Q: How far should the UN go in meeting Iraq's invitation?

SG: I don't think it should be dismissed. And I intend to send them a letter today following my discussions with the (Security) Council yesterday. And I hope once they've read the letter, they will find their way to become more forthcoming.

Q: What do you want the letter to do?

SG: I think the letter will clarify that we welcome the invitation, but that we would want to proceed along other lines.

Q: Their second memo seemed that they were moving closer. Is that what you sense or is it more stalling?

SG: I think the second memo was intended to amplify the first one. But since I've been in discussions with them during the year, I had a clear idea what the first letter said.

Q: Sir, you had a chance to talk to the Council members yesterday. Has their input influenced your response to Iraq and in what way?

SG: I think the Council members shared my position and I don't think there has been any change. What I can say is that, by and large, the Council members would want to see the Iraqis comply. They would want to see the inspectors go in and continue their work and would want me to continue to work with them to get the inspectors back into Iraq.

Q: Are technical talks not really a change since it was discussed in Vienna, or some US ?.

SG: No, we did discuss it in Vienna that we would maintain contacts including discussions at the technical level. So I have no problem with discussions at the technical level. But my concern is the agenda and how it proceeds.

Q: How far is that last mile? You say ?last mile?. You've almost walked a mile here, but how far is the last mile to go, as you said yesterday?

SG: I think we will know. Let them receive my letter and see how they react. I think my letter gives them a clear indication of what we would want to see.