The following is a near-verbatim transcript of today’s noon briefing by Michèle Montas, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

Good afternoon all. 

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On Monday, my guest at the briefing will be Radhika Coomaraswamy, Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, who is coming to brief you on her recent trip to Afghanistan.

She gave a press briefing today in Kabul, discussing her trip and her concerns about the deteriorating security situation in the country, and she urged all parties to begin to take action to prevent children from being used on the battlefield.  The transcript of that briefing is available upstairs and of course you will be able to ask her questions when she comes in on Monday.  As you know, we will not have a noon briefing tomorrow because, of course, the building is closed.

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The Secretary-General today arrived in Seoul, in the Republic of Korea.  This is his first visit to his home country since becoming Secretary-General. 

He met today with Korean peacekeepers who had either served or will be serving with the United Nations in Lebanon.  He commended them on their global outlook and their commitments to serve not just their own national interests, but those of the world.

The Secretary-General also met with Yi So-yeon, a Korean astronaut who recently carried the United Nations flag into outer space.  She presented him with that flag as well as photos of it in space.  The Secretary-General, for his part, praised the important role that women are playing in all fields of work in the Republic of Korea and throughout the world.

The Secretary-General then met with United Nations staff, noting the sacrifices they make to serve the international community, before heading to Seoul National University to accept an honorary degree.

At the University, the Secretary-General said that now was the time to help others follow the Republic of Korea’s path to prosperity, democracy and respect for human rights.  He added that Koreans can and must play a larger role in addressing the pressing challenges on the global agenda, given their economic potential, scientific and technological advances.  We should have his full statement later this afternoon.

The Secretary-General also made remarks to the United Nations Association of the Republic of Korea, which we should also have later today, before attending a private dinner with the Korean Foreign Minister.

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The Secretary-General is expected to return to New York on 9 July from his trip to North-East Asia.  He will travel again on the 12^th, as he has been invited by President Nicolas Sarkozy to participate in the Paris Summit for the Mediterranean, which will take place on 13 July.  The following day, the Secretary-General will attend the French National Day Military Parade, which will for the first time include United Nations peacekeepers from different parts of the world.

On the 15^th and 16^th, the Secretary-General, upon invitation by Chancellor Angela Merkel, will visit Germany.  During his stay, he will meet the Chancellor, the Foreign Minister and other Cabinet Ministers in Berlin.  He will address a conference organized by the Bertelsmann Foundation.  He will also visit the UN campus and meet United Nations staff in Bonn before returning to New York on the 16^th.

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In a statement we issued yesterday afternoon, the Secretary-General warmly welcomed the announcement by the Government of Colombia, earlier that day, of the rescue of hostages held by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), including former presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt, three United States citizens and 11 members of the Colombian armed forces.

The Secretary-General called on FARC to immediately and unconditionally release the remaining hostages, whose security is their responsibility.  He urges FARC and other groups to engage in dialogue with the authorities, with a view to freeing hostages and ending the violence that has afflicted Colombia for so long.

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In consultations this morning, the members of the Security Council discussed a draft resolution, concerning Zimbabwe, which had been circulated by the United States.  That draft text is to be discussed further at the expert level this afternoon.

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A United Nations assessment mission on the Georgian-Abkhaz peace process will be heading to the region this weekend to carry out consultations with key actors involved in the process.  It will be led by Dr. Bertrand Ramcharan, former acting UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and former Director of the International Conference on the former Yugoslavia.

The mission will visit Tbilisi and Sukhumi for meetings with the parties and representatives of the international community.  It will also visit the capitals of the Group of Friends of the Secretary-General and consult with relevant regional organizations.  The mission will report back to the Secretary-General on key challenges in the UN-led peace process and possible solutions.

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A report by the Secretary-General on the UN Office for West Africa is now out on the racks.  In it, he says that most West African countries are currently in a period of transition, from conflict to peace consolidation, and remain fragile and vulnerable to outbreaks of renewed violence.  In that regard, he says the UN’s ability to meet expectations in terms of assistance and coordination will be key if it’s to preserve its effectiveness and influence in the subregion.

The Secretary-General adds that Said Djinnit, his Special Representative for West Africa and Chairman of the Cameroon-Nigeria Mixed Commission, will continue to promote the smooth and peaceful implementation of the relevant ruling and agreement -- so that the settlement of the border dispute between Cameroon and Nigeria can serve as a model for West Africa.

