Secretary-General's press conference with heads of the World Bank, the IMF and the Asian Development Bank

SG: As you know, we came here for the conference on the tsunami, called by the leaders of the region. And I believe we had a very good and a very successful meeting yesterday, and today we had the chance to visit some of the areas that have been destroyed by the tsunami.

We traveled along the west coast, and I must admit, I have never seen such utter destruction, mile after mile. And you wonder, where are the people, what happened to them?

We were also able to go to Meulaboh, and there we saw people beginning to pick up the pieces and get on with their lives. And of course we talk about the resilience of the human spirit, and I believe that in time, given support and effort by the government and the international community, the people will be able to pick up the pieces and carry on. But they are going to need lots of help.

We saw many people who were traumatized. We visited some of the displaced people in the camps, and they are going to need help with post-traumatic stress. They're going to need help to build their homes. They're going to need help-- I was going to say they're going to need help to go back to fishing, but of course, you need to build the houses along the coast if you are going to build before you can fish.

I think I will pause here and let my other colleagues say a few words.

[Remarks were then made by World Bank President Jim Wolfensohn, IMF Managing Director Rodrigo De Rato and Asian Development Bank President Tedeo Chino.]

Q: How satisfied are you that there was sufficient coordination between the US effort and the other efforts (unintelligible).

SG: I think we're all in this together, and the efforts of the United States and the core group [Australia, India and Japan] that they created has been absolutely crucial. They have the logistical capability to be able to come in and ensure that, despite the lack of infrastructure and logistics, we will be able to get things [done]. And they helped with heavy equipment, they helped with the airport and now, of course with the helicopters and all other [things], they're also helping with distribution, getting the food to the needy. And they are working with the UN team and others, and the government.

Obviously, when you start this sort of operation, there will be some minor problems here and there, which are always possible to work out, and I think we will work out whatever teething problems we've had.

On the whole, the cooperation is going well.

Q: Secretary-General, can you comment? There's a report today in the New York Times that says that as part of your reshuffling in your office, you've asked your entire senior staff to resign and reapply for their jobs. Would you comment on that?

SG: I haven't seen the New York Times and I haven't spoken to them, so I cannot say they got the story from me. Thank You.

Q: How do you answer the criticism directed at your organization that you were tardy in getting the relief effort under way.

SG: I think it's unfair to say that we were tardy. I think we move quickly as we can. And you also have to understand, the UN is as strong as its members. We are as capable as the members help and allow us to be. We have no assets; we need to rely on governments. Without the support, as I said, of the United States and other people with logistic capability, we would not have been able to move. And in fact, you would have said, we've been very, very late. I think we've moved as fast as we can and the government and the people in the region do agree with me that we are doing everything we can to act fast.

Q: What can the UN do to rebuild Aceh and what is your feeling after you saw what has happened in Aceh?

(Mr. Wolfesnsohn first answered this question, followed by Mr. De Rato.)

Q: (Unintelligible, on coordination with the Indonesian Government).

SG: I think we are moving ahead. We are establishing a joint command post here, and in fact we are working already very well together. And once we have the joint command center, our cooperation and coordination will even be tighter.

And we have similar arrangements in Jakarta. But on the ground, we are working very effectively with the government, agencies, with our NGO partners, the Red Crescent and the Red Cross Organizations. And we are managing to work and coordinate the activities of everyone concern. And I think your minister here will confirm what I have said.