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.

**Introduction

PRESS CONFERENCE ON HIV/AIDS

Another round of negotiations on the key outcome document of the forthcoming General Assembly special session on HIV/AIDS began at headquarters yesterday.

The talks this week will seek agreement on a revised draft of the "Declaration of Commitment" to be adopted at the special session scheduled for

25 to 27 June.

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.

**Statement on Afghanistan

Thank you for waiting.  Good afternoon.  I’ll start with a statement attributable to the Spokesman concerning Afghanistan.

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 Marie Okabe, Associate Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

**Statement on Kashmir

Good afternoon.  We issued a statement earlier this morning on Kashmir:

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, the Spokesman for the Secretary-General, and Susan Markham, Spokesperson for the President of the General Assembly.

Spokesman for the Secretary-General

**Secretary-General in Washington

HEADQUARTERS PRESS BRIEFING ON ASSEMBLY HIV/AIDS SESSION

"Good progress" had been made overall in ongoing negotiations on the draft outcome document to be adopted by the forthcoming special session of the General Assembly on HIV/AIDS, Penny Wensley, the Permanent Representative of Australia to the United Nations, told a Headquarters press briefing this afternoon.  The session is scheduled for 25 to 27 June.

HEADQUARTERS PRESS CONFERENCE ON UNITED NATIONS-EUROPEAN UNION RELATIONS

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, and Susan Markham, Spokesperson for the President of the General Assembly.

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.

** Security Council

HEADQUARTERS PRESS CONFERENCE ON STAFF SECURITY BY FICSA