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On MINURCAT, the UN Mission in Chad and the Central African Republic, known as MINURCAT, is holding a blood drive today in collaboration with the World Health Organization and the Chadian Centre for Blood Transfusion.

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The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights today expressed concern about developments in Mongolia.  It called upon the authorities there to exercise the utmost restraint, to ensure that due process is followed in the case of any detentions, and to properly investigate the incidents leading to deaths and injuries.

The Office also noted that Mongolia is party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which stipulates that fundamental rights -- such as the right to life and the prohibition of torture -- cannot be suspended even in times of emergency.  We have more on that upstairs.

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Exactly two months after Cyclone Nargis hit Myanmar, the World Food Programme (WFP) says much devastation remains.  Large areas of cultivable land and vital crops have been flooded and rendered useless.  Yet the people of Myanmar have proven resilient, WFP says.

Over the past two months, the agency has delivered more than 18,000 tons of food to nearly 700,000 people in the Ayeyarwady delta.  But its ongoing emergency operation remains less than half funded, with a shortfall of $38 million.

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Meanwhile, the World Food Programme is expanding its operations in Ethiopia, in response to an urgent request from the Government.  WFP plans to reach more than 4.5 million people with food aid, up from approximately 3.2 million people now, even as it faces a major shortfall in food and funds.

The agency is also providing aid to roughly 4 million people elsewhere in the Horn of Africa.  As we mentioned yesterday, the Regional Humanitarian Partnership Team in Nairobi says that more than 14 million people in the region will require urgent food aid and other assistance in the coming months.

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The United Nations refugee agency has now interviewed 179 detained Eritrean and Ethiopian asylum seekers in southern Egypt to assess their claims for refugee status.  UNHCR [Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees] has welcomed the cooperation of the Egyptian authorities in permitting these interviews to take place and under good conditions.

The agency has requested information about some 1,400 Eritreans.  It continues to seek prompt and unhindered access to all asylum seekers believed to be in detention.  There is more information upstairs.

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The Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) today acquitted Naser Oric, a former commander of Bosnian Muslim forces in and around Srebrenica, of crimes committed during the 1992-1995 conflict.

Oric had been sentenced in 2006 to two years in prison for failing to take necessary and reasonable measures to prevent the murder and cruel treatment of a number of Bosnian Serbs, but both the prosecution and the defence appealed the judgment.

The Appeals Chamber found that the Trial Chamber failed to make all of the findings necessary to convict a person for command responsibility under the Tribunal’s statute.  We have more information in a press release from the Tribunal.

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And today, the Belgian authorities surrendered and transferred Jean-Pierre Bemba, President and Commander in Chief of the Mouvement de libération du Congo (MLC), to the International Criminal Court.

Bemba is alleged to be criminally responsible for five counts of war crimes and three counts of crimes against humanity committed on the territory of the Central African Republic from 25 October 2002 to 15 March 2003.  In a statement, the Court appreciated the steps taken by the Belgian authorities in the enforcement of the arrest warrant and Bemba’s surrender and transfer, as well as the cooperation of the Dutch authorities to transport him to the detention centre.

Yesterday, following its decision imposing a stay on the proceedings of the case involving Thomas Lubanga, the Court’s Trial Chamber ordered Lubanga’s release.  However, since an appeal may be filed within five days, the order granting release shall not be enforced until the expiry of the five-day time limit.  Further information on both suspects can be found on the Court’s website.

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Today, UNCITRAL, the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law, a standing subsidiary body of the General Assembly, is scheduled to approve a draft convention on carriage of goods by sea.

The draft treaty -– to be submitted to the next session of the General Assembly for adoption without additional negotiation –- is of great importance for world commerce in that it will establish a more equitable regime which takes into account the interests of all parties and which will reduce transaction costs.

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UN-HABITAT has responded to earlier reports about the possible postponement of the World Urban Forum by announcing today that the Forum will take place as previously planned from 3 November 2008 in Nanjing, China.

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Despite the uncertainties posed by the global economy, international tourism has remained stable in recent months.

According to the World Tourism Organization’s “World Tourism Barometer”, international arrivals grew by roughly 5 per cent between January and April, compared to one year earlier.  All regions posted gains, with the fastest growth in the Middle East, North-East and South Asia, and Central and South America.

Despite rising fuel prices and a deteriorating economic picture, World Tourism Organization expects tourism to continue to grow for the rest of the year, though at a slower pace.  There is more information upstairs.

