SG: Good afternoon, Ladies and Gentlemen. It is a great pleasure to see you again.
I have concluded my very hectic, but rewarding, trip. It was twelve days, twelve stops, covering five continents. It was really hectic, but I think it was very rewarding.
My trip this time covered four purposes. First of all, for the first time, as Secretary-General, I visited Latin America and the Ibero-American Summit meeting. Secondly, my eco-tour to AAA, meaning Antarctica, Andes and Amazon River, culminating in Valencia, Spain, in releasing the latest report of IPCC [Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change] to the world. And thirdly, attending the International Conference on Counter-terrorism in Tunisia, together with the OIC [Organization of the Islamic Conference] and member states. And fourthly, my brief, but very important visit to Lebanon.
First of all, let me briefly mention about my visit to Antarctica and Amazon River basin. I was more convinced in my belief that the world is changing and the international community must take the necessary action to address global warming issues. The scientists who met in Valencia, Spain –there were thousands and thousands of scientists –they have spoken with one voice in unequivocal terms that global warming's impact is serious and the international community must take action. They have provided all the necessary scientific evidence. Of course that does not mean that they will stop there. They will continue to improve their findings and assessment. And now the scientists have done their work, now it is time for world community leaders to [play] their own role in Bali, in December, next month.
About my visit to Lebanon, I have tried my best, while meeting a wide range of political leaders, including Speaker [Nabih] Berri, Majority Parliamentarian Saad Hariri and Prime Minister [Fouad] Siniora, and Christian Patriarch Cardinal [Nasrallah] Sfeir, and all community leaders, including Hezbollah. I have urged them that, for the future of their nation, they should elect the President in accordance with their constitutional procedures within the framework, by the deadline, without outside interference and also on the basis of international legitimacy. The United Nations, I told them, will support any President who will be elected on the broadest possible basis, with a strong commitment to international legitimacy, and the United Nations will stand by [that choice]. At this time, I am still concerned that they have not been able to agree on a consensus presidential candidate. Many countries are working hard [on this], including [within] the United Nations. I hope again, and urge the Lebanese people, [to] think in a wise way for the future of their country. This is what I would like to tell you as an opening statement and now I would be happy to receive your questions.
Q: Secretary-General, on Lebanon –how much are you concerned today –that maybe they will not meet in two days because there is no consensus on the future President. Are you optimistic about the outcome of Lebanon and will they be on the brink of war next week?
SG: I will not characterize my assessment at this time, but it is true that I [am] more cautiously optimistic than I was a week ago. With all the international community's strong support and encouragement –with a strong commitment by Speaker Beri and MP Saad Hariri –I think, if these two leaders work together, then I think that they can find common solutions which will be acceptable to all Lebanese people. This is my sincere hope. But I know that there are some other obstacles. My meetings with opposition leaders were not that encouraging. But, at the same time, with all these negotiations and political compromise efforts going on, even so the time is running out, I hope we will be able to see the Lebanese people agree on a Presidential candidate.
Q: Secretary-General. You have met every Tom, Dick and Harry, Jaja and Jumblat in Lebanon. Why didn't you meet the President of Lebanon and the frontrunner, Mr. [Michel] Aoun?
SG: First of all, my visit was arranged [at] short notice and my visit was not an official visit - it was a working visit. Therefore, I thought I'd better engage real actors who would be engaging in all this process of Presidential elections. Second, about General Aoun, we agreed to speak over the telephone, because of his strong concern of being exposed for whatever reasons, maybe, including security. And also I was very much limited in moving around. There was a mutual agreement. And I had very good telephone talks with General Aoun.
Q: I have a question on Somalia. The situation on the ground is not getting any better and in your recent report you said it was too dangerous to send a UN force over there. And, my question is, do you still hold that position? And the second question is, the human rights organizations on the ground are saying 'it's the UN's duty, the Secretary-General's duty' to step in and to make sure that there is security everywhere. So if the UN cannot do it, who can do it then?
SG: I hope first of all there should be no misunderstanding about my report on Somalia to the Security Council. My recommendation was that a peacekeeping operation is not an option at this time. I think we need to address this Somalia situation on two tracks. First of all, the Transitional Federal Government should engage more in political dialogue with opposition leaders to promote national reconciliation. And secondly, the international community should help AMISOM [African Union Mission in Somalia] financially and in other matters, including equipment, so that AMISOM can work better. These are two track which I am going to promote and I'm now working on this strategic assessment –how we should deal with this Somalia situation.
Q: What about sending an assessment team to Somalia, not the troops [themselves] but there has been a proposal to send an initial assistance team and you oppose this?
SG: This is what I have just said - I am now working on this strategic assessment, including sending an assessment team.
Q: Mr. Secretary-General, on the situation in Iraq. The United States is now saying that the situation in Iraq has vastly improved and that it's getting more peaceful than ever before. Do you agree with that assessment, and if you do, do you think that you would reconsider going back to Iraq, the UN being really involved in Iraq and supplement the American efforts at bringing about peace over there, if you agree that the situation has improved, as is being said?
SG: There may be some different assessments about how you view the situation in Iraq. It is true that the situation is still very difficult, but, again, it is true that with the consistent efforts by the multinational forces working in Iraq, the situation - number of casualties - has improved. But we should not rest here. We cannot rest here. We must do more, the international community must do more. My Special Representative, Mr. [Staffan] de Mistura has taken over his job officially and he has already established his own teams. I hope, with this strengthened commitment of the United Nations, and new teams, the United Nations can do more in our contribution over there.
