Press encounter upon return from four-nation visit to Asia

As you know, I just came back from a week-long Asian trip this morning. I visited the Philippines to attend the Second Forum on Migration for Development. Then, thereafter, I had paid bilateral visits to India, Nepal and Bangladesh.

I was very encouraged to see the progress we have made in helping to build democracy in Nepal.

Of course, Bangladesh will hold critical Parliamentary elections on 18 December, and I have met both Government leaders and political party leaders, and I urged them that they should make this Parliamentary election in December a most credible and fair and transparent one. And I told them that the United Nations will do all in its power to provide technical assistance to aid their efforts.

It is crucial that the vote take place without violence and that it be free, fair and credible. I am going to dispatch a team of highly qualified and experienced people who will stay there before and during the election and report to me their assessment of the election.

During these travels, I spent, as you may expect, a great deal of time on the telephone discussing the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo. I spoke with dozens of leaders and UN officials working to manage the crisis.

In all these conversations I emphasized that there can be no military solution to the crisis in eastern Congo. Our efforts must focus on political negotiation.

To that end, I have held repeated conversations with Presidents (Joseph) Kabila (of the Democratic Republic of the Congo) and (Paul) Kagame (of Rwanda), directly and through my envoys. I am also working closely with world leaders, including the Chairman of the African Union, the Chairman of the African Union Commission, the President of the European Union and other EU leaders, and the U.S. Secretary of State.

Though they have not yet sat down face-to-face, Presidents Kagame and Kabila have begun a direct dialogue, along with their high-level technical teams.

This is a promising development. I urge again all parties to stick to the current cease-fire and devote their best efforts to this nascent political process.

Presidents Kagame and Kabila have also expressed their willingness and readiness to meet with me, possibly this week or early next week. I understand that the AU President will also convene an urgent regional summit on this issue, in Nairobi or elsewhere in Africa, sometime soon this month. Details of these meetings are being worked out as we speak now.

To ensure sustained United Nations engagement, I intend to nominate Olusegun Obasanjo, the former President of Nigeria, as my special envoy. He will work with the leaders of the region and the international community to bring about a lasting political solution.

I expect all those with a stake in the region's future ? the Security Council, the African Union and the European Union ? to support him to the fullest. In fact, I have spoken with all the leaders. This morning, I have spoken with the President of the Security Council and important Member States, and also the African Union Chairman. All the concerned parties have agreed to the nomination of Mr. Obasanjo.

The conflict along the Rwandan and Congolese border has gone on too long, with catastrophic consequences.

We need peace –an end to fighting so that the region's people can enjoy a measure of stability and prosperity.

With a cease-fire now in place, I have mobilized UN agencies to provide assistance. It is essential that they be granted unhindered access to the populations in need.

I am relieved that earlier this morning peacekeepers were able to escort a UN aid convoy into the rebel-held zone. The humanitarian workers are bringing health supplies, water and sanitation to areas cut off by the fighting.

Under-Secretary-General Alain Le Roy is now in the DRC to assess the situation and take all necessary measures. He spoke to me earlier this morning.

Also today, I reinstated the former Force Commander of MONUC, Lt. Gen. Babacar Gaye of Senegal, as the new Interim Force Commander. He will oversee this crucial mission for the next months.

Once again, I wish to express my gratitude to MONUC's peacekeepers for holding steadfast in Goma ? a thin blue line against chaos.

I am doing my best to reinforce our peacekeepers and humanitarian teams, and I call on world leaders to support us in every way possible.

A final point: I look forward to attending the Quartet meeting, to be held soon in the region. We expect to be briefed by the parties on the progress of their negotiations. If all goes as planned, it would mark the first such event. I hope this would contribute to sustaining the momentum towards a comprehensive and lasting solution to the Middle East conflict.

Thank you very much.

Q: Two things, Mr. Secretary-General, concerning what you said about Presidents Kabila and Kagame - I take it that that means you are fully prepared to personally go to Africa, to go to that region, within a week, to personally mediate. That's one thing. Secondly, obviously as you say, and I have heard, you have been working the phones very hard, appealing to European leaders and others, to send reinforcements to the eastern DRC very quickly. So far, unless you know something I don't, the answer has been no. They have by no means really stepped up. How do you feel about the response you've gotten to those pleas so far?

SG: To your first question –yes, I am willing to meet both President Kabila and President Kagame wherever it would be convenient for us to meet each other. I am now working to realise that meeting. I expect I will be able to meet the two of them sometime this weekend, or early next week. I am willing to visit Africa if that is necessary.