Week Ahead

And in the week ahead, as you know, tomorrow, Friday, UN Headquarters is closed for an official holiday.  There will be no briefing by the Spokesperson.

On Monday at 10 a.m., the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) substantive session holds a dialogue with the Executive Secretaries of the Regional Commissions.  ECOSOC’s coordination segment will focus on the role of the United Nations system in efforts to eradicate poverty and hunger.

On Wednesday, the Security Council is scheduled to hold consultations on the 1701 report.  In the afternoon, a debate on Afghanistan is scheduled.

And at 11 a.m. that day, Wednesday, General Assembly President Srgjan Kerim briefs on his activities, recent developments related to the work of the Assembly’s sixty-second session, and on upcoming events.

And this is all I have for you, thank you.  Yes?

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Question:  Thank you Michèle.  British Prime Minister Gordon Brown reportedly spoke to the Secretary-General yesterday about sending an envoy to possibly put together a power-sharing Government [in Zimbabwe].  Can you confirm if that’s the case? Spokesperson:  I cannot confirm that.  I will find out for you whether this took place.

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Spokesperson:  No, I haven’t.  But you know this has happened in several missions several times.  So I don’t think it’s a matter of particular concern.  I am sure security measures will be taken in case of a threat.

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Spokesperson:  No, I do not.

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Spokesperson:  I’m sorry, on the aid workers, you mean the ones that were held earlier this week [on Saturday]?  They have been released.

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Spokesperson:  Yes.

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Question:  Again, I’m sure that the resolution on Zimbabwe has just been introduced, but I was just wondering what the Secretary-General thinks about the principle of imposing sanctions again in Zimbabwe, whether it’s going to be useful in that kind of situation or not? Spokesperson:  The Secretary-General will not give his opinion on what is happening within the Security Council.  It is a matter for the Security Council at this point.

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Spokesperson:  He will not comment.  Yes, Masood?

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Spokesperson:  No, as soon as we have someone chosen for the post, and whose name would be submitted to the General Assembly, I will let you know immediately.  This is not the case yet.

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Spokesperson:  No.  All I can say is that interviews are continuing for the post.  Yes, Matthew?

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Question:  Yesterday, the US Envoy for Sudan, Richard Williamson, was here and he said…  He had some criticism for the Government of Sudan, but also for the UN itself in terms of the slowness of the deployment of UNAMID.  I wanted to know if there is any response.  He said he met with Ms. [Susana] Malcorra; that there was some meeting of friends of UNAMID.  Do you have a readout on that?  What’s the UN response?  Because he just didn’t criticise Sudan.  He wasn’t really specific, but he said that the UN is not moving fast enough to deploy. Spokesperson:  Well, I’m sure that within the Security Council he can express these reservations and it will be discussed at the level of the Security Council.

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Question:  Okay.  I’m not sure he met with the Council.  Anyway, I think he met with Malcorra.  And also, I wanted to ask you one thing.  I have heard that, on this matter of General Karenzi [Karake], the number two in UNAMID, that some are saying that the Secretariat has written to Rwanda, asking them to propose an alternative candidate.  Is that the case, and, if so, did the Secretariat confer with the African Union before starting such a letter? Spokesperson:  I don’t think I can confirm this letter.  I can only say that we take this issue, of course, seriously and we are continuing our consultations with all parties, including the Rwandan authorities, and we’ll have more to say in the near future.  I don’t have anything else to say.

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Spokesperson:  Of course, of course.

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Question:  A question about Myanmar.  You mentioned a while back that Professor Gambari will go back to Myanmar sometime soon, maybe in July.  Will he actually go in July or will it be sometime soon? Spokesperson:  Well, we don’t have a date yet.  He has a standing invitation.  Of course, for a meeting like this, you need to be prepared, and we are right now in the process of preparing for his visit there.

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Spokesperson:  Yes.

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Spokesperson:  He did say that, yes.

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Spokesperson:  Not this trip, no.  But he has announced that he will go.

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Spokesperson:  Well, of course, when it’s ready, we will let you know when he is going, but, at this point, this is not an immediate decision.  Yes?

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Question:  I’m just trying to follow up on General Karenzi [Karake].  In a situation where someone who might be thought to be unsuitable to be holding a particular peacekeeping job, whose authority is it to make the changes?  Is it the Secretary-General, DPKO or the Security Council? Spokesperson:  It has to be done in consultations with, of course, the country contributing the person and it has to be done in consultations between the different groups and the senior advisers at the UN.

