Annan urges patience with Security Council talks on Iraq resolution

Speaking ahead of Security Council consultations today on Iraq, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan stressed the need for patience with the negotiations over a new resolution for UN weapons inspectors to return to the country, and said he believed the Council would ultimately agree on a new text.

"I do expect a Council resolution and I do expect it to be unanimous," the Secretary-General told reporters upon entering UN Headquarters in New York. "There are discussions going on and I hope in the end, it will be fruitful and that the inspectors will go back to Iraq with the support of the united Council behind it."

The Secretary-General reminded journalists that the draft of a resolution submitted by the United States had only gone to the full Council this week and that prior discussions had been limited to the body's five permanent members - the US, China, France, Russian Federation and the United Kingdom.

"I think there's going to be quite a lot of discussion among the [Council] members and it's appropriate, because we're dealing with a very serious matter," Mr. Annan said. "It's democracy in practice, it takes a bit of time."

"But with patience, we'll get an optimal decision," he added.