Q: How do you feel about the response you have gotten so far to your appeals to countries to send troops to reinforce MONUC?

SG: We have been discussing this matter with Security Council members. My Special Representative, Alan Doss, has requested additional capacities. I have been discussing this matter with the African Union President, with President [Nicolas] Sarkozy and other leaders of Security Council members. I really hope, sincerely hope, that Member States will be able to provide necessary additional resources to MONUC. As you may be aware, MONUC is over-stretched. We have 17,000 [troops] in a country the size of which is equivalent to the whole European continent. We have only one battalion –900 [personnel]- in the Goma area. While I highly commend their contributions and their hard work to bring peace and stability to the DRC, it is true that their resources and their strength have been overstretched. We need, on an urgent basis, some additional strength and resources.

Q: During your trip to India, were you able to get any assurance from the Indian Government on their role in Burma to achieve your goal of democracy and political and human rights?

SG: I had an extensive discussion with Indian leaders, including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, on how we can work together to help bring democracy to the Myanmar people and Government. This requires concerted, coordinated efforts from all the countries in the region, particularly India and other neighbouring countries, including China. I will continue to discuss this matter with the members of the Group of Friends of the Secretary-General, and this is going to be my priority issue.

Q: If, as you say, there is no military solution in eastern Congo, if the ceasefire was declared by General Laurent Nkunda, do you feel that President Kabila should in fact speak with Mr. Nkunda? And what do you think of his critique that the Congolese army is too close with the FDLR Hutu rebels, and that MONUC might not have been doing enough to root out the FDLR and repatriate them or move them off? How is that going to be solved?

SG: I understand that President Kabila has expressed his willingness to engage in talks with Nkunda. It is also encouraging, as I said earlier, that the two Presidents have begun their direct consultation. I was assured, having spoken to both leaders several times, and they assured me that they will continue to discuss this matter between the two leaders and through their envoys. I sincerely hope that they will continue to do that. I am going to exert all the efforts possible to facilitate that kind of dialogue.

Q: Mr. Secretary-General, there have been calls for the Security Council to change the mandate of MONUC and its rules of engagement. Is it something that you support, and do you think that MONUC should be allowed to take an offensive action against the Nkunda forces?

SG: In normal cases, the operational norm and framework is very much regulated by the Security Council resolution. In the case of MONUC, it is true that the Security Council has given a mandate to MONUC to protect civilians in extreme danger, as well as to give aid to the Armed Forces of the Congolese [FARDC]. However, as I said, there is a limit, a very serious limit. It is up to the Security Council to [determine] what extent they would be giving a mandate. As I understand it now, it may have to be discussed very seriously, taking into account all the situations taking place now.

Q: What is your position, Sir? What would you like to see?

SG: I will first of all have to consider this matter after looking at all the possibilities, all the considerations, and after meeting with all the leaders.

Q: You said that MONUC is overstretched. What do you see as the solution for fixing that problem? And what have you done to realize it?

SG: Mr. Alan Doss, my Special Representative, has presented his proposals to the Security Council. I hope the Security Council will consider positively, favourably, on this. I am not going to detail his proposals, which have been drawn up in close consultation between the Department of Peacekeeping [Operations] and the Department of Field Support, and his own assessment on the [ground].

Q: Welcome home, Mr. Secretary-General. I am concerned about the preparations for the so-called Durban II Conference which is scheduled for next April, certainly next Spring I believe, in Geneva. We all know that the original conference several years ago, became almost effectively a festival of Israel-bashing, and accomplished precious little towards combating racism and racial discrimination, which was its stated objective. What you think that you can do, the UN can do, perhaps Judge Pillay can do, in order to see to it that this second conference does not become an international of anti-Israel invective?

SG: This is a very important issue for the United Nations and the international community. Preventing racial discrimination is one of the fundamental principles of the United Nations Charter. I have been discussing this matter with the former High Commissioner for Human Rights [Louise Arbour] as well as the current High Commissioner, Navanethem Pillay, on how to make this so-called Durban II process as a desirable one, on how to prevent racial discrimination. We have been discussing the venue, and the venue has been decided to be held in Geneva, to avoid any unnecessary political misconceptions. I think that was encouraging. There have been some preparatory committee meetings on that. As I have been briefed by the High Commissioner, so far I think we have been making smooth preparations. I will spare no efforts, in close coordination with my High Commissioner, who will work as Secretary-General of this conference, to make this a place where all Member States will be able to address racial discrimination issues.

