UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 13 (UPI) -- The United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan addressed reporters on a host of topics, including Iraq and U.N. reform.
In the news conference, the secretary-general called for U.N. Security Council reform and reported on his recent trip to the Middle East.
On the topic of reforms at the United Nations, Annan said there could be no meaningful reform unless the structure of the Security Council -- which includes five veto-wielding permanent members -- is changed.
"It is an undercurrent to quite a lot of the tensions and the difficulties we have here in the organization, where many member states feel the organization has too narrow a power base," Annan said.
According to Annan, reform of the Security Council will help make the United Nations more democratic. In turn, Annan said, this would increase the organization's legitimacy.
In addition, Annan commented on his recent trip to the Middle East, particularly on the views expressed by the region's leaders about the American presence in Iraq.
According to Annan, some leaders believed the Iraq invasion and its aftermath had been "a real disaster" for the Middle East.
"They believe it has de-stabilized the region," he added.
In addition, he said, "The U.S. has found itself in a position where it cannot stay and it cannot leave."
When asked what advice he would give his successor, Annan stressed the importance of working with member states.
"The secretary-general can do nothing if the member states are not willing to help," he said.
Annan pointed to the Lebanon-Israel conflict as an example of how member states and the secretary-general can work together successfully.
