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 understand we have some Palestinian journalists as our guests today. Welcome to the briefing.

**Noon Guest

PRESS BRIEFING ON TERRORISM SYMPOSIUM BY UNDER-SECRETARY-GENERAL

FOR DISARMAMENT AFFAIRS

Jayantha Dhanapala, Under-Secretary-General for Disarmament Affairs, gave correspondents a brief introduction to the Symposium on Terrorism and Disarmament, to be hosted by the Department for Disarmament Affairs this afternoon at United Nations Headquarters.

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

Thank you for not taking off to the Hamptons early.  And for waiting for the briefing.  Sorry we’re late.

DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

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.

I don’t see Bob McMann here, I understand he just got back from his honeymoon, congratulations to him. 

DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

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 of the Secretary-General

Good morning

**Afghanistan

HEADQUARTERS PRESS BRIEFING BY NITIN DESAI ON WORLD

SUMMIT ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Preparations for the World Summit on Sustainable Development advanced this week from the regional to the global level, Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs Nitin Desai told correspondents at a Headquarters press briefing this afternoon.

HEADQUARTERS PRESS CONFERENCE ON WOMEN IN PEACEKEEPING

The United Nations must involve women in its peacekeeping and peace-building efforts, a group of women leaders from Afghanistan, Kosovo and East Timor told a Headquarters press conference this afternoon.

DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

Following is a near-verbatim transcript of today's noon briefing by Manoel De Almeida e Silva, Deputy Spokesman for the Secretary-General, and Jan Fischer, Spokesman for the President of the General Assembly.

Briefing by the Deputy Spokesman for the Secretary-General

DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

Following is a near-verbatim transcript of today’s noon briefing by Manoel de Almeida e Silva, Deputy Spokesman for the Secretary-General, and Jan Fischer, Spokesman for the President of the General Assembly.

HEADQUARTERS PRESS BRIEFING BY EMERGENCY RELIEF COORDINATOR