14 February 2001

Today the General Assembly met to take up two resolutions. The Assembly adopted a resolution concerning assistance to Bolivia as a result of the flooding in recent months. As Assembly took up this item, Mr. Holkeri made short remarks on behalf of the Member States to extend their deepest sympathy after another earthquake in El Salvador and the recent floods in Bolivia. The full text of his remarks is avalable on the "Statements and Messages" page. The General Assembly also adopted a resolution on arrangements for the participation of non-governmental organization in the special session of the General Assembly on children, which is to be held in New York 19-21 September 2001.

The President held a meeting for the organizing bodies of the upcoming General Assembly special session on HIV/AIDS. The two co-facilitators for the preparatory process, H.E. Ms. Penny Wensley, Permanent Representative of Australia and H.E. Mr. Ibrahim Ka, Permanent Representative of Senegal, took part in the meeting together with representatives of UNAIDS as well as the Secretariat of General Assembly Affairs to discuss the current state-of-the-art of the preparatory process of the special session on HIV/AIDS. The facilitators and the secretariat members briefed the President on the on-going informal/informal process on the organizational matters and on the participation of civil society actors to the special session and its preparatory process.

The informal brainstorming session of the General Committee continued today with Mr. Holkeri presiding. At the end of the meeting, Mr. Holkeri made concluding remarks, noting that there had been a very good exchange of views during the session. The President also mentioned that his intention is to continue consultations in full transparency and openness in order to keep the whole membership involved. The full text of his remarks is avalaible on the "Statements and Messages" page.

The President attended a luncheon in connection with the Financing for Development Preparatory Committee, hosted by H.E. Mr. Asda Jayanama, Permanent Representative of Thailand and H.E. Mr. Jorgen Bojer, Permanent Representative of Denmark.