The Iraq oil-for-food programme was inadequate on three counts, Hans von Sponeck, outgoing Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq, told journalists at a press briefing this afternoon at United Nations Headquarters.
A new book entitled Women at the Peace Table: Making a Difference was released at Headquarters today by the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM).
A petition from victims of landmines in 17 countries -- calling for the United States to sign the anti-landmine Convention -- will be delivered to United States embassies today, correspondents were told at a press conference held at Headquarters this morning.
The following is a near-verbatim transcript of todays noon briefing by Fred Eckhard, Spokesman for the Secretary-General, and Shirley Brownell, Spokeswoman for the President of the General Assembly.
**Mozambique
The following is a near-verbatim transcript of todays noon briefing by Fred Eckhard, Spokesman for the Secretary-General:
**Mozambique
The following is a near-verbatim transcript of today's noon briefing by Fred Eckhard, Spokesman for the Secretary-General:
Good afternoon. Our guest at the briefing today will be Dennis McNamara who is the Deputy Special Representative for Humanitarian Affairs in Kosovo.
**Security Council Consultations
Mitrovica was only the most visible tip of a Kosovo-wide problem of attacks on minorities, including harassment, intimidation and persecution, the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs in Kosovo, Dennis McNamara, told correspondents at a Headquarters press briefing this afternoon.
"I am still an optimist", Dr. Bernard Kouchner, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Kosovo, and the Head of the United Nations Mission in the province (UNMIK), told correspondents at a Headquarters press briefing this afternoon, as he was asked whether he was still as big an optimist as he had been just over six months ago.
At a Headquarters press conference this morning, held to launch the Inter-Parliamentary Union survey entitled Politics: Women's Insight, United Nations Special Adviser on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women, Angela King, told correspondents that the survey left no doubt that the world of politics was still broadly unwelcoming to women.
Lakhdar Brahimi of Algeria, newly-appointed Chairman of the Panel established by Secretary-General Kofi Annan to conduct a major study on United Nations peace operations, told correspondents at a Headquarters press briefing today that when such operations were being ventured, staying power, political will and resources must be ensured until their completion.
