Mideast situation/London meeting – SecGen remarks at Headquarters press encounter – Transcript (excerpts)

Secretary-General’s press encounter upon arrival at Headquarters

3 March 2005

(unofficial transcript)

SG: Good morning, Ladies and Gentlemen.  I just came in from London where we had a very good meeting on the Palestinian reform issues.  It was very well attended, and about eight hundred million dollars were pledged.

While I was there I was also able to discuss with others the situation in Lebanon and Syria, and of course Iraq, and UN reform.

I will take your questions.

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Q:  Sir, on Syria, how soon would you like to see the Syrians withdraw from Lebanon, and how concerned [are you] that too quick a withdrawal by Syria from Lebanon may create a political vacuum which may rattle even Syria’s adversaries, the Israelis?

SG:  Obviously it’s a situation one has to handle with care.  I will be sending back Terje [Roed-]Larsen to the region to discuss the issue of withdrawal with the two governments concerned.  My hope is that I will be able to report progress when I submit my next report in April.  The Syrians have indicated that they are planning to withdraw the troops from Lebanon.  Will it be completed by then? Will it be complete withdrawal, partial withdrawal?  We will see when I submit my report in April, but we are engaging them.

As to the question of being careful not to precipitate a situation that could destabilize Lebanon or cause tensions, I think this is something that everyone is conscious of and it will have to be managed very carefully.  I think in our discussions and in our attempt to see implementation of the Resolution [1559] we will bear that in mind.

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