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

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

**Middle East

Good Afternoon.

As you know, we issued a statement last night following President Bush’s speech on the Middle East.  The statement reads, as follows:

“The Secretary-General welcomes President Bush’s reaffirmation that the outcome of the Middle East peace process should be the establishment of a viable and credible State of Palestine, based on Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973), and security for Israel.

“He urges Israelis and Palestinians to muster the courage and political will to make it possible within three years to replace the Israeli occupation of 1967 by a negotiated settlement with two States living side by side in peace and security.  The Secretary-General continues to believe that there is no military solution to the conflict.  With the situation on the ground eroding by the day, he reiterates the urgent need for the international community to work swiftly with the parties to restart a political process that will lead to the realization of such an outcome.

“The Secretary-General looks forward to continuing consultations with the United Nations’ partners in the Quartet, namely the European Union, Russian Federation and United States, and with the parties and key regional actors to determine the next steps towards achieving this.”

Then this morning, the Secretary-General answered some of your questions   as he was coming into the Building.  In response to a query on the Palestinian elections, he said:  “The time for the elections is not optimal.  You could find yourself in a situation that the radicals are the ones who get elected.”

As to who should lead the Palestinian people he said:  “It is up to the Palestinians to make that decision.  They elected Chairman Arafat.  They are planning new elections and let them elect their own leaders.”

Following more questions, he went on to say that certain aspects of President Bush’s statement need to be thought through and clarified.  He added that he expected a meeting of the Middle East Quartet to be held soon at the  envoy level.

**G-8 Summit

The Secretary-General’s appearance before the press highlighted his attendance, starting tomorrow, at the Group of Eight Summit meeting in Kananaskis, Canada, at which the New Partnership for Africa’s Development -– or NEPAD -– is to be discussed by G-8 and African leaders.

He said of that initiative, “I would hope that this partnership will lead to a changed economic environment on the continent.”  He said the initiative –- under which African leaders would improve the social and economic conditions on their continent, while developed nations work to provide debt relief and increased investment -– has “great potential if partners work in the spirit they have been discussing”.

At the same time, the Secretary-General underscored the need for G-8 leaders to back efforts to resolve the conflicts in Africa, calling conflict resolution a prerequisite for African economic development.  He warned, “No one invests in a bad neighbourhood, and the conflicts really create the impression that Africa is a continent in crisis.”  He added, “One should not have unrealistic expectations” about what can be achieved, however.  The Secretary-General will depart for Canada tomorrow morning, and the Summit is to take place on Wednesday and Thursday.

**UNAIDS

On the eve of the G-8 summit, the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) released data today about the unprecedented devastation AIDS is causing in African societies and economies.  Over 28 million Africans are living with HIV today, and in some countries over 30 per cent of the adult population is infected.

HIV/AIDS is rapidly weakening economic stability in the already fragile markets of sub-Saharan Africa.  Already, the rate of economic growth in sub-Saharan Africa has fallen by as much as 4 per cent because of AIDS.  Labour productivity has been cut by up to 50 per cent in the hardest-hit countries.  In Zambia, for example, nearly two thirds of deaths among the managerial sector can be attributed to AIDS.  By 2020, over 25 per cent of the workforce may be lost to AIDS in some severely affected countries.

Dr. Peter Piot, Executive Director of UNAIDS, says, “The facts about AIDS in Africa are harsh, but there is hope.”  He said, “Some nations have successfully turned back the epidemic with well-funded, government-sponsored national AIDS programmes.  These efforts must be expanded to reach every person in sub-Saharan Africa.  Investment in AIDS will be repaid a thousandfold in lives saved, communities held together, and economies preserved.”

**Tanzania

We have the following statement attributable to a spokesman on the train accident in the United Republic of Tanzania. 

“The Secretary-General is deeply saddened by the news of the tragic passenger train accident in Tanzania on 24 June that took the lives of over

200 people.  This terribly tragedy, which caused the loss of so many lives, has profoundly touched all of us at the United Nations.

“The Secretary-General expresses his heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of the victims and to the people and Government of Tanzania.  He wishes the people of Tanzania the strength to bear and overcome the heavy burden that the tragedy has placed on the country as a whole.”

**Security Council

For the Security Council, they have no scheduled meetings or consultations today.  Two working groups, however, are meeting.  The informal working group concerning the Council’s documentation and other procedural questions is meeting this morning.  And in the afternoon, the Ad hoc Working Group on Conflict Prevention and Resolution in Africa is scheduled to meet.

