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 Manoel de Almeida e Silva, Deputy Spokesman for the Secretary-General, and Sue Markham, Spokesperson for the President of the General Assembly.

      Deputy Spokesman for the Secretary-General

HEADQUARTERS PRESS BRIEFING BY UNAIDS DIRECTOR

One of the most astounding discoveries in the ongoing global struggle against AIDS had been the revelation that vigorous and creative leadership could elicit the new reserves of compassion and political will needed to halt the devastation of the virus, the Executive-Director of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) said this morning. 

MEDIA BRIEFING ON SECURITY ARRANGEMENTS FOR AIDS SPECIAL SESSION

Briefing the media on security arrangements during the General Assembly special session on HIV/AIDS, today's guest at the noon briefing, Chief of Security and Safety Service of the United Nations, Michael McCann, said that the Organization would be "open for business" as usual until Monday, when some restrictions would come into force.  On Saturday and Sunday, the complex would be open to the public.

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 Manoel de Almeida e Silva, Deputy Spokesman for the Secretary-General, and Sue Markham, Spokesperson for the President of the General Assembly.

Deputy Spokesman for the Secretary-General

HEADQUARTERS PRESS CONFERENCE BY INFORMATION MINISTER OF SIERRA LEONE

Under a new philosophical premise, Sierra Leone's Government would treat information as a basic human need, placing it on the same level as food and shelter, Information and Broadcasting Minister Cecil Blake said at a Headquarters press conference this morning.

PRESS BRIEFING BY UNITED NATIONS FORUM ON FORESTS

During its first two-week session, the new international body on forests -- the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF) -- had had an opportunity to define its scope of work, initiate a framework for a plan of action, design new approaches to international cooperation, and expand coordination through the newly formed collaborative partnerships on forests (CPF), correspondents were told at a Headquarters press briefing this morning.

PRESS CONFERENCE BY SECRETARY-GENERAL'S SPECIAL ENVOY ON AIDS IN AFRICA

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 Manoel de Almeida e Silva, Deputy Spokesman for the Secretary-General, and Sue Markham, Spokesperson for the President of the General Assembly.

Deputy Spokesman for the Secretary-General

Good afternoon.  Thank you for coming, for taking time on this very busy day to attend Sue's and my briefing.

HEADQUARTERS PRESS BRIEFING SPONSORED BY UNAIDS POLICY CHIEF

Everyone recognized the magnitude of the HIV/AIDS problem; it was also important to recognize some of the very solid foundations that had been laid on which to build a much greater future response, the Policy Chief of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) told correspondents this afternoon at a Headquarters press briefing.

ILO DIRECTOR GENERAL INTRODUCES CODE OF PRACTICES ON AIDS

Of the 36 million people infected with HIV/AIDS, 23 million are in the workplace, the Director General of the International Labour Organization (ILO), Juan Somavia,told correspondents this morning during a Headquarters press conference where he introduced the ILO Code of Practice on HIV/AIDS.