Ambassador Khalilzad: Good afternoon, I would like to make three quick points.  One, that we very much appreciate the work that has been done on the security sector reform and will be supportive of the PRST that’s being drafted and in support of the report of the Secretary-General. 

Second, on Lebanon, we are deeply concerned about the use of force by Hezbollah against the Lebanese.  We have warned for some time that Hezbollah—which is backed by Syria and Iran—is rearming and we have seen the manifestation of that and we continue to see it in terms of the unlawful use of force against Lebanese institutions and population.  We expect the Security Council to address this issue, perhaps as soon as tomorrow.

With regard to Burma, we have seen a positive step today in the visit of the commander of our Pacific command as well as the director of USAID and other U.S. officials and the supply of one C-130 load of humanitarian assistance.  This will be followed by two more C-130s tomorrow. 

We have announced an additional $13 million of assistance through world food organizations of humanitarian help.  That brings our total so far to over $16 million and we’re prepared to do more.  We believe while what has happened today is a positive step, it’s not sufficient.  More needs to be done given the magnitude of the crisis and you’ve heard me speak from here on this issue for many days.  Not only, there is need for a lot more commodities, but also there’s a need for people with expertise that can assist with the situation as well as logistical support.  We have helicopters that are being unloaded in Thailand who can assist in reaching to areas that are difficult otherwise to reach.

So, while this is—what happened today—is a positive step, we believe a lot more can be done by the government to allow and facilitate the arrival and distribution of needed assistance in order to save lives.  This is about the lives of people who are at risk, who could be saved, that might not be saved if more assistance is not allowed in a timely manner to reach the people of Burma.

Thank you very much.

Reporter: Can we start with Burma? He talked about Burma last.  Was it raised by the French, Burma, behind closed doors, the question of a resolution compelling the Council to make the Burmese to accept aid? And would America support that?

Ambassador Khalilzad:  The French have not raised that.

Reporter: On Lebanon, please, can you explain to us what are the steps that you plan or you’re going to ask the Security Council to take in the discussions tomorrow?

Ambassador Khalilzad:  Well, we will see, there has been a good Arab League meeting, we regard that effort to be positive and support it.  There will be this afternoon and maybe taking place as we speak a discussion among friends of Lebanon.  We will see what happens in those consultations.  And based on those consultations, we’ll decide in the course of the next few hours as to what we should push for specifically in the Security Council.  We believe there should be action in the Security Council on this issue but as to the exact elements, we’re still in the process of consultations with friends and allies.

Reporter: There’s U.S. military assets just in front of the Lebanese shore.  Do you think that there, beyond Security Council action there should be any intervention from outside?  Military intervention?

Ambassador Khalilzad: I don’t get into military contingencies, military operations.  My domain is the U.N. Security Council, the United Nations, and we will certainly take action.  As I said, as early as tomorrow, we’ll push for action in the Security Council.

Thank You.

Reporter: Would the U.S. interrupt any idea of having a resolution or action on Myanmar here, one week later, thousands are dead.

Ambassador Khalilzad:  We said this is positive what happened today, more needs to be done and…

Reporter: Diplomatically here, what can the Council do in your view (inaudible)?

Ambassador Khalilzad:  There is an issue of discussion in the Council possibly at some time down the road, but we don’t have an exact timeline. 

Reporter: Down the road, I mean?

Ambassador Khalilzad:  We think what happened today was positive, though.  A step in the right direction.