Secretary-General's press encounter following meeting with UK Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw (unofficial transcript)

SG: Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. We've had the chance to discuss issues of mutual concern. We discussed, obviously, Iraq and the way forward. And he was also able to bring to me the condolences and sympathy of the Prime Minister and the Government of the United Kingdom. We did also talk about Liberia and the support that we are getting from the international community, including the United Kingdom. We talked about the upcoming General Assembly and the issues that we would want to see taken up by Member States. And generally, we had a very good discussion.

[Foreign Secretary Straw delivered introductory remarks.]

Q: Mr. Secretary-General, Sir, can you comment on a report this morning that Iraqi security guards that worked at the UN compound may be suspects in this bombing?

SG: Well, the investigation is at an early stage. I haven't received even [a] preliminary report on the investigation and I would hesitate to comment on that.

[The Foreign Secretary answered questions on the possibility of a broader mandate for the United Nations]

Q: Mr. Secretary-General, you mentioned yesterday, briefly, a multinational force, perhaps to guard the UN which then former Ambassador Holbrooke picked up on in numerous interviews. Could you elaborate on that?

SG: I think yesterday, the discussions we had concerned further internationalisation of the process in Iraq. I think most Member States, as you have heard this morning, would want to see further internationalisation through broadening of a UN role to permit them to join the operations on the ground. And those discussions cover both the political and economic reconstruction, as well as the security aspects of the operation. There has been a question whether UN Blue Helmets can take over from the Coalition, and I have made it quite clear that the UN Blue Helmets will not do that. We don't have the capacity, and we would not. But it is not excluded that the Council may decide to transform the operation into a UN-mandated multinational force, operating on the ground, with other governments coming in. But of course, as one of your colleagues implied this morning, it would also imply not just burden sharing, but also sharing decision and responsibility with the others. If that doesn't happen, I think it is going to be very difficult to get a second resolution that will satisfy everybody.

[The Foreign Secretary was asked about a possible multinational force]

Q: There is a widespread feeling in the Arab world right now. A lot of people are saying 'why doesn't the Secretary-General of the United Nations tell the Americans or the British –either you give me the role that I want to play or I don't play at all'?

SG: As Secretary-General I do have influence but I don't write the mandates. The Council members are discussing it, and as I have indicated, there are serious discussions going on and I have also suggested that these discussions take place behind closed doors for us to find a way forward, and then come into the public to discuss it. But obviously, there are discussions as to a deeper role for the UN. It is not the Secretary-General who dictates, who goes to them and say 'you either do this or I don't play', as you put your question. The Secretary-General has to work with the Council and the Member States. The UN is the Member States, not the Secretary-General, and we work hand in glove, and we will work together and we are going to be working together on this.

Q: Mr. Secretary-General, nevertheless, despite what you have just said, now that you have heard from the British and the Americans, what is the kind of authority that you believe will work in Iraq now, and what are the concessions that you will need to establish some kind of unity on this in the Security Council?

SG: I have given some suggestions to Foreign Secretary Straw, and also to Secretary [of State] Colin Powell yesterday, and I will be talking to all the Council members and since I myself have suggested that the discussions take place behind closed doors, I would not want to make the mistake of being the first to discuss it here on camera. But what I will say is that in the last report I gave to the Security Council in which I described what we have done and what we are doing, I also indicated what we can do and what further tasks the UN can take on. I suggest that that report provides a very strong basis for a second resolution when the Council comes to that.

Q: Will you have some kind of unity in the Security Council ultimately on this?

SG: I think there can be unity in the Council, but it is going to take discussions, it is going to take negotiations, it is going to take give and take, and these things are best done behind closed doors, and that is my advice to the Council members.

Q: Mr. Secretary-General, are you working out a plan with the Coalition to protect your staff who are still there in Baghdad?

SG: Security obviously is of great concern to us, and it has also been part of our discussions this morning with the Foreign Secretary and also with Secretary of State Colin Powell yesterday. I have a team that is on its way to Baghdad now to assess the security situation. There is no doubt that we will have to strengthen our security. We may have to adjust our ways of operating on the ground, and we would also need to take a look at UN operations elsewhere in the world. And of course we will need to work with the Coalition that has the capacity and has the responsibility for law and order in Iraq to give us help.

Q: Have they offered their help Sir?

SG: They will help, yes.