Q: Thank you, Mr. Secretary-General. You just expressed your hope to see the Middle East going to peace. I have one question, on Lebanon. There are so many reports that there is smuggling –all sorts of smuggling - of arms and drugs, coming from Syria to Lebanon. Just recently, this morning or yesterday, the Minister of Defense, Ehud Barak, from Israel, expressed also concern. How much are you willing to do something to resolve this question? And also, on UNIFIL, the Belgian Government expressed willingness to withdraw troops from UNIFIL; do you have any reaction on that?

SG: On the first question, this has been one of very important and serious issues, when it comes to the question of Lebanon. As the Syrian Government, and the Lebanese government, have agreed to improve their diplomatic relationship, and also agreed to engage in border delineation talks, I sincerely hope they will have an accelerated progress in border demarcation. A strengthened border security will help to prevent these illegal transfers of arms, as well as of drugs. I have been urging President [Bashar Al] Assad as well as Prime Minister [Fouad] Siniora and President [Michel] Suleiman, whenever I have meetings or telephone talks, this has always been one of my priority issues.

On UNIFIL, I have been asking and urging the troop participating countries to remain and retain their current force contributions until such time when we see some stability and security in that region. It is important for the international community to help the Lebanese people. They have been suffering for so long. With this strengthened role of UNIFIL, we have been able to see encouraging developments of the situation there. This is something which the international community should really nurture, this process.

Q: Mr. Secretary-General, in your backdrop of your visit to India, I want to ask you - first - Senator Barack Obama has just said that in order for the Indians to become a regional power, they must first somehow resolve this issue of Kashmir, between India and Pakistan, so that both of them can fight terrorism together. Sir, do you believe that this issue of Kashmir should be resolved as soon as possible between these two countries, and will you be able to give your good offices towards that?

SG: I have discussed this matter with Indian leaders, and I have also urged the Indian leaders to continue their composite dialogue with Pakistan. The recent summit meeting between President [Asif Ali] Zardari of Pakistan and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, in New York, provided a very good opportunity in a breakthrough in their current relationship. Trade has been opened, and exchanges are continuing. Through gradual progress in this area, I am sure that they will be able to resolve these Kashmir issues through dialogue in a peaceful manner.

Q: Are you willing to offer the good offices of the United Nations towards that end, because without resolution of that issue they will not be able to move forward on this matter?

SG: If, and when, both parties to this issue ask me to provide good offices, I am willing to do that. But as you know, good offices are available whenever there is some agreed request from both parties.

Q: On King Abdullah's interfaith initiative which is taking place at the UN next week, do you hope that hosting the event will help Saudi Arabia offer greater religious freedom to its own citizens?

SG: This is going to be a very important conference. I appreciate and commend the initiative of His Majesty [Abdullah bin Abdulaziz of Saud], the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques of Saudi Arabia, for this, and we have been discussing this matter very closely and I understand that, through the previous initiatives which was held in Madrid earlier this year, they have been expanding the scope of understanding among all different world religious leaders. I understand that consultations are going smoothly and I also understand that many world leaders are going to take part in this debate. With this, and with other issues, initiatives, to promote understanding and appreciation between religions, as well as faiths and cultures, the whole international community can be able to promote more dialogue and harmony and reconciliation. I am sure this will provide very good momentum.

Q: Mr. Secretary-General, welcome back. We would be remiss if we didn't ask you, on the eve of the American elections, your thoughts as to the relationship between the United Nations and the US Government which has been contentious at times. And with regime change imminent in Washington, do you see that there is a possibility of improved relations with the United Nations, and how do you think this will help you, no matter who gets in?

SG: As you are, I am very much interested in this American presidential election which will take place tomorrow. As far as I am concerned, as Secretary-General, I am ready and prepared to work very closely with the next President of the United States, whoever that may be. Since I became Secretary-General, one of my focuses, or priorities, has been to maintain a very strong and close partnership between the United States and the United Nations, because I believe, personally and officially, that maintaining such a good relationship with the host government, and the largest financial contributor, and one of the biggest world leaders, is very important. In that regard, I am sure that I will be able to strengthen our partnership between the next administration and the United Nations. In fact, even with the Bush administration, you may agree with me that I have been able to improve our relationship to a much better relationship, and I am proud that I have been able to make that working relationship to a very positive tone.

Thank you very much.