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Spokesperson:  It would be made by the Secretary-General, yes, of course, as I said, in consultations.

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Question:  One more on that.  Some diplomats are saying that Rwanda has said that if General Karenzi [Karake] is replaced, they will pull their peacekeepers out of UNAMID.  I am just wondering if you can confirm if that’s the case? Spokesperson:  I cannot confirm that.  Ask your diplomatic sources.

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Spokesperson:  Into where?

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Spokesperson:  I was aware of that report.  I’ll try to get more on it from the Human Rights Council because it is coming from the Human Rights Council.  We’ll try to find out for you.

[The Spokesperson later clarified that the correspondent was probably referring to the “Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories”, which was established in December 1968 by a General Assembly resolution and composed of representatives of three Member States.  Since its establishment, she later added, the Special Committee has repeatedly been denied cooperation by the Government of Israel or access to the occupied territories.]

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Question:  This may be a lighter question, but does Mr. Ban, while he is in South Korea, does he have any intention to have American beef?  Does he have any view of that whole American beef situation?  What’s his view? Spokesperson:  (laughter) I think he will certainly eat American beef.  I don’t think he has any special theoretical view on it.  It is, of course, an issue that has really been taken very seriously in his home country, but he has no specific opinion on that.

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Question:  But I think the Prime Minister, whom he knows well, bought like 18 kilogrammes of American beef to somehow show that it is safe, I am just wondering if he wanted to say that it’s safe or does he…? Spokesperson:  You mean whether he will eat it?  I don’t have such details!  (laughter)  Thank you very much.

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Question:  One last question please.  There is this reported agreement that’s to be signed on the release of Lebanese and Israeli prisoners.  I was wondering whether this agreement is expected to be signed any time soon. Spokesperson:  Well, we’re not really…

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Spokesperson:  I don’t have that information for you.  But we can find out and we’ll let you know, of course, when it is ready to be signed.  Thank you very much.

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The following is a near-verbatim transcript of today’s noon briefing by Michèle Montas, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

Good afternoon all.

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We have a statement attributable to the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General on Mongolia.

“The Secretary-General expresses deep concern at the violence resulting from the recent demonstrations in Mongolia and regrets the consequent loss of life.  The Secretary-General deplores the resort to violence to protest the conduct of the parliamentary elections last weekend.  He urges all parties to exercise restraint and engage in dialogue and appeals to all demonstrators to refrain from any further acts of violence.

“ Mongolia has made a peaceful transition to democracy, and the Secretary-General encourages all parties to respect this achievement and find ways to settle the current crisis, fully respecting the rule of law”.

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The Secretary-General has held a series of meetings in Beijing today with the senior Chinese leadership, including President Hu Jintao, Premier Wen Jinbao and Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi.

Throughout his meetings, he called for greater Chinese involvement in tackling the major pressing issues facing humanity, such as the effort to combat climate change, to address soaring food prices and to attain the Millennium Development Goals.  In those meetings, he and the senior Chinese officials also discussed UN-China relations, UN reform, Myanmar, Zimbabwe, Sudan, Somalia, Kosovo, the Middle East, the Korean peninsula and Northeast Asia.

Earlier, the Secretary-General had visited the site of the Olympic Games, where he received a tour of the visitor centre and got a first-hand look at Birdnest Stadium.  He told reporters afterward that he was impressed at the preparations for the Olympics, adding, “Let us work together so that the whole international community will become gold medallists through the Olympic Games, through demonstrating cooperation, friendship and mutual understanding.”

He later met with State Councillor Dai Bingguo, who hosted a banquet in his honour in the evening.  He will depart Beijing for Seoul, the third leg of his Asian visit, tomorrow morning.

The Secretary-General and his wife this morning visited an HIV patients’ ward at the Government-run Ditan Hospital, where he spoke with a number of patients, including one woman who had delivered a baby girl just 20 days ago.  He told the patients and hospital staff that fighting HIV/AIDS is a high priority for the United Nations.  He added that he is working with the scientific, medical, business and civil communities to provide greater medical access to patients and also to make workplaces more integrated and welcoming to those who are HIV-positive.

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As you know, the Security Council, in its first consultations for this month, approved its programme of work for July.

The Council then received a briefing from the Italian Ambassador about the work of the sanctions committee dealing with resolution 1718, which concerns the issue of non-proliferation in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea that you just heard the new Council President, Ambassador Le Luong Minh.

