Secretary-General's press encounter following his briefing to the Security Council [unofficial transcript]
Press events | Ban Ki-moon, Former Secretary-General
Q: The Quartet Statement, Sir, was described by several Arab countries, and also South Africa, as being a disappointment because it reduces Palestinians to recipients of humanitarian aid. So what is your reaction, Sir, and what are you doing to lift the blockade against Palestinians?
SG: My observation is that I was very much encouraged by the strong support by all the member states of the Security Council for the outcome of the Quartet, and they are also encouraged by the prospect and decision that there will be another Quartet [meeting] in the region around the end of this month, with the participation of Arab partners and hopefully Israeli and Palestinian leaders.
Q: Mr. Secretary-General, on the Tribunal, the Syrian Foreign Minister said that Syria will not cooperate with the Tribunal. Do you have any comment on that?
SG: The important thing is that the Security Council has adopted the Resolution [1757], which is binding, and the international community should fully cooperate with this. I had telephone talks –in fact Prime Minister [Fouad] Siniora yesterday telephoned me and we agreed to fully cooperate for the early establishment of the Special Tribunal. I, as Secretary-General, respecting the Resolution of the Security Council, will do all possible measures to implement this resolution.
Q: Some questions have been raised about the extent to which the African Union truly is on board with what was billed as an AU-UN accord on the hybrid force in going forward in Sudan. To your knowledge, what is the extent to which the AU has really agreed to this, and if not what is the outlook for getting that finalized?
SG: There was very close consultation between the African Union and the United Nations on this joint proposal. We are now working to have clarifications on some elements of the draft. I am convinced that we will be able to find common understandings and agreements on this matter as soon as possible. I reported to the Security Council about this issue. It was unfortunate that the African Union has come back with some changes after the Security Council has adopted and issued a Presidential Statement. But I think on the basis of a spirit of cooperation and unity in working and addressing this Darfur situation, I am quite confident that the African Union and the UN will find common understanding on this issue.
Q: Mr. Secretary-General, on the issue of climate change, the President of the United States yesterday called for a summit of the major greenhouse gas emitters, including China and India. I wonder what your reaction is to that, and whether you believe that this is going to help your own efforts to spur international action on climate change?
SG: I think it is a positive statement, in the sense that the United States, at the level of President Bush, has realized the urgency and importance of climate change. I hope such an effort by the United States will be mutually reinforcing the international community's efforts, particularly led by the United Nations. I hope all such initiatives, together with the efforts of the international community, will be discussed within the UN framework.
Q: Can you please tell us why the letter of Mr. [Emile] Lahoud [of Lebanon] did not reach you until four days later after it was sent?
SG: I have received the letter from President Lahoud. I think the letter reached very late. You may remember that I had a meeting with President Lahoud in Riyadh when I was attending the Arab League Summit meeting. At the same time, I expressed many times publicly that I was concerned about divisions among the leaders. I was told and received an official letter from Prime Minister Siniora saying that he had exhausted all political and diplomatic efforts and on the basis of that, the Security Council has acted upon by adopting a resolution.
Q: On Sudan, Sir, while you just mentioned a statement that came out of the Security Council on Friday welcoming the AU-UN agreement and urging the Sudanese to move. Do you think it's productive, when Sudan is planning to have a meeting on this in early June concerning this as well with the participation of the UN and AU? Do you think it's productive to talk on Monday on sanctions on Sudan and to push the sanctions resolution through while you had just finished negotiating this agreement with the AU?
SG: I have already commented on that issue last week. I think the international community's effort should be made in a reinforcing manner. We hope the whole international community should cooperate fully in addressing these issues so that we can find early resolution on this matter.
Q: The Russian veto on Kosovo will somehow put on stalemate the issue, and it is against Mr. [Martti] Ahtisaari's - your Special Envoy's] - proposals?
SG: It is still actively being consulted among the member states of the Security Council. Therefore, at this time I would like to refrain from making any further comments on this issue. Still you have to see how the Security Council will make a decision. As I said earlier, I have full support on this recommendation by my Special Envoy.
Q: Mr. Secretary-General, it seems that Serge Brammertz' term is supposed to end in mid June. We have no idea if he's staying until the end of the year or not. Are you going to ask him to stay? Or have you started the search for his replacement? And how concerned really are you? I know that you have said that this is an attack on the sovereignty of Lebanon –what is going on today –the escalation against the army. Is there something you can do about it?
SG: Mr. Brammertz has been making an instrumental contribution to this process and we are considering now how, and in what way, we can still utilize his experience and contribution. But no decision has been made yet. But I hope that we will be able to continue to have Mr. Brammertz' contributions and experience.
Q: When someone comes into office, there is political capital they have. You came into office on the issue of Darfur, following [the] Annan administration not achieving a solution for Darfur. You elected to still follow the line. You listened to the Sudanese Government. They disappointed you several times. You have now been in office for five months. There were attacks overnight. Janjaweed militia attacks continue. You do believe, you say, in actions not words. Yet this crisis has gone on. Hundreds have died while you have been on the job. Would you say that you have failed as Secretary-General to use your leadership to settle this dispute and allow the Sudanese Government to continue stalling and the international community, years after this has gone on?
SG: I am also concerned, as you are, about the lack of progress on the Darfur issue. This issue has been four years long. The whole international community has been frustrated many times over the lack of progress. However, I believe that since I took office as Secretary-General last January –during the last five months - I have made some progress, even though slow. There was an agreement to the second phase, heavy support package. And now we are almost at the final stage of presenting our common and joint proposal to the Sudanese Government. I had a telephone talk with President Bashir. He is also committed to see early resolution of this issue.
We have also made some progress on political dialogue track. My Special Envoy, Mr. [Jan] Eliasson and the African Union Envoy Mr. [Salim Ahmed] Salim have been tirelessly working with the rebel group leaders and government leaders, and now I think we are going to see some end of the first phase. We will try to have some pre-negotiation phase during June and July and I hope that before August we will be able to enter into the negotiation phase in political dialogue. And we have agreed on humanitarian assistance by signing this Memorandum of Understanding between the United Nations and Sudan. So therefore please bear with me. This process may be slow, painful, but I think we are moving towards early resolution of this issue.
Q: On this matter, there are some campaigners who say the only way to convince China to put enough pressure on Darfur is to boycott the Beijing Olympics. Your Spokeswoman yesterday said you actually were not in favour of a boycott on the Beijing Olympics. Could you explain why you don't think that is helpful? Thank you.
SG: I think this is a separate issue. The Chinese Government has also been exerting their utmost efforts, as I understand and appreciate, I have been discussing this matter with the Chinese Government too. They have recently appointed a Special Envoy of the Chinese Government to work on this Darfur situation. Their President, Hu Jintao, paid a visit last February and they have sent high-level officials to discuss this matter with the Sudanese Government. I appreciate such a Chinese Government role.
Q: Do you think the Chinese Government is honestly helpful on Darfur?
SG: Oh yes, certainly. It is helpful. Thank you very much, and I will see you when I return. Thank you.