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:

Good afternoon.  I’ll be joined shortlyby Carolyn McAskie, United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator ad interim.  She will be here to talk to you about her recent visit to Mongolia.

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.   

**Secretary-General in Japan

The Secretary-General began his programme in Japan today with a meeting with Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko.

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

The following is a near-verbatim transcript of today’s press briefing by the Spokesman for the Secretary-General:

Okay, settle down and be comfortable, because we’ve got a lot of stuff. Let’s start by catching up with our Secretary-General.

** Secretary-General in China

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:

** Security Council

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:

** SG in Yaounde

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.

Thanks for waiting.

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:

Good afternoon.  We’ll start, again today with reaction to the earthquake in El Salvador.

** Earthquake in El Salvador

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:

It’s nice to see my predecessor, Joe Sills, sitting in the back of the room.  A visiting guest today.

** Earthquake in El Salvador

We’ll start with the earthquake in El Salvador.

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:

Good Afternoon.  You should get comfortable.  Today we have a lot of stuff.  [Inaudible comment]  I didn't say a lot of interest.  I just said a lot stuff. 

**Kosovo

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

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

Good afternoon.

**Depleted Uranium