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 Jan Fischer, Spokesman for the President of the General Assembly.

The evacuation is at 4 ‘o’clock not at twelve, where is the press corps?

Good afternoon.

**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, and Jan Fischer, Spokesman for the President of the General Assembly.

Briefing by the Spokesman for the Secretary-General

**Secretary-General Welcomes Giuliani

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 Jan Fischer, Spokesman for the President of the General Assembly.

Briefing by the Spokesman for the Secretary-General

Good afternoon.

**Secretary-General Interview

PRESS CONFERENCE BY INCOMING PRESIDENT OF SECURITY COUNCIL

Ambassador Richard Ryan of Ireland, who has assumed the Presidency of the Security Council for October, told correspondents at a Headquarters press conference this afternoon that the Council’s work during the month would heavily focus on issues concerning Africa and terrorism.

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 Jan Fischer, Spokesman for the President of the General Assembly.

PRESS BRIEFING BY DEPUTY EMERGENCY RELIEF COORDINATOR

Donor countries were pledging considerable amounts of money, and humanitarian efforts were being coordinated regionally, to deal with the multifaceted crisis situation in Afghanistan, correspondents were told this afternoon at a Headquarters press briefing.

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 Jan Fischer, Spokesman for the President of the General Assembly.

Briefing by the Spokesman for the Secretary-General

      I don’t know why we’re so popular today.  Good Afternoon.

**Afghanistan

PRESS CONFERENCE ON CAMPAIGN TO BAN LANDMINES

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, Associate Spokesman for the Secretary-General, and Jan Fischer, Spokesman for the President of the General Assembly.

PRESS CONFERENCE BY UNIFEM

Although women had been in the very vanguard of peace and reconciliation efforts, their role in peace-building had not been recognized, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf told correspondents at a Headquarters press conference this afternoon.

"Once peace finds its place, the positions held by women are reclaimed by men, leaving women marginalized and sidelined", she said.