DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

The following is a near-verbatim transcript of the noon briefing by Fred Eckhard, Spokesman for the Secretary-General.

Good afternoon.

**The Secretary-General in Nigeria

This morning in Abuja, Nigeria, the Secretary-General told African leaders that the AIDS crisis in Africa was a continent-wide emergency, and that he considered the battle against AIDS as his personal priority.

In his speech, delivered in the opening session of the African summit on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Other Infectious Diseases, he outlined five objectives of the fight against AIDS:  prevention, mother-to-child transmission, care and treatment, scientific breakthroughs and protection of those left vulnerable by the epidemic, including orphans.

He told the delegates, "The war on AIDS will not be won without a war chest, of a size far beyond what is available so far."  At a minimum, he said, nations need to spend an additional $7 to $10 billion annually in the worldwide struggle against AIDS.  That amount, he said, is a little more than one per cent of the world's annual military spending.

The Secretary-General also called, to enthusiastic applause, for a social revolution that would give more power to women, which would allow them to protect themselves and their children against HIV.

Before giving his speech, the Secretary-General met this morning, at about 7:30, with Namibian President Sam Nujoma for a review of the peace process in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).  The President pledged his support for the Secretary-General's efforts in the DRC.

Then, after the speech, the Secretary-General met with the press, and we are still waiting for a transcript of that Q & A exchange.  We hope to have it shortly.

This afternoon was spent mostly in bilateral meetings.  He saw President Eyadema of Togo, who is also the Chairman of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), for a discussion of West African issues.  In particular, the Secretary-General thanked the President for facilitating dialogue in the Ivory Coast.

He's also scheduled to meet today with Ivory Coast President Laurent Gbagbo and with former United States President Bill Clinton.

**Secretary-General to Philadelphia

As the second part of a one-two punch on HIV/AIDS, following his speech in Abuja this morning, the Secretary-General will travel to Philadelphia on Monday to address the Council on Foundations.

He will ask Council members to join a coalition of governments, non-governmental organizations and the private sector to launch a worldwide response to the HIV/AIDS crisis at the Special Session of the General Assembly in June.

The Council of Foundations has as members some 2,000 United States-based foundations, as well as corporate giving programs, which in 1999 issued a collective total of $16 billion in grants.

We'll try to arrange to have an embargoed copy of the Secretary-General’s speech, which is to be given at a luncheon programme.

**Appointments

On Saturday afternoon -- I can confirm press reports out of Lebanon -- that the Secretary-General will be meeting with Prime Minister Rafik Hariri of Lebanon. That will be 4 p.m. at the residence.

And then, also confirming press reports –- these out of Israel -- that the Secretary-General will be meeting with the Foreign Minister of Israel, Shimon Peres.  And that will be here at 5:30 p.m. at Headquarters, on Monday.

Lebanon is Saturday at the residence at 4 p.m.; Israel is Monday at Headquarters at 5:30 p.m.

**Security Council

This morning the Security Council is meeting in closed consultations to receive briefings on the Secretary-General’s latest reports on Afghanistan and on the United Nations Mission in Western Sahara.

The Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Hedi Annabi, will brief on the latest report on the United Nations Mission in Western Sahara.  A draft resolution was introduced that, if adopted, would extend the Mission’s mandate by two months until 30 June, and that is as recommended by the Secretary-General.

Discussions will then move on to Afghanistan.  The Council will first receive a briefing by Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Ibrahima Fall, on the latest developments in Afghanistan since the Secretary-General’s report was released last week.  Immediately following, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Kenzo Oshima, will brief the Council on the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan. 

**Fifteenth Anniversary of Chernobyl

Today marks the fifteenth anniversary of the world’s worst nuclear accident at the Chernobyl nuclear plant in Ukraine.  At United Nations Headquarters this morning, the anniversary was marked with the ringing of the Peace Bell.

Under-Secretary-General Oshima, who rang the bell, said, “This Peace Bell which we ring today is cast from coins donated by representatives of 60 countries and from individual contributions of various metals.  We hope very much that the symbolism of this kind of spirit of unity and cooperation will trigger the wide-ranging support that is urgently needed to help those that are still suffering from the consequences of Chernobyl.”

In the accident, 30 people were killed instantly and radioactive material spread across Europe, causing at least 6,000 subsequent deaths and health problems affecting millions in the Ukraine, Russia and Belarus.  The plant was shut down on 15 December 2000.

We have a press release on various events happening today in connection with the ceremony.