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We have a statement attributable to the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General on the attack in Jerusalem.

“The Secretary-General condemns today’s attack in Jerusalem, in which several people died and many were injured.  He sends his condolences to the families of those killed and wishes those injured a speedy recovery”.

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And some of you asked yesterday.  We have a reaction on the attack in the West Bank.

The Secretary-General is deeply concerned by the firing of rockets at the Palestinian village of Burin in the West Bank by Israeli settlers.  He calls on Israel to impose law and order and ensure the protection of the Palestinian population under occupation.

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On the food crisis in the Horn of Africa, UN agencies, along with the Red Cross and several non-governmental organizations, today warned that large parts of the Horn of Africa are either facing, or rapidly sliding into, a state of humanitarian emergency.  A combination of drought and rising food prices is driving the crisis, they say.

In a joint press release, the Regional Humanitarian Partnership Team in Nairobi said that more than 14 million people in Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya, Uganda, Eritrea, and Djibouti require urgent food aid and other assistance in the next few months.  They’re calling on Governments, donors and other humanitarian partners to act promptly to prevent an escalation of the crisis.  There is more information upstairs.

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The World Food Programme (WFP) is rapidly expanding operations in Haiti.  By the end of this year, WFP expects to be feeding 2.3 million people, up from 800,000 now.  And I would appreciate if you could turn off your cell phones.  It will be able to do so because of a $23 million allocation from funds raised through its recent appeal.  The Haitian population is highly vulnerable to food price increases, as households spend more than half their incomes on food.

Overall, WFP has received more than $62 million, which is enough to cover increased needs for 2008.  However, WFP still needs more than $61 million to cover Haitian beneficiaries’ needs for 2009.  There is a press release with more information upstairs.

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And we have several other items on economic and social issues to flag for you, many of them tied to next week’s G-8 summit.

The International Monetary Fund, in a report issued yesterday, notes that surging food and fuel prices are having the greatest impact on import-dependent poor and middle-income countries.  Some of them are being pushed to “a tipping point”, where Governments won’t be able to feed their people and maintain economic stability at the same time, the report warns.

World Bank President Robert Zoellick has sent a letter to Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, as well as the Secretary-General and the other G-8 leaders, in which he warns that soaring food and fuel prices are causing a substantial redistribution of income, creating poverty and social instability.  This is “a man-made catastrophe”, he says, one which must be fixed by people.  He urged the G-8 countries and major oil producers to focus on the immediate needs of the most vulnerable, by boosting support for agriculture, as well as for the World Food Programme and the World Bank’s own rapid financing facility for the most vulnerable countries.

Meanwhile, the UN Population Fund is calling on G-8 leaders to give serious consideration to population and family planning issues, including maternal health, when they meet next week.

And UNICEF on Thursday launches its fourth “Junior 8”, or J-8, summit in Chitose City, Japan.  With an agenda that parallels the G-8 itself, the meeting brings together delegates from the G-8 and developing countries who are between 13 and 17 years old.  Employing social networking tools, they will produce a communiqué laying out their recommendations to the G-8 leaders.  There is more information on the J-8 upstairs in our office.

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In Afghanistan, the UN Mission in Afghanistan today announced its plans to open a new office in Tirin Kot, the capital of the southern province of Uruzgan.  The new office, the Mission says, will play a key role in helping local communities, coordinating development and humanitarian efforts, supporting local Government institutions, and monitoring human rights issues, among other tasks.

Kai Eide, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, said that the challenges of bringing development assistance to the province of Uruzgan are “vast, but not insurmountable”.  Making progress will require the concerted and sustained effort of the central and provincial government and the donor community, he said.  We have a press release with more details upstairs.

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There are two items of interest today on the web site of the World Health Organization (WHO).

First, a new study published by WHO says that the number of doctors required and those available globally will be roughly in balance by 2015.  But there will be huge disparities in their distribution.  Most African countries will face shortages, for example.

Second, WHO reports that it is planning for the return of thousands of displaced people to their homes in the Sudanese town of Abyei.  WHO’s priorities include controlling health risks for the displaced and restoring basic health services for the returnees.

And this is all I have for you.  Thank you.  Yes, Rhonda?

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Question:  I have two questions.  One, in the press conference the Secretary-General is reported to have said that he is interested in going on a visit to North Korea and that he would be welcome.  Do you know anything more about when that is likely to happen? Spokesperson:  No.  It has not been scheduled yet.  The Secretary-General did say that, but it has not been scheduled yet.  Yes?

