.
Q: Are you concerned about the allegations about [UN High Commissioner for Refugees] Ruud Lubbers who you will see tomorrow?
SG: I think those allegations are under investigation and I will wait to see the outcome of that investigation. Yes, I'm seeing him tomorrow, but we are going to discuss other operational issues.
Q: Did you suggest that it was time for [UN Chief of Security] Mike McCann to move on considering the past and what happened in Baghdad, considering the nature of the security climate? Or was this indeed early retirement?
SG: I think it is indeed an early retirement and a personal decision of [Mr.] McCann, who has done a very good job and has been very active in the building on security issues. I wish him well and I thank him for the contribution he has made to our security.
Q: I'm sorry that I came late, but can you just, for my audience, repeat what you said on what's your message to the Israeli Government?
SG: I did indicate that they need to be careful about civilian casualties. They have an obligation, as an occupying power, for the protection of civilians. And the destruction of houses has added greater burden on the population and creating very difficult circumstances for UNRWA which is having to look after the people who are now homeless, finding places for them to stay. And as the numbers increase, it is going to be even much more difficult for us to do it. And so I appeal for them to stop the destruction and really take steps, which is their obligation to protect the civilians.
Q: When do you expect Mr. Brahimi back?
SG: It's not certain yet. He is going to try and work with the Iraqis on the formation of the government. I cannot say. It depends how fast the process moves. But I would perhaps have a better sense towards the end of the week or so.
Q: Is he making good progress, Secretary-General? Any progress?
SG: Well, people are talking. He's got everyone talking. This is a process which is, per force, slow, but he is moving along. It's not easy. Nobody expected it to be easy, but he's pressing on.
Q: People say that he's back-tracking from his idea that people who were in the caretaker government shouldn't have ambitions to be elected. Is that true?
SG: We are not back-tracking. We didn't have a fixed position. He did put out some ideas which is as discussed with the large Iraqi constituencies and also with the Governing Council. As I have indicated all along, the government that emerges, I expect, will be a product of these discussions. And of course, in these discussions, I expect there will be compromises on both sides and we may end up with a mix of people –people who have been in politics and those who are not.
Q: Will the UN be involved, in any way, in writing the annex to the TAL? It currently seems to be a very important document defining the powers of the new government.
SG: I'm not sure that at the moment we are involved in that.
Q: You may not have yet have heard about this, but Paul Volcker and his team were over in Iraq and are you getting any early indications that there's something there that the UN should be taking seriously? I realize you're ….
SG: It's an independent inquiry and so I have not gotten involved with them to find out what they got or did not get. I want them to get on with their work and give us a report.
Q: There are a number of allegations out there. We are unable, because of UN control of the documents, to even verify or disprove any of the allegations because we don't have basic information. Why are you not releasing some of the basic information, like which company did business with the Oil-for-Food scheme, which has already been released to the 661 committee?
SG: I think the UN position has been made very clear to you, and I think the Volcker statement also indicated why we are not doing it. And we are going to give it to Volcker for his sole use. And as he indicated, as they go along, if it is in the context of their inquiry they have to release some of these documents, they will do that. And I think that is appropriate.
Thank you very much.