SG: As you've heard, I've had a very good meeting with the President [George W. Bush]. We discussed a range of issues, including Iraq, Afghanistan, Cyprus, African issues, Sudan, Liberia, and of course the Democratic Republic of Congo. We also talked about the AIDS epidemic and what needs to be done to contain it. And, of course, the panel of eminent persons I have set up to help us think through how we can transform the UN and adapt it to cope with the challenges that we are facing in today's world. I am leaving satisfied that the US government and the UN are going to be working together on many fronts-- not just on Iraq -- on issues of economic development, the fight against AIDS, good governance and a whole range of issues and other conflicts that we are working on together. I will now take your questions.

Q: Are you troubled at all, Mr. Secretary-General, that the White House marched the world to war on evidence that now appears to have been unclear, if not outright faulty?

SG: You know the debate that went on before the war. Now that an investigative committee is being set up to look into it, I think we should wait until the results of that investigation.

Q: With respect, Mr. Secretary-General, the White House reminds us that that committee has not yet been set up. Until it begins to undertake its investigation, could we have your thoughts on that? Are you troubled at all about the scope of the state of the intelligence? What David Kay found on the ground in Iraq bears very little resemblance to what the White House presented to the UN going in

SG: As you know the UN inspectors of UNMOVIC had been down working in Iraq for three and a half months. At the point the war was declared, they hadn't found anything. And now that the government is thinking of setting up an investigation, I think we should wait.

Q: When are you going to invite the leaders of Cyprus for the talks in New York city and what do you expect specifically from Athens and Nicosia?

SG: I think in my last report to the Security Council on this issue I made it quite clear that I will be prepared to resume negotiations and offer my good offices if I felt that the parties had the will and the determination to engage each other and sustain the effort until we have a settlement. Over the past week or so, I have had the chance to talk to the Turkish Prime Minister, the Greek Cypriot President, the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Greece. I haven't spoken to Mr. Denktash yet, but everyone seems ready to resume. And I hope to be able to invite them to a meeting shortly.

Q: What did you think of President Bush's position?

SG: President Bush supports my efforts and would like to see the talks resume. And supports the plan we put on the table and urges the parties to press ahead and negotiate and find a settlement.

Q: Is June 30 a hard date in your view? And what are prospects, Sir, of finding some sort of compromise?

SG: June 30th is the date the governing council and the CPA agreed on in their November 15 agreement. In the discussions I had with them in New York on the 19th of January, both the CPA and the Governing Council indicated to me that we can review whether elections are possible or not, help with the design of the caucus system or propose other options. But, they indicated at that time that they would want to see the end of June date respected.

Q: Do you feel that the UN's mission in Iraq going forward has been sufficiently clarified to your satisfaction? And secondly, what's your assessment of the security conditions on the ground to make sure that your teams can be protected?

SG: The UN team is going in to help the Iraqi people design a mechanism for the establishment of a provisional government. I have always maintained that the Iraqis must have control over their political and economic destiny and we are going to help them work out this problem and hopefully they will come to some consensus and agreement as to how to move forward. I think that kind of consensus and agreement will be very helpful to the process. And, we are going to work with them and help them find a way forward.

As far as security is concerned, obviously we are concerned about security. I cannot say that we today have a secure environment in Iraq for the UN to resume its normal activities but I hope that day will come. Security is important not just for the UN but also for the average Iraqi and it is essential for reconstruction and all the essential things that need to be done in Iraq.

Q: At this time, what's your feeling about he caucus system? Is it really a worthwhile channel to be following?

SG: I'm sending a team to Iraq to review both the election and the alternative of caucuses. And I think I should wait for their report.

Q: Did you and the President discuss the roadmap?

SG: We did speak about the roadmap and the Middle East. And we believe that the roadmap is alive - it may be in some distress, and we need to find a way of getting the parties back to the table. I think we sense there are movements on the ground in Israel that may be helpful to the resumption of negotiations between the Israelis and the Palestinians. And we reaffirmed our determination to work together with other members of the Quartet to move the process forward.

Q: Will your team be playing an active mediation role in Iraq? And when will it go?

SG: The team as I said will be there shortly. If by 'mediation role' you mean will they talk to all Iraqis and encourage them to come to some understanding as to how they proceed with the establishment of the provisional government, we will be talking to all members of the governing council and other Iraqis who have a stake in this and have ideas for us. But obviously this is not going to be a long mission. And after that mission, hopefully we'll have something.

Q: [What Security assurances has the White House offered?]

SG: We are in touch with the coalition and our own security team on the ground. And they have indicated, the CPA has indicated that they will do everything possible to offer our protection and of course this issue came up even on the 19th of January when we met with the CPA and the Iraqi Governing Council. Both groups said they would take every necessary measure to ensure that my staff can conduct their work in safety and offer the advice needed.

Thank you.