PRESS CONFERENCE BY ESCAP

The economic performance of the Asia Pacific region strengthened further in 2000 following an impressive recovery after the 1997 Asian financial crisis, according to a United Nations economic survey launched at a Headquarters press conference this morning.

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

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

**Release of UN Staff Held in Somalia

Good afternoon.  At about 9:25 a.m. EST today (or 4:25 p.m. local time), a UN plane picked up the last two UN staff members detained in Somalia -- Bill Condie, 61, and Roger Carter, 41, both nationals of the United Kingdom.

PRESS CONFERENCE BY PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF PAKISTAN

Pakistan had not gone back on its commitments regarding humanitarian assistance to Afghan refugees, and criticisms about the situation should be directed at those who imposed sanctions against Afghanistan under Security Council resolution 1333 of December 2000, Shamshad Ahmad, Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations, said at a Headquarters press conference this afternoon.

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

This is a near-verbatim transcript of today’s noon briefing by Manoel de Almeida e Silva, Deputy Spokesman for the Secretary-General.

**Secretary-General/AIDS

PRESS BRIEFING BY POPULATION DIVISION

According to trends, by mid-century 90 per cent of the world's population would be living in the developing region, Joseph Chamie, Director, Population Division, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, told correspondents at a Headquarters press briefing this morning.

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

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

It’s a slow news day.  We can start the briefing late, right? Everyone’s relaxed.

**Secretary-General

PRESS BRIEFING BY HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE

In almost every country reviewed there had been improvement, as a result of the efforts made by the Human Rights Committee, Pratfullachandra Natwarlal Bhagwati of India, Chairman of the Committee, told correspondents at a Headquarters press briefing this afternoon.

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

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

Good Afternoon.

**Secretary-General Returns to Headquarters

BRIEFING ON SECRETARY-GENERAL’S REPORT ON PROTECTION OF

CIVILIANS IN ARMED CONFLICT

The fact that civilians accounted for up to 75 per cent of war victims these days had made their protection a very important part of the discussion on international peace and security, Carolyn McAskie, Deputy to the Under-Secretary-General for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator, told a Headquarters press briefing today.

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

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

Good Afternoon.

**Secretary-General Says Not Enough Done to Protect Civilians in Conflict