26 June 2001

The President this afternoon submitted to the Member States the draft declaration of commitment, which will be the official outcome document of the ongoing special session on HIV/AIDS. Mr. Holkeri submitted the declaration after final agreement on the text had been reached by the Member States. The text was essentially the one reached over the weekend, in consultations led by the two co-facilitators of the preparatory process of the special session, Ambassador Wensley of Australia and Ambassador Ka of Senegal.

Mr. Holkeri today presided over three meetings of the special session, with some 70 delegations addressing the session.

In another meetings Mr. Holkeri met with H.E. Mr. Matti Kaariainen, Deputy Director-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland. He also met with H.E. Mr. Bertie Ahern, Prime Minister of Ireland. The ongoing HIV/AIDS special session was discussed in both meetings. With Mr. Ahern, the Northern Ireland peace process was also