PRESS CONFERENCE ON INDIGENOUS FORUM

The Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues had enabled people who had been left out in the cold and dark to come into a warm well-lighted house to discuss things that mattered to them, and not be afraid, the Chairman of the new Indigenous Forum told correspondents today at a Headquarters press conference, on the final day of the first session.

HEADQUARTERS PRESS CONFERENCE BY PARLIAMENTARIANS FOR GLOBAL ACTION

Enhancing parliamentary support for peace operations was the focus of three recent regional seminars of the Parliamentarians for Global Action (PGA), according to members of that organization who briefed correspondents this afternoon at a Headquarters press conference.

HEADQUARTERS PRESS BRIEFING BY FORUM ON INDIGENOUS ISSUES

The opening of dialogue between indigenous peoples, and between those peoples and governments, was among the most important accomplishment thus far of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, members of that body from the Russian Federation told correspondents at a Headquarters briefing this morning.

HEADQUARTERS PRESS BRIEFING BY SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE

FOR CHILDREN AND ARMED CONFLICT

The most immediate and urgent action required in Angola today is responding to a grave humanitarian crisis,Olara Otunnu, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, told correspondents today at a Headquarters press briefing.

HEADQUARTERS PRESS BRIEFING BY SPECIAL ADVISER ON AFRICA

While the prospect of a return to war was almost zero, the humanitarian situation in Angola was serious and potentially destabilizing, Ibrahim Gambari, Special Adviser on Africa, told correspondents this afternoon at a Headquarters press briefing.

PRESS CONFERENCE BY ETHIOPIA

A well-coordinated attempt was being made to "internationalize" the conflict in Somalia, Abdul Mejid Hussein, Permanent Representative of Ethiopia to the United Nations, said at a Headquarters press conference this afternoon.

PRESS CONFERENCE ON PERMANENT FORUM ON INDIGENOUS ISSUES

The mandate of the new Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues was among the broadest of all the bodies in the United Nations system, Mililani Trask of the United States, Forum member, told correspondents this morning at a Headquarters press conference. 

Economic and social development, culture, health and the aggregation and dissemination of information were among the many issues being considered, said

HEADQUARTERS PRESS CONFERENCE BY PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF SOMALIA

At a Headquarters press briefing this morning, Abdi Hashi, Permanent Representative of Somalia to the United Nations,condemned Ethiopia’s aggression against his country and called on the international community to ensure that country’s compliance with relevant Security Council resolutions.

PRESS CONFERENCE BY SPECIAL ENVOY FOR MYANMAR

The Myanmar Government's lifting of restrictions on movement of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was not an end in itself, but part of a reconciliation process, the Secretary-General's Special Envoy for that country, Razali Ismail, told correspondents this afternoon at a Headquarters press conference.

PRESS BRIEFING ON SIERRA LEONE ELECTIONS

The fact that there was no significant incident during the presidential and parliamentary elections held in Sierra Leone yesterday was a major testament to the political will of the Sierra Leonean people to move towards peace and build the foundations of peace, Jean-Marie Guéhenno, Under Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, told correspondents at a Headquarters briefing today.