The envoys - Stephen Lewis for Africa, Nafis Sadik for Asia and George Alleyne for the Caribbean - were appointed to help promote and advocate on behalf of issues relating to the outcomes of various conferences on HIV/AIDS, particularly the UN General Assembly's special session in July 2001.

In addition, Mr. Annan met with Richard Feachem, Executive Director of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, a public-private partnership created in 2002 to boost financing to fight three of the world's most devastating diseases.

Later, Mr. Annan visited the UN Building in Bangkok and met with staff there, telling them that the United Nations has a future "if it adapts and changes." In this connection, he said, "If I were a doctor, I would say you are in reasonably good health but you must remain active and exercise."

The Secretary-General and his wife, Nane, then visited an AIDS ward and talked with several patients there, accompanied by the Thai Health Minister.

During his stay in Bangkok, Mr. Annan has held several bilateral meetings with Foreign Ministers, meeting yesterday with those from Australia, Timor-Leste and Thailand.

In a press encounter on Sunday following his meeting with the Thai Foreign Minister, the Secretary-General was asked about the International Court of Justice's advisory opinion on the wall in the occupied Palestinian territory.

He said he would not want to prejudge what the General Assembly may decide on the matter. "I think the decision of the Court is clear," he added. "Whilst we all accept that the Government of Israel has a responsibility, indeed a duty, to protect its citizens, any action it takes has to be in conformity with international law and has to respect the interests of the Palestinians."

In a separate programme, Mrs. Annan visited a centre helping 550 girls and women who have been trafficked from within Thailand and surrounding countries. She encouraged the young women to focus on developing their skills and education so as to enable them to be strong and stand up for themselves.