HEADQUARTERS PRESS CONFERENCE BY MAYOR OF BARCELONA

Cities worldwide were demanding greater political autonomy and financial capacity to reverse the rapid growth of urban poverty, Joan Clos, the Mayor of Barcelona, told correspondents today at a Headquarters press conference, on the eve of the General Assembly's Special Session on human settlements development.

PRESS BRIEFING BY SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON ADEQUATE HOUSING

The draft declaration to be adopted by the General Assembly special session this week was a regression from the achievements made at the 1996 Habitat II in Istanbul, Miloon Kothari, Special Rapporteur on adequate housing, said at a Headquarters press briefing this afternoon.

PRESS BRIEFING BY UNDER-SECRETARY-GENERAL FOR PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS

PRESS CONFERENCE ON LAUNCH OF MILLENNIUM ECOSYSTEM ASSESSMENT

A press conference was held at Headquarters today on the occasion of the launch of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, which was hosted by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).  Secretary-General Kofi Annan opened the event with a brief introductory statement.

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

** Habitat Speech

HEADQUARTERS BRIEFING BY UNFPA, ROTARY INTERNATIONAL CLUB

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and Rotary International will work together to find solutions to mutual concerns and problems around the world, according to a memorandum of cooperation signed this afternoon at a Headquarters press briefing.

Signing the document on behalf of the two organizations were Thoraya Obaid, Executive Director, UNFPA, and Frank Devlyn, President of Rotary International.

HEADQUARTERS PRESS CONFERENCE BY PFIZER

HEADQUARTERS PRESS CONFERENCE: WATER FOR AFRICA'S CITIES

PRESS BRIEFING BY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HABITAT

As 1.2 billion people were without adequate shelter, the objective of the Habitat Agenda remained elusive, Anna Tibaijuka, Executive Director of the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat), told correspondents at a Headquarters press briefing today.

PRESS CONFERENCE BY HASSAN FATHY INSTITUTE

Among the objectives of the Hassan Fathy Institute, a division of the International Construction Institute (ICI), was to mobilize trade union support around the world for the principles of the Second United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II), held in Istanbul in 1996, ICI President

John T. Joyce said this afternoon at a Headquarters press conference.