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Good morning, Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am very pleased to stand together with Prime Minister Gordon Brown, with whom I have been working very closely on all the challenges and issues of world affairs and I really appreciate and commend highly the leadership of Prime Minister Gordon Brown. We have discussed many issues, particularly Climate Change. I really appreciate your leadership again on Climate Change.

This morning's discussion with the Prime Minister was focussed much more on Afghanistan, which continues to be among the issues topping the world agenda, our discussion with Prime Minister Brown was very focused and productive.

We talked about some immediate next steps with regard to the post-electoral environment in Afghanistan following the inauguration of President Karzai for a second term in office.

The UN looks forward to working with President Karzai and his Government to achieve his stated commitments in a timely and concrete manner.

I also informed the Prime Minister about my most recent telephone conversation with President Karzai before I arrived here in which President Karzai expressed his agreement with the London conference proposed by Prime Minister Brown and to be followed shortly by another international event in Kabul.

At this point, I wish to make a formal statement regarding this international conference on Afghanistan.

The proposal to host an international conference on Afghanistan on 28 January 2010 in London is a very timely initiative to allow for the holding of a high level dialogue on the post-electoral agenda in Afghanistan as outlined by President Karzai in his inaugural speech on 19 November 2009.

In this regard I appreciate Prime Minister Gordon Brown's initiative. I also appreciate President Sarkozy of France and Chancellor Merkel of Germany for their joint initiative. President Karzai's agenda also had a detailed work programme for the new Afghan Government. The London Conference as well as a further high level Conference to be convened in Kabul, Afghanistan, within a few months thereafter, would outline the framework for an increased lead role for the Afghans in the shaping of their destiny.

These conferences would thus constitute defining moments in the reconfiguration of the relationship between Afghanistan and the international community.

I would like to reiterate my strong support for this high level dialogue and underline the readiness of the United Nations to contribute to the success of these conferences.

Thank you very much.

Q: Would you like to see elements of the Taleban represented at this conference in London?

SG: I would support what Prime Minister Gordon Brown has just said on the basic objectives of this conference. This conference will have two overarching objectives. First, to have a strong compact by President Karzai and his government together with his people and secondly establishing a strong partnership between the Afghan people and international community as a whole.

We will have very important agenda items like stability of their country with a leading role, focusing more on Afghanistan's leading role with the international community supporting. And also the United Nations will coordinate with international community to provide the necessary socio-economic development pillars.

And we expect President Karzai will reach out to ethnic groups and other political leaders to promote national reconciliation and unity of the government. We also expect that we will try to help the Afghan government so they can build institutional capacity.

We also expect that President Karzai will ensure good governance including eradication of corrupt practices of their country and it would extremely important through the international community that Afghans can improve and strengthen partnerships with neighbouring countries like Pakistan, India, Iran and Turkey. We will try and help facilitate their efforts.

Q: Are you going to be able at the January Conference to give any indication of when Afghanistan might be returning to some form, some semblance of normality where it will not require international troops in such huge numbers and is there a date where you hope Afghan forces ...[inaudible ]

SG: Afghanistan is going through a critically important period at this time. First of all they need to have political and security stabilisation and they need the international community's support. In that regard, I am very much grateful and appreciate the very noble sacrifices and contribution by many countries, including the United Kingdom and the United States and other members of ISAF. Then, second, this peace and stability in Afghanistan has very important implications, not only for stability in Afghanistan but regional peace and security. And that is why international community members are making very noble contributions there.

A second one is fighting against terrorism. This is again a global issue, which requires collective support from the international community. We really need, at this time, to support Afghanistan people. I do not have any idea when should be the appropriate timing for the international community to think of reducing their contributions, but basically, in principle, all these challenges can be done, with Afghans taking the leading role, with the international community supporting, that's the basic principle. At the same time, while we support this increase in military support, the civilian surge should also be going in parallel. That's why the United Nations will continue to help Afghanistan people in close coordination with international community. We have been establishing our offices, expanding our presence all throughout Afghanistan. This year we opened two more offices and we are considering opening three more offices. By next year we will have the United Nations provincial and sub-provincial offices all throughout Afghanistan.

Q: Given the circumstances in which President Karzai was elected and the corruption that has tainted his administration do you think that ....[inaudible]

SG: The people of Afghanistan have chosen President Karzai as their leader. It would in the interest, not only of Afghanistan but also, of the international community that we support President Karzai so that he can exercise his leadership and he can lead this country to a desired direction. That means peace and stability, socio-economic development and also good governance. I have told President Karzai on many occasions that while the international community and the United Nations will stand behind his leadership, it would be important and key to earning the trust and confidence from international community would be for him to establish and ensure good governance and also strengthen the institution-building of their own country. And the United Nations and international community will continue to support it.

Thank you very much.