PRESS ENCOUNTER WITH KOFI ANNAN
U.N. SECRETARY-GENERAL

UNITED NATIONS

August 5, 2003

Q: How was the meeting and what's going to happen on Iraq? Did you get some good feedback?

SG: Yes, I think my sense [is] that they will look at the question of a statement on the Iraqi Governing Council and the mandate for the establishment of the UNAMI [United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq]. And I would expect to get some decisions out of them.

Q: But a statement rather than a resolution initially.

SG: I think on the Iraqi Governing Council and its recognition as a step towards the formation of a sovereign Iraqi government, I think that may come out in a statement. But the establishment of the UN mission - we need a decision and it usually comes in the form of a resolution.

Q: Is there any big discussion on Iraq about the possibility of a second resolution expanding UN authorization?

SG: That came up. They know that there are discussions going on, but the membership are not ready to move on it yet. But there are discussions going on, but there was no -– it's not ripe yet.

And of course, we discussed Liberia and what can be done to accelerate things and the support of the international community, and the fact that the two Nigerian battalions that are going in will have limited capacity. They cannot be expected to hold the airport, the port, help calm the city, create a corridor for humanitarian deliveries. And you can draw the conclusions from there.

Q: Was there a lot of pressure on the United States to move?

SG: It was in the air, and I steered it in that direction. My own sense is that, since they said [Liberian President Charles] Taylor must leave before they go in, they're probably waiting to see what happens to Taylor, who said he will leave on the 11th. Because I think the real pressure will come if Taylor leaves and they are still in the ships. You see what I mean?