And on a related item, the United Nations Correspondents’ Association (UNCA) asked me to tell you that there will be a press conference in the UNCA lounge this afternoon, featuring two of the world’s pre-eminent experts on the aftermath of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster: Artur Korneev, the Deputy Director of the Chernobyl Shelter Project; and Dr. Serkhiy Komisarenke, the Director of the Palladin Biochemistry Institute in Kiev.  And that will be 2 p.m. today in the UNCA lounge.

**East Timor

From East Timor: the National Council today set up a 15-person Special Committee that will conduct public hearings with civil society and political parties about the proposed Commission on Reception, Truth and Reconciliation.  The regulation on the Truth Commission was itself endorsed in principle by the Security Council yesterday.

The Special Committee will report back to the National Council on 28 May.

We have more details upstairs if you are interested.

**Second Term for the Secretary-General

You might have seen comments by the Foreign Ministry of China today, in which the Government of China extends its support for the second term of the Secretary-General.  That message was conveyed to the Secretary-General by the permanent representative of China before the Secretary-General left for Abuja, and it is also contained in a letter from the Foreign Minister, dated 20 April.

**Press Releases

Today is the first observance of World Intellectual Property Day, which is intended to salute innovation and creativity.  We have a statement from the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), available upstairs, which says, "We owe the inventions, designs and works of art that ease our workload, improve our living conditions and enrich and beautify our surroundings, to a long line of men and women whose creativity and invention have led us from the inkwell to the Internet and from railways to rockets."

The World Health Organization (WHO) published today a monograph on depleted uranium -- this is a second press release now -- which recommends that young children's exposure to depleted uranium must be monitored and preventive measures taken, and that heavily affected impact zones for depleted uranium munitions should be cordoned off and cleaned up.

And then a third press release, also from WHO, adds that, although individuals concerned about their exposure to depleted uranium should see a medical practitioner, there is no need for a general screening of the population where such munitions were used.

We also have a fact-sheet from WHO on depleted uranium.

**Press Conferences

This afternoon, right after this briefing, at 12:30 the “Say Yes for Children” campaign will be launched by Urban Jonsson of United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and David Morrison of NetAid.  The global campaign will enable people around the world to sign a pledge expressing support for actions essential to improving the lives of children everywhere.

Tomorrow, the guest at our noon briefing will be Jacques Diouf, the Director-General of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).  He will be talking to you about the food situation in Africa, and the panel discussion he is co-hosting tomorrow morning on “Agriculture and Sustainable Food Security in Africa: Meeting Basic Needs”.

And finally, another press conference tomorrow:  the NGO Steering Committee for the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development will give a press conference in this room tomorrow at 11:00, to discuss the outcome of the negotiations in the Commission, particularly on transport, energy and nuclear technology issues.  As you know, the ninth session of the Commission will conclude tomorrow.

That’s all I have for you.

**Questions and Answers

Question:  Does anyone know why Hillary Clinton cancelled her speech today?

Spokesman:  No.  That question was brought to our attention yesterday, when the latest programme for today came out without her name on it.  An earlier programme, I think issued two days before, had her name on it.  I did not get an explanation from the Department of Public Information (DPI).  I can ask for you to see if they know.

Question:  Lebanese newspapers are talking about the withdrawal of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) from Lebanon if the Lebanese army is not sent to the South.  Do you have any comment on that?

Spokesman:  I would not, no.  I think that is really a question you should ask members of the Security Council.  I have not heard any discussions of that option.

Question:  Is Mr. Peres on his way to Washington for his United Nations visit, or is he coming from Washington?

Spokesman:  I don’t know about the Washington aspect of his programme or if there is one.

Question:  What is the timing of the Secretary-General’s Philadelphia speech, and will that speech mirror his remarks on AIDS from the Africa speech?

Spokesman:  The Abuja speech addresses Africans and calls for confronting the issue in a serious way, and estimates the amount of money he thinks should be pledged to deal with the AIDS crisis in Africa.  On Monday, he will be talking to some of the people who have the money.  As I mentioned, these foundations in

1999 gave away $16 billion, 2,000 United States based foundations and corporate giving programmes.  I described it as a one-two punch.

Question:  Do you know what the items are on the agenda of the meeting with Prime Minister Rafik Hariri on Saturday?

Spokesman:  No, I don’t.  I think rather than talk about an agenda, why don’t we see if we can’t get you a read-out.  Someone from my office will be at the residence and we’ll see if we can get you a read-out after the meeting.

Thank you very much.

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