HEADQUARTERS PRESS BRIEFING BY SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR

FOR HUMAN RIGHTS IN AFGHANISTAN

International involvement in Afghanistan had opened the possibility for social, political and humanitarian change to bring Afghans together and rebuild their country, said Kamal Hossein, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan, in a press conference this morning at Headquarters.

PRESS BRIEFING ON UN POPULATION FUND'S 2001 WORLD POPULATION REPORT

At a Headquarters press briefing this morning, the Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Thoraya Obaid, announced the launching of the UNFPA State of the World Population 2001 report, Footprints and Milestone.  Ms. Obaid was introduced by Abubakar Dungus, who told corespondents the report had been launched in 20 developed countries and 70 developing countries.

                                                7 November 20001

HEADQUARTERS PRESS CONFERENCE BY UNITED NATIONS FOUNDATION

PRESS CONFERENCE BY PRESIDENT OF FRANCE

President Jacques Chirac of France this evening stressed the importance of the United Nations in helping to bring about a political solution in Afghanistan.

Responding to journalists' questions at a Headquarters press conference, he said he had discussed with Secretary-General Kofi Annan the actions taken by Lakhdar Brahimi, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, as well as ways in which they could proceed.

PRESS BRIEFING BY SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON RIGHT TO FOOD

In an era of both increased riches and increased misery, feeding the world’s people could not be left to market forces alone, according to Jean Ziegler, the Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food.

HEADQUARTERS PRESS CONFERENCE ON LIBERIA SANCTIONS

Sanctions on Liberia were working to a limited extent, according to Ambassador Kishore Mahbubani of Singapore, Chairman of the Sanctions Committee on Liberia, who briefed correspondents at Headquarters this morning on the report of the Panel of Experts studying those sanctions.  The press conference took place immediately prior to an open debate on the subject in the Security Council.

HEADQUARTERS PRESS BRIEFING ON TERRORISM BY UN LEGAL COUNSEL

The Sixth Committee (Legal) will discuss a new report on work relating to conventions against international terrorism, Hans Corell, Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs and United Nations Legal Counsel, said at a Headquarters press briefing this afternoon.

PRESS BRIEFING ON YEAR OF DIALOGUE AMONG CIVILIZATIONS

While terrorists saw diversity as a threat, those who favoured dialogue viewed it as a benefit for society, Giandomenico Picco, the Secretary-General’s Personal Representative for the Year of Dialogue among Civilizations, told correspondents at a Headquarters press briefing today.

HEADQUARTERS PRESS BRIEFING BY EMERGENCY RELIEF COORDINATOR