**Organization of the Islamic Conference

In a message to the 29th session of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) of Foreign Ministers, the Secretary-General said he was deeply disturbed by the continuing spiral of violence in the Middle East which victimizes a growing number of civilians.  “At this difficult juncture”, he said in a message delivered by Assistant Secretary-General Ibrahima Fall, “the international community -- including the OIC -- must not be discouraged.”  In his message, the Secretary-General outlined a number of areas of concern to both the United Nations and the OIC, including Iraq, Afghanistan and the situation in Kashmir.  We have the full text upstairs.

**International Atomic Energy Agency

In an interesting press release today, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) warns that the radioactive materials needed to build a so called "dirty bomb" can be found in almost any country in the world, and more than

100 countries may have inadequate control and monitoring programmes necessary to prevent or even detect the theft of these materials.

"What is needed is cradle-to-grave control of powerful radioactive sources to protect them against terrorism or theft", says IAEA Director General Mohamed  El Baradei.

Mr. El Baradei points out that while a number of countries are urgently stepping up security measures, many countries lack the resources or the national structures to do so.  The IAEA, in its first concerted international effort, has recently started working in collaboration with the United States and the Russian Federation to locate and recycle radioactive material throughout the former Soviet Union.

**Liberia

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) says it remains concerned about the condition and whereabouts of thousands of Sierra Leone refugees, as well as displaced Liberians, dispersed in a rebel attack on a refugee camp in Liberia last Thursday.  Hundreds of Sierra Leoneans and Liberians have made their way to Monrovia, and more than 4,000 have turned up in Sierra Leone.

But thousands remain in the highly volatile area where the attack took place.  The UNHCR repeated its appeal for the release of five nurses abducted during the attack.  Those arriving in Monrovia are being transferred to one of the existing refugee camps in the capital.  UNHCR field workers said those arriving had swollen feet and bruises after walking in the forest for days.

**Drug Abuse

Tomorrow is the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, and the Secretary-General’s message to mark that day -– which is already out as a press release -– notes that, in many countries in Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe, intravenous drug use is the main mode of transmitting AIDS.  It is estimated that between 5 and 10 per cent of global HIV infections result from intravenous drug use, he says, and he adds that this year’s Day against Drug Abuse should be marked by efforts to establish policies to address such drug use as a factor in spreading AIDS.

**Afghanistan Drugs

Afghanistan already marked the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Drug Trafficking.  The Office of Drug Control and Crime Prevention (ODCCP) Representative for Afghanistan, Bernard Frahi, highlighted the seriousness of the drug problem in Afghanistan today.

At a press conference in Kabul, Frahi said that Afghanistan had become the source of approximately 70 per cent of global illicit opium production, and it was a source of approximately 70 to 90 per cent of the heroin found in European markets.  He said that the Afghan Administration had taken the steps to eradicate poppy production in key provinces.  When asked how effective the measures were, he said:  “It has been a remarkable step at the initial stage to impose a rule of law.  Though the measure was unpopular, it has proved to be an important step to demonstrate to the population that there is a decree and that they have to comply with it.” 

He also announced that the ODCCP would release a report tomorrow in Vienna on the global illicit drug trends of this year. 

**Iraq

Figures released by the Office of the Iraq Programme in its weekly update show that Iraqi oil exports more than doubled since the last week to 7.7 million barrels.  In the week ending 21 June, the exports have netted an estimated

$175 million in revenue.  So far, some $491 million has been taken in since

phase XII of the programme began 30 May.  Almost all the sectors of the programme continue to be affected by shortfall in funds to some degree.

**Refugee News

The UNHCR today reported that the number of Eritreans repatriating from the Sudan has passed the 50,000 mark.  The refugee agency also reports that severe floods across southern Russia and the North Caucasus over the weekend have caused numerous casualties and serious damage, including to some settlements of displaced people from Chechnya in Ingushetia.  We have more on that in the briefing notes.

**New Chernobyl Web Site

In a message at the ceremony in Geneva to launch a new Web site on Chernobyl, the Secretary-General said we must never forget the human dimension of the Chernobyl problem. He said a steady flow of reliable and impartial information was necessary to mobilize international support for the people still living in the

shadow of the tragedy.  “Despite the passage of 16 years”, he said, “much still remains to be done to alleviate the human suffering that resulted from it.”

**Press Conference

Finally, press conference tomorrow, at 11:15 a.m. in this room, Ian Kinniburgh, Director of Development Policy Analysis Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs, will present the report "The World Economy in 2002", a report by United Nations economists on the global economy and its current trends.  11:15, here, tomorrow. 

That is all I have for you.  Any questions?  You are making it easy on me. 

**Questions and Answers:

Question:  What about the appointment of the Secretary-General with the Ambassador of Libya?

Spokesman:  I don't have his appointments in front of me, I am sorry.  What was the question?  The Secretary-General's meeting with the representative of Libya?  We will try to get a read-out for you. 

Thank you very much.

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