Q: Secretary-General, what is your opinion about the resolution, the latest US draft resolution on Iraq?
SG: As you know, I have stated my views very clearly to the members of the Security Council over the last couple of weeks on the process in Iraq, including the constitutional and electoral aspects. Obviously, the current resolution does not represent a major shift in the thinking of the coalition. However I am grateful that they have taken into view, into account, some of my preoccupations. And of course I will implement any resolution that the Council might adopt, bearing in mind the constraints that we are all aware of.
Q: Mr. Secretary-General, are you more comfortable with the role given to the UN in this resolution?
SG: The UN role, as I have indicated, I will implement it but of course I have constraints that they have recognized in the resolution, and as we move forward we will see how the situation develops, and how I can introduce a greater number of staff to be able to carry on the mandate that is implied in the resolution. And of course I am going to do a report to the Council, as required by the resolution, indicating how we intend to proceed if the resolution were to be adopted.
Q: Mr. Secretary-General, the Security Council is later going to be talking about Israel's barrier, and the Americans have indicated they will oppose a resolution that is on the table. This is a recurring theme here that the Americans keep opposing, vetoing resolutions. What is your view on how this is going? Every time the Security Council [inaudible].
SG: I think it is important that the Council discusses the crucial and critical situation in the Middle East. And I would also hope that as the Council organizes itself to discuss these issues, they would also try to be even-handed. We have two parties involved, and if we are going to play a role and have an impact, we should be seen as being even-handed and really urging the parties forward to settle their differences and get back to the negotiating table. And we should be able to call it as we see it, regardless of which side is at fault.
Q: Mr. Secretary-General, do you think that the United Nations can fulfil the obligations listed in this resolution and have the necessary security, as long as the US is the occupying power?
SG: Sorry?
Q: If the US continues to be an occupying power, can the UN go there and have the security necessary … ?
SG: I think your question is a bit more complicated in the sense that, yes, the US is there as an occupying power. We also have a very difficult security situation which has compelled us to reduce our presence drastically. We are obviously monitoring it on a daily basis to see if there will be improvements that will allow us to gear up and carry on our mandate. I have indicated that given certain circumstances our role would be easier, and we will be able to do more. But I think I am grateful, as I said, to the drafters who have indicated that my role will kick in when the circumstances permit.
Q: Can the security improve as long as the US is the occupying power?
SG: Well, I am on record as stating that, as long as there is occupation, the resistance will grow.
Q: Anything on the Turkish embassy bombing in Baghdad today?
SG: I am sorry I don't have all the details on that. I would prefer not to get into it. But obviously I condemn these types of bombings, which often entail loss of life of innocent civilians.
Q: Mr. Secretary-General, the new resolution includes the phrase that the Governing Council will embody the sovereignty of Iraq. What does this mean to you?
SG: Well, it is a nice phrase, but the resolution also says that the occupying power is the authority, and is the government. So in my judgement, the occupying power is the government, will remain the government, whether this resolution is passed or not, until such time that power is fully handed over to the Iraqis. And I think the resolution recognizes that.
Q: What if the Council does not give a resounding unanimous vote to this resolution? What message does that send?
SG: I would hope that the drafters of the resolution will work as hard with the other members of the Council to get as broad support as possible, because I have always maintained that the Council is at its best, and has a greater impact, when it is united and comes up with a resolution that commands strong support. So, I would hope that the work will continue and that one will get broad support.
Q: Do you think it is good for the UN if the Security Council adopts a resolution that might turn out to be useless?
SG: That's a rather tough question. I think when the Council passes resolutions it always hopes that the resolution will have an impact, and I don't think they will make the effort to pass a resolution that will have a useless impact. And so I would hope that, as they discuss the issue, and I am confident they are also bearing in mind the impact the resolution will have on the ground, because that is the real test. It is not a question of finding words, to stitch words together, to bring delegations together. We need to think of the impact the resolution and our action will have on the ground, because that is the test of the effectiveness of a resolution.
Thank you very much.