PRESS BRIEFING ON ACCESS OF POOR COUNTRIES TO HIV/AIDS TREATMENTS

The leading international research-based pharmaceutical companies support strengthening the ability of the poorest countries to access health care prevention strategies and treatment, according to a statement distributed by the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers at a Headquarters press briefing this afternoon related to the General Assembly’s special session on HIV/AIDS.

PRESS CONFERENCE BY PRESIDENT OF NIGERIA

Nigeria would contribute up to $10 million to the Global AIDS and Health Fund proposed by Secretary-General Kofi Annan, President Olusegun Obasanjo of that country said at a Headquarters press conference this afternoon.

PRESS BRIEFING BY PRIME MINISTER OF SAINT KITTS AND NEVIS

HEADQUARTERS PRESS BRIEFING SPONSORED BY UNAIDS POLICY CHIEF

Everyone recognized the magnitude of the HIV/AIDS problem; it was also important to recognize some of the very solid foundations that had been laid on which to build a much greater future response, the Policy Chief of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) told correspondents this afternoon at a Headquarters press briefing.

PRESS BRIEFING ON HIV/AIDS DECLARATION

The fact that Member States had sat down and discussed the issue of HIV/AIDS in its entirety for the very first time, and had been able to reach agreement on a very substantial text, was an extraordinary step forward, Penny Wensley (Australia), co-facilitator of negotiations on the draft declaration of the special session of the General Assembly on HIV/AIDS, told correspondents this morning at a Headquarters press briefing.

UPDATE ON AIDS EPIDEMIC BY UNAIDS

PRESS BRIEFING BY UNITED NATIONS FORUM ON FORESTS

During its first two-week session, the new international body on forests -- the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF) -- had had an opportunity to define its scope of work, initiate a framework for a plan of action, design new approaches to international cooperation, and expand coordination through the newly formed collaborative partnerships on forests (CPF), correspondents were told at a Headquarters press briefing this morning.

PRESS CONFERENCE BY SECRETARY-GENERAL'S SPECIAL ENVOY ON AIDS IN AFRICA

HEADQUARTERS PRESS CONFERENCE BY INFORMATION MINISTER OF SIERRA LEONE

Under a new philosophical premise, Sierra Leone's Government would treat information as a basic human need, placing it on the same level as food and shelter, Information and Broadcasting Minister Cecil Blake said at a Headquarters press conference this morning.

MEDIA BRIEFING ON SECURITY ARRANGEMENTS FOR AIDS SPECIAL SESSION

Briefing the media on security arrangements during the General Assembly special session on HIV/AIDS, today's guest at the noon briefing, Chief of Security and Safety Service of the United Nations, Michael McCann, said that the Organization would be "open for business" as usual until Monday, when some restrictions would come into force.  On Saturday and Sunday, the complex would be open to the public.