Q: [inaudible question on Sudan]

SG: On Sudan, we are having consultations, and the African Union is supposed to have a meeting on the 10th -- that is tomorrow -- to take their own decision on the expansion and the transition to the United Nations. We will be working with the African Union and the Sudanese Government, whose cooperation I hope will be forthcoming. They have worked with us in the deployment in the south, and I hope, if the decision is taken, that we can count on their cooperation.

Q: Are you demanding it? Because you've been asking for [cooperation] and things are getting even worse.

SG: We are in touch with the African leaders. I spoke to the head of the African Peace and Security Council, who is going to be chairing the meeting tomorrow. We are in touch with the Sudanese authorities, and other governments are trying to work this thing out, so that we can move as expeditiously as possible.

Q: We don't see you for two weeks; that's why I've got to shoo all these in. Iran –I know it's a Security Council matter –you've called on them to cooperate before; are you disappointed that it's come this far?

SG: The issue has come here, but the negotiations must continue. I suspect all sides would want to find a way out of this. I don't know what action or decision the Council will take, but the efforts of the [International] Atomic [Energy] Agency of Mr. [Mohamed] ElBaradei and the other parties working with Iran must continue, and Iran must work with the international community to give them the assurances that the Atomic Agency needs.

Q: Do you oppose sanctions?

SG: We are far, far away from that.

Q: On the Human Rights Council, I understand that President [Jan] Eliasson has called for a plenary tomorrow. What is the expectation, and what's going to happen?

SG: I think that I will want to discuss that with the President in his office. Thank you.<