Q: UN involvement in Iraq –do you agree with the assessment of the situation?.?
SG: I should not be the final person to characterize or assess the situation there.
Q: Mr. Secretary-General. ASEAN has said that Mr. [Ibrahim] Gambari, whom they invited initially to brief ministers, doesn't need to come there now, that this is an internal matter. Are you concerned about this and are you concerned that the pace of what's happening in Myanmar, in moving toward national reconciliation and democracy, is going as fast as you would like?
SG: First of all, I have just read myself news reports about that. I have not been officially informed by the Singaporean Prime Minister. In fact, Mr. Gambari was invited officially by the Chair, the Prime Minister of Singapore, with whom I have spoken. He spoke to me and invited Mr. Gambari and I agreed to his invitation. Mr. Gambari, in fact, has left already to Singapore yesterday. I met him yesterday - we discussed how we should deal with all this. It would help, be desirable and better for Mr. Gambari to brief the East Asian Summit leaders on the situation on Myanmar, but I need to inform and discuss this matter with the Chair of EAS. My commitment, the United Nations commitment to see and help the democratization process of Myanmar is unchanged and will continue.
Q: On Darfur, Secretary-General, Jean-Marie Guéhenno warned that the deployment in Darfur could fail unless the attack helicopters are come up with and the Sudanese Government agrees to the composition of the force. In the Fifth Committee, the budget is currently being mauled by various countries. Can I ask what you personally are doing to try and make sure that the deadline of 31 December is met?
SG: We are now working [on] two phases first of all and we [are doing] our best to implement the Security Council resolutions and our commitment to seeing peace and security in Darfur as soon as possible. Until this morning, I have been working very hard with the leaders of some industrialized countries to secure the critical assets, like helicopters and aviation transport. We are working again very hard to see the resolution of this composition of forces issue. However, my position is that we will try to expedite, as fast as [we] can, the deployment of the hybrid operations in Darfur, and if there [are] going to be any technical matters to be resolved, that we will continue [to] iron out with [the] Sudanese Government.
Q: Secretary-General. Maybe, apart from [US] Secretary Rice, you are the only international figure to have already confirmed going to Annapolis. What do you expect to happen in Annapolis?
SG: In fact, I had telephone talks with Secretary Rice yesterday and I'm going to participate in [the] Annapolis international conference on the Middle East. I think this international conference in Annapolis will be a good beginning of a credible process to resolve all these issues. At the same time, I'd like to see that the participants in the Annapolis meeting base their expectation on a more practical and realistic assessment. They are now watching to see the Israeli and Palestinian track as a main track to be discussed in depth. At the same time, I hope that this process will be built upon, more comprehensively, as progress continues. This is my sincere hope and my understanding. I know that there are some different levels of expectation according to who participates there, particularly Arab countries. We hope, first of all, while this first meeting will [continue to concentrate] on the Arab/Israeli track, [that] this process should be able to address [the issue] comprehensively [according to] the relevant Security Council resolutions, 242 and 338, and other relevant resolutions, and also have the Arab Peace Initiative as core elements.
Q: Do you have a date?
SG: That is what we need to discuss.
Q: Is there a date already for Annapolis?
SG: That is what the American Government should announce, but I am aware of the dates, but I am not the person who should officially make it public.
Q: My question is related to Annapolis. Any Middle East peace process under the current situation, without the participation of Hamas, would it be really a peace process without the participation of an elected government, which is Hamas?
SG: As I said, this process will be addressed more comprehensively as time goes by, as progress is made. For this particular specific issue - like participation of Hamas, or any specific issues or agenda, that, I hope, we will be able to discuss at a later stage.
Q In the Fifth Committee today, the representative of the Africa group, Ambassador [Ismael] Gaspar Martins of Angola, had said that the contract given to PAE should have been done by competition and that another delegate brought up that the decision to go sole source began all the way back in April, before the resolution. So it seemed like a lot of doubts - they'd said they want more documentation, and documents to be released. What's your sense of how the Secretariat will respond to these criticisms?
And, also, on Sudan as well, with the Comprehensive Peace Agreement sort of seeming frayed, have there been statements by President [Omar Al-] Bashir that his forces should either re-arm or re-assemble in the South. What's UNMIS or the Secretariat doing about that?
SG: About the issue of contracts –this contract has been authorized by me, considering the extraordinary special circumstances where we couldn't find any proper companies able to carry out such projects. That particular company was the only one that was immediately available and that has been doing similar construction there, and there are practical timelines which the United Nations should meet –the deadlines. Therefore, for me, it was necessary to take some extraordinary measures by authorizing that. But I would like to make it again quite clear that I will make it most transparent and accountable in carrying out contract procedures.
On these other issues, it is not desirable for the parties concerned in the Darfur situation, and particularly the parties to the CPA, to make such a unilateral kind of statement. I hope, again, that the parties concerned will make a faithful implementation. I had a good meeting with Mr. Salva Kiir, and I hope, on the basis of these consultations - he had also met American leaders - we hope that we would be able to see a smooth implementation of this.
Thank you very much.