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 Spokesman for the Secretary-General.

Good afternoon.  I'm sorry I'm a little late today.

**Secretary-General Concludes Austria Visit

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.

**Secretary-General Arrives in South Africa

OPENING REMARKS AT BRIEFING BY SECRETARY-GENERAL'S SPECIAL ADVISER ON COLOMBIA

"The Secretary-General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan, is deeply concerned by the deteriorating situation in Colombia," his Special Adviser on Colombia, Jan Egeland, told journalists at a press briefing in Bogota today.

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.

Good afternoon.  I apologize for this delay.  And welcome to the group of journalists from Georgia, who are visiting us here today.  You are most welcome here.

**Secretary-General's Message to the People of East Timor

DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY 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.

**Secretary-General Opens Racism Conference

I'm going to start with the Secretary-General in Durban. 

2 September 2001

3 September 2001

DAILY PRESS BRIEFING

Midway through the World Conference against Racism in Durban, South Africa, Working Group I has adopted 12 paragraphs contained in the draft Declaration, Susan Markham, Spokeswoman for the Conference, said at the daily noon briefing today.

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.

AFRICA WILL BE SECURITY COUNCIL FOCUS DURING SEPTEMBER,

FRANCE TELLS CORRESPONDENTS

Africa will be first and foremost among the Security Council's concerns this month, its new President for September, Jean-David Levitte of France, told correspondents at a press briefing today at Headquarters, at which he distributed the Council's schedule for the month and drew correspondents' attention to some of its highlights and objectives.