BBC: Another big challenge for you: the situation in Darfur. Many say that Darfur has proven that the United Nations cannot stop genocide.

Kofi Annan: Who and what is the United Nations? The United Nations are the member states.

BBC: The Security Council.

Kofi Annan: Your government and mine.

BBC: It's been going on for three years, more than 200,000 people have died, two to three million have been displaced.

Kofi Annan: I'm not disputing the gravity of the situation. We've been pushing very hard to get peacekeepers in.

BBC: One of the big successes of UN reform was this Responsibility to Protect. But you're not protecting - it's been three years.

Kofi Annan: I myself have made that point, that member states made a solemn pledge to protect. Sudan has made it quite clear to the whole world that it will not accept UN peacekeepers. The resolution says we should deploy the troops with the cooperation and consent of the Sudanese. If the Sudanese do not give their consent, no government, not yours or mine, is going to give troops for a peacekeeping operation in Darfur.

BBC: So, people said after Rwanda, after Srebrenica, "never again". But it's happening again.

Kofi Annan: It is deeply, deeply disappointing and it's tragic but we do not have the resources or the will to confront the situation - as in, If you did it, would you make the situation worse, or would it be better? I mean, I have gone out and indicated to the Sudanese that if they cannot protect their people, and they are refusing to let the international community come in and assist, they will be held individually and collectively responsible for what is happening and what happens.

BBC: We're told that you're going to make this one of your priorities to the day that you leave, on 31 December.

Kofi Annan: You mean Darfur? I've told you, it's very tragic and painful, not only [to me] as secretary general but as a human being and as an African, and I hope all of us feel that way. I'm going to work on it - Darfur and one or two other issues which I'm working on - up until the last day.