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Question:  And the second is, there were over 400 injuries last Saturday night, early Sunday morning in South Korea.  The offices of some of the NGOs had been, the police had gone to them and taken computers and arrested people.  There is a number of things happening that are human rights and democratic rights problems with regard to what the police are doing.  Is there any comment that the Secretary-General has?  Is there a way... Spokesperson:  No, we don’t have a comment.

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Spokesperson:  Well, he is arriving there tomorrow.  So, we will certainly have more about what he says there.  But at this point we have no comment.  Yes, Masood?

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Question:  In view of the Secretary-General emphasising about the food crisis and the fuel crisis, and he’s been asking all the G-8 Member States to do something about it, what specific or concrete proposals does the Secretary-General intend to take to the G-8 to tell them that this has to be addressed on an emergency basis, otherwise the world will be undermined by this crisis, especially the poor countries? Spokesperson:  Well, what he intends to do and say is already spelled out in the letter and we will keep you informed of what he says over there.

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Question:  And remember I had asked you a couple of times about this journalist who was attacked by Israeli authorities and who was tortured when they asked him about a scholarship and then finally...  I mean, he was let go but after days of torture.  You said you were collecting information on this and you’d have something for us later on. Spokesperson:  No, I didn’t promise I’d have something.  I said I’d ask.  We don’t have anything on that.  It is, of course, a deplorable event.  We certainly deplore the use of violence in cases like this, but we don’t have a specific reaction of the Secretary-General on that.

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Spokesperson:  We do not... Masood, you do know that we do not intervene in every single case.  We cannot possibly.

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Spokesperson:  I think we just had two statements on violations on different sides.  In this specific case we do not report or discuss every single event that takes place, Masood.  It’s not possible.  I mean it’s not humanly impossible.  I know you would want us to say something about that specific incident.  I will try to find out whether there was a reaction on the part of UNESCO on that because they usually are the ones dealing with freedom of the press issues.  But I don’t have a reaction at this point and as I said, I don’t know whether we will have a reaction.  Yes, Matthew?

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Question:  About the programme of work for this month for the Security Council, there is some discussion of a briefing on Myanmar on the political issues.  I guess the issue came up of whether USG Gambari; is he now on leave to deal with the Nigerian issues?  Or is he on standby?  Is he currently working with the UN or on leave? Spokesperson:  I will try to find out for you.  I know that he was dealing with the situation in the Niger Delta but I will ask whether he is going to be the one briefing on the situation in Myanmar.

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Spokesperson:  He did, yes.

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Spokesperson:  I don’t know.  I can get a readout for you.  But they spoke.

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Question:  Okay, great.  And then inside the building there was apparently an incident on Friday in which the CMP contractor hit a pipe (inaudible).  There was some gas release and the printing plant didn’t print the Journal for Monday.  What is the outcome of that?  I was told that there is a landfill leaking gas under the UN. Spokesperson:  That was the situation.

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Spokesperson:  We were fully informed of that.  The situation was under complete control by Monday morning.  This is why we didn’t say anything new to you.  You said it quite rightly; it was methane gas coming out of the landfill.  This whole riverfront, as you know, was made of landfill.

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Spokesperson:  There was no danger for anyone.  That is why the incident was not mentioned.  But we had a full briefing on what happened.

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Spokesperson:  No.

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Spokesperson:  Yes, because they thought it was gas.  It was not natural gas.  It was, you know, maybe a leak.  They contacted both the New York City Fire Department and ConEdison thinking that it was a gas leak in the basement, which was not the case.  What happened was that they detected an odour, and the smell in the area of the UN printing shop forced them to close the area until they found out what it was.

Question:  Is the smell still there or not?

Spokesperson:  No, the smell is no longer there.

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Spokesperson:  As I said before, this letter is still being discussed and considered and I don’t have anything new on it.

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Spokesperson:  Well, I’m sorry Rhonda, but I heard your question the day before yesterday to Mr. Brahimi.  As you know, the report is available on the Web.  You are the one always saying, “Let’s use the Web a lot more.”  We are not printing copies.  We’re saving trees.

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Spokesperson:  Why can’t you?

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Spokesperson: Well, that’s...  I’m sorry, you know, it’s...

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Spokesperson:  No, it is fully available on the Web.

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Spokesperson:  It’s not a general policy.  It’s...

