Q: Mr. Secretary-General, yesterday, the American Ambassador Holliday suggested that you make another trip to the Sudan. He pointed out that your last trip had produced some results. (a) Would you be willing to do that? And (b) do you think this is the time to make an effort like that, or should it be the Security Council?

SG: Let me say, that I am always willing to travel or go to the locations when I think it will help, as I did last summer. But I think, as I said yesterday, there's a need for real re-assessment by the Organization and the Council as to whether or not our current approach is working, and what further measures should be taken. And I think that exercise should be done here, not by a trip to the situation on the ground. Obviously, they are not mutually exclusive and whenever a trip will be helpful, I am always ready to do it. But I think, at this stage, the re-assessment has to be done here.

Q: That seems to indicate, though, that you would favour some tougher measures by the Council and even the Chinese Ambassador just said he would be willing to consider them…

SG: Because, quite frankly, our approach is not working. The situation is deteriorating, the IDPs are suffering, the African Union has not been able to put in as many forces as we had hoped, and they need desperate help. What can the Council do, working with the African Union and others, to accelerate the rate of deployment and ensure that we have more troops on the ground to assist? What other measures can we take to put pressure on the parties and hold some of the individuals who are responsible accountable, hold them individually accountable, for us to be able to move forward? These kinds of decisions and actions have to be decided here and taken here, and so, whilst a trip to the region may some time be necessary, the re-assessment is urgent.

Q: Is it then the Secretariat or the Security Council that needs to be the lead agent here?

SG: I think obviously the Security Council is the one that gave us a mandate and has to re-assess, but we need to work together - the Security Council and the Secretariat - and I am prepared to work with them.

Q: Just wondered whether you had any comment on all this escalating violence in Iraq and the upsurge, and obviously this concern about the UN staff who are there, and even increasing it.

SG: It is a tragic and a brutal situation and I really felt very sorry yesterday. It hits you in the stomach –when I was looking at the pictures after the attack. And obviously it is in this climate that we are planning the elections, and I do have staff there. For the moment we do have adequate security arrangements, but it is of concern. It is of concern, and we are monitoring it very, very closely.

Q: Anything you tell the Iraqi people in this next month, which is obviously going to be difficult?

SG: I think what I would tell them is they have a chance for the first time in a long, long time to take their destiny in hand, to determine their own future. And I would urge them to reconcile, to really make every effort to dialogue and not go the violent route and use the opportunity offered, to exercise their vote and help determine the future of their country. So, I would wish them a peaceful, democratic and participatory elections, as we move into the next year.