(25 Jun 2003)
1. Wide of British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw and United Nations General-Secretary Kofi Annan walking to podium
2. Cutaway of officials
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Jack Straw, UK Foreign Secretary:
"Both the (British) prime minister and I have emphasised the important role which we believe - in deed, the vital role - the United Nations has to play in both the political process and the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Iraq and in that context we very much welcomed the role which United Nations officials led by Kofi were able to play in helping to bring the Security Council together after what had been a difficult period."
4. Wide of journalist asking question
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Kofi Annan, United Nations General Secretary:
"We are guided by Security Council resolution 1483 which leaves the responsibility for security and creating a secure environment, to the coalition forces, or the occupying power. And as you know the occupying power does have a responsibility to promote the welfare of the Iraqi people through effective administration of Iraq. Until the council gives us a new mandate we are not really talking of a UN force, and quite frankly, I doubt that we will have the capacity to take on that responsibility at this stage. (Asked if he would like to see it.) If we do not have the capacity I would not want to take it on, quite frankly. I think we should, whatever happens, even if the UN were to take on additional role and more responsibility, I think the security should be left to a multinational force, or the coalition."
6. Journalist, pans to show Straw and Annan ending presser and walking away
STORYLINE:
The United Nations does not have the capacity to take on the responsibility for security in Iraq, Secretary General Kofi Annan said on Wednesday.
Annan was speaking in London after holding talks with British Prime Minister Tony Blair, and Foreign Secretary Jack Straw.
The Secretary General said that even if the UN took on an "additional role" in Iraq, he thought security should be "left to a multinational force, or the coalition".
Annan said that according to Security Council resolution 1483, it is the responsibility of the occupying power to create a secure environment.
Also speaking at the joint press conference, Straw said that both he and Blair had told Annan that they wanted the UN to play a "vital role" in the political process and the reconstruction of Iraq.
The foreign secretary also thanked Annan for his public expression of condolences over the deaths on Tuesday of six British military policemen in southern Iraq.
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