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Spokesperson:  Yes, it’s true of a number of large reports which are also only on the Web.

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Spokesperson:  Yes, you’re right.  You’re right.

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Spokesperson:  As you know, we have been reducing the number of printed material because we are trying to save trees and the environment.

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Spokesperson:  Well, I don’t think that it’s an issue really, Rhonda.  You have access to it.  All of you journalists have access to it.

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Spokesperson:  No, you will have no one to talk to you about this.  The policy is we are reducing the number of publications, because so much of it is on the Web and available to all of you freely.  Yes, Masood?

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Spokesperson:  The Secretary-General will be back on the 9^th.

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Spokesperson: I will check whether he will be back on time.  Thank you very much.

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The following is a near-verbatim transcript of today’s noon briefing by Michèle Montas, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

Good afternoon, all.

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Following this briefing, Jean-Maurice Ripert, Permanent Representative of France, will brief you on the launch of the French European Union Presidency on 1 July at 12:30 p.m.

He will discuss the priorities of France’s European Union Presidency, as defined by French President Nicolas Sarkozy, and its relevancy within the UN.

And, immediately afterwards, at 1:15 p.m., Jomo Kwame Sundaram, Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Development, will present this year's UN World Economic and Social Survey.

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The Secretary-General wrapped up his official visit to Japan with a press conference on Tuesday morning, saying that he was pleased throughout his visit to hear of Japan’s renewed commitment to the United Nations, its strong support for UN reform, and its determination to expand Japan’s role and activities in the United Nations.  He also welcomed the fact that Japan, China and the Republic of Korea are increasingly looking to their common future as friendly neighbours with global interests and responsibilities.

Asked about Zimbabwe, the Secretary-General noted that we have successfully managed the situation in Kenya, adding, “This will give us some good lessons”.  He once more pledged his full commitment to spare no efforts to work out a solution.

He said that the developments regarding the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and its nuclear programme represented “a very encouraging step forward”, adding that the participants in the six-party talks should not lose this momentum.  As for visiting Pyongyang, he said that he had not made any formal schedule yet, but that he would like to find out when would be the most opportune and appropriate time to visit.

The Secretary-General then travelled from Tokyo to Beijing to begin the second leg of his three-country North Asian visit.

Just a short while after his arrival in the Chinese capital, he delivered an address at the Foreign Affairs University in Beijing, during which he outlined the challenges facing the world today and China’s leadership role in meeting them.  He told the students that they inherit, not just China’s future, but also the task of helping to build the well-being of the whole world.

We have his speech upstairs.

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Prior to attending the Group of Eight (G-8) summit meeting in Toyako next week, the Secretary-General has written the G-8 leaders to tell them that the world is facing three challenges that require their urgent attention:  the food crisis; climate change; and progress on the Millennium Development Goals.

On the food crisis, he warns that, if we do not act decisively, an additional 100 million people may fall below the poverty line worldwide.  He recommends an increase in the proportion of official development assistance that goes to agricultural production and rural development, from the current level of 3 per cent to a new level of 10 per cent, without diverting funds from existing education or health budgets.

On climate change, the Secretary-General says that we must arrive at a shared vision of what a new climate change agreement will look like, addressing all the building blocks agreed upon in Bali.  And he once more urges leaders to scale up efforts to meet the Millennium Development Goals by 2015.

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Greek Cypriot Leader Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot Leader Mehmet Ali Talat reached agreement in principle today on the issues of single sovereignty and citizenship for a future unified Cyprus.

The agreement came at the end of a four-and-a-half hour meeting at the UN Protected Area in Nicosia.  The Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Cyprus, Taye-Brook Zerihoun, read out a joint statement on behalf of the two leaders.

Mr. Christofias and Mr. Talat will meet again on 25 July, as work continues in preparation of full-fledged negotiations later this year.

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The Secretary-General’s latest report on the implementation of resolution 1701 (2006), concerning Lebanon, went to the Security Council yesterday.  In it, he says that, with the Doha agreement, there are new opportunities for the Lebanese people to consolidate the country’s political stability and create an environment conducive to further addressing the critical challenges facing the country.  He says that he looks forward to the speedy establishment of a national unity Government and to the revitalization of the country’s constitutional institutions.

The Secretary-General adds that the events witnessed during the violence in May illustrate starkly the risks to the foundation of the State of Lebanon that are posed by the actions of non-State actors.

