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

Following is a near-verbatim transcript of today’s noon briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Associate Spokesman for the Secretary-General.

Thank you.  Good afternoon.

**Statement Attributable to Spokesman for the Secretary-General

  on New UNRWA Commissioner-General

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

Following is a near-verbatim transcript of today’s noon briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Associate Spokesman for the Secretary-General.

Good afternoon.  Just after we’re done with this briefing the Secretary-General will come down and introduce to you his new High Commissioner for Refugees, Mr. António Guterres, and then Mr. Guterres will remain here and take your questions.

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

Following is a near-verbatim transcript of today’s noon briefing by Marie Okabe, Associate Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

Good afternoon.  I’m sorry I’m a little late.

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

Following is a near-verbatim transcript of today’s noon briefing by Marie Okabe, Associate Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.  Ms. Okabe was joined by Djibril Diallo, Spokesman for the President of the General Assembly, for the question-and-answer period.

Good afternoon.

**Secretary-General - Quartet

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

Following is a near-verbatim transcript of today’s noon briefing by Marie Okabe, Associate Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

Good afternoon.

**Secretary-General/Iraq Conference

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

Following is a near-verbatim transcript of today’s noon briefing by Marie Okabe, Associate Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

Good afternoon.

I will start with a couple of statements, the first on Lebanon.

**Statement Attributable to the Spokesman on Lebanon

Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesman for the Secretary-General

Following is a near-verbatim transcript of an announcement by Mark Malloch Brown, Chef de Cabinet of United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan and Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and today’s noon briefing by Stephane Dujarric, Associate Spokesman for the Secretary-General.

Announcement by Mark Malloch Brown

Good morning.

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

Following is a near-verbatim transcript of today’s noon briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Associate Spokesman for the Secretary-General.

Good afternoon.

**Security Council – Middle East

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

Following is a near-verbatim transcript of today’s noon briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Associate Spokesman for the Secretary-General.

Good afternoon.

I have two statements to start off with, the first one on Lebanon.

**Statement attributable to the Spokesman on the UN International Independent Investigation Commission (UNIIIC)

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

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

Good afternoon.

**Statement Attributable to the Spokesman on United States Institute for Peace Task Force Report

We’re going to start with a statement regarding the release today in Washington of the Mitchell/Gingrich report: