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 Secretary-General

HEADQUARTERS PRESS BRIEFING BY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HABITAT

Some 1.2 billion people in the world were not adequately housed, Anna Tibaijuka, Executive Director of the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat), told correspondents at a Headquarters press briefing this afternoon. 

The focus of next week’s special session of the General Assembly for an Overall Review and Appraisal of the Implementation of the Habitat Agenda

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.

PRESS BRIEFING BY SECRETARY-GENERAL'S SPECIAL ENVOY FOR HIV/AIDS IN AFRICA

The Secretary-General today appointed Stephen Lewis as his Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa, Deputy Secretary-General Louise Fréchettetold correspondents at a Headquarters press briefing this afternoon.

PRESS CONFERENCE ON PROTECTING RELIGIOUS SITES

Following the General Assembly's adoption Thursday of a resolution on "Protection of Religious Sites", Rabbi Arthur Schneier, President, Appeal of Conscience Foundation, told correspondents yesterday at a Headquarters press conference that the international community had come through in a rare manifestation of consensus to take a stand against a growing global scourge.

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

**Secretary-General Meets Middle East Envoy

HEADQUARTERS PRESS BRIEFING BY HABITAT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

The challenge of a divided city was the main message of two new reports of the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat), its Executive Director, Anna Tibaijuka, told correspondents this afternoon at a Headquarters press briefing.  On Wednesday, the General Assembly would convene a three-day special session to appraise recent global progress in the development of human settlements.  

PRESS BRIEFING BY ANWARUL KARIM CHOWDHURY, COUNCIL PRESIDENT FOR MONTH OF 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.

**Guest at Noon

HEADQUARTERS PRESS CONFERENCE BY INTERNATIONAL ROMANI UNION

At a historic meeting with Secretary-General of the United Nations

Kofi Annan, this morning, the International Romani Union had asked for a representation of the Roma Nation, which did not want to become a State, correspondents were told at a Headquarters press conference this afternoon.