He says he is encouraged by the renewed declarations from the international community on the importance of finding a solution to the Shab’a Farms issue, and he plans to strengthen the diplomatic process aimed at resolving this key issue.

And he expresses his concern that the air violations by Israel reached record levels during this past March and April.

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With the start of a new month, the rotating Presidency of the Security Council has passed on from the United States to Viet Nam.  The new Council President, Ambassador Le Luong Minh, is having bilateral meetings with other Council members today to discuss the programme of work for the coming month.

The Security Council is scheduled to hold consultations on that programme tomorrow morning.  Then, at 12:30 tomorrow afternoon, Ambassador Le will talk to you in this Room about the Council’s work during July.

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Today, on the final day of the African Union Summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, the Deputy Secretary-General, along with other officials, launched a report containing the recommendations of the Millennium Development Goals Africa Steering Group.

In the report, the Group, which was an initiative of the Secretary-General, recommends targeted investments in agriculture to launch a green revolution in Africa; stepped-up support to education and health-care systems; major projects to fill critical gaps in the continent’s infrastructure and trade networks; and improvements in national statistical systems, so that progress on the Millennium Development Goals can be tracked more effectively.

The report also calls for greater quality and predictability of official development assistance, as disbursements increase to finance these investments.

We have more on that upstairs.

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The Department of Economic and Social Affairs is launching its annual World Economic and Social Survey today.  The report says there can be no doubt that we are living in a time of increased threats and vulnerabilities.  Bank runs, mortgage defaults, rising commodity prices, climate change and problems of conflict are all factors.

Overall economic performance has been fairly strong in recent years, but globalization, market deregulation and rising inequality have created growing anxiety about the direction of the world economy.  The social contract has been frayed in developing and developed countries alike, and more attention needs to be focused on rebuilding it through a policy agenda that successfully integrates economic and social polices. 

You can find out more about the report at 1:15 this afternoon, when Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Development Jomo Kwame Sundaram presents its findings here in Room 226.

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Walter Kaelin, the Secretary-General’s Representative for the Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons, has just wrapped up a visit to Mozambique, a country that is affected by recurrent floods, cyclones and droughts.

Kaelin stressed that relocation of those living in disaster-prone areas to safer zones can increase security, but should only be resorted to if there are no other solutions and if the relocation is sustainable.

He underlined the importance of ensuring that disaster survivors can enjoy their rights –- in a culturally acceptable manner –- to adequate housing, health and education, particularly in relocation areas.

We have more on that upstairs.

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Today is the fortieth anniversary of the opening for signature of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, or NPT.  In a message to mark the occasion, which we have upstairs, the Secretary-General says that, although the Treaty has suffered serious setbacks and faces multiple challenges to its credibility, it has also seen steady progress and significant measured success.

He says that achieving the universality of the Treaty remains a priority.  We are a long way from a nuclear-weapon-free world, and the recent revival of interest to achieve this vision is welcome and promising.

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More than seven months after Cyclone Sidr struck Bangladesh, food still remains the most urgent priority for many families in devastated areas, according to the World Food Programme (WFP).  The next major harvest isn’t until November or December, and many households lack sufficient food reserves, as well as the money to afford the rising price of food.

WFP recently completed its seventh round of general food distribution, reaching more than 1.5 million people with rice, pulses, edible oil, high-energy biscuits and other food.

We have more information on that upstairs.

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The UN Development Programme (UNDP) today released a new report, which shows how more inclusive business models can be good for both human progress and wealth creation.  It’s called “Creating Value for All:  Strategies for Doing Business with the Poor”.

The report explains how companies can expand beyond traditional business practices and bring in the world’s poor as partners in growth and wealth creation.  We have more on that upstairs.

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In a new study released today, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) says that investment in the renewable energy and energy efficiency industries rose more than 60 per cent last year, to nearly $150 billion.  UNEP cites the rise in oil prices as a major cause.

Wind energy accounted for almost a third of investments in the sustainable energy sector.  But solar power grew most rapidly, making up roughly 20 per cent of the total.  We have more information upstairs.

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Starting today, the price for United Nations publications will be reduced by 75 per cent in least developed countries and by 50 per cent in developing countries.  This new marketing effort will make more than 4,000 United Nations publications affordable to educational institutions, students, teachers and researchers in poorer countries.

The price in developed countries will continue to be set based on prevailing market conditions in those countries.

We have a press release upstairs from the Outreach Division of the Department of Public Information (DPI).

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