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SG: Thank you very much, Minister. I am extremely happy to be back in Bangkok again, even though it's very brief. As you know, it's one of our main headquarters, and I'm happy to see Mr. Kim here also with us.

We've had the chance this afternoon to discuss our activities and operations in Afghanistan, and I'm happy that Mr. Brahimi is also here with me.

We discussed the kinds of cooperation and support that Thailand can give to our activities in Afghanistan. And of course there are many areas where we are going to need help.

The Minister has referred to engineering, agriculture, capacity-building and other activities that Mr. Brahimi and his team are engaged in. The Prime Minister himself, when we met him before, repeated the willingness of Thailand to work with us.

Thailand has also given us very effective support in East Timor, where your troops, your peacekeepers, have done a remarkable job. And you have also been able to help the people of East Timor strengthen their agriculture and other activities. And I hope we can count on you doing the same in Afghanistan.

As Mr. Brahimi indicated, he will take you up on this, and I hope in the not too distant future. A team will probably come and explore what could be done together.

But I was very pleased with the results of the pledging conference in Tokyo. It was very well attended and the results were good. But of course we are at the very early stages in the process, and it's going to be a long, drawn out process. And we are going to need the international community to stay engaged. And we would hope to see the pledges made transformed into cash as quickly as possible, particularly the resources that we need for this year.

I don't know if, Lakhdar, you want to say a word. Okay, good. We'll take your questions.

Q: Mr. Annan, are you worried that the incident in Calcutta yesterday could lead to an escalation of tensions between India and Pakistan?

SG: It is worrying, but I hope it doesn't escalate matters further. I think the two countries can only solve their problems through political and diplomatic means. And I believe that the measures that President Musharraf has announced and has taken is a step in the right direction and as he continues his efforts to take decisive action, we should see a decline in tensions in the region. And I hope this incident will not escalate it further.

Q: Given the fact that India and Pakistan, on refusing any mediation from the outside (inaudible), what can the UN bring to the situation?

SG: As Secretary-General, my good offices are always available. But for one to be able to play a mediating role, both parties will have to accept that role, which is definitely not the case at the moment. And so I think what we need to do is to encourage the two parties to resolve their differences through dialogue, including the question of Kashmir. And I hope that once the current tensions have been reduced, we will not stop there and consider that satisfactory but move on with the search for a longer term solution, even try to (inaudible).

Q: (The journalist said that there had been news today that Southeast Asia had become a centre for terrorist operations and asked what the Secretary-General thought of that.)

SG: I haven't seen the report, and I have no direct intelligence that would seem to confirm that. But of course as an organization, the UN is very much engaged in this fight against terrorism through the work of the (Security) Council and the work of the General Assembly. And as we speak, the Member States are discussing a comprehensive convention against terrorism, which I hope they would approve in the next month or so.

Q: (The journalist asked about the specifics of Thailand's contribution to the UN's efforts in Afghanistan.)

SG: I think discussions are going on and no dates have been set yet. But we are going to need lots of help and I'm sure we'll have enough time to work out the details with the Prime Minister and the government. But the offer of help is welcome and is encouraging and we will take them up on it.

Q: Is there a role for the United Nations in ensuring that the prisoners that were captured in Afghanistan receive humanitarian treatment at American facilities in Cuba?

SG: Our position is very clear, that the prisoners must be treated humanely and in accordance with internationally accepted norms. And we expect that to be done. I don't think I can say any more than that, but our position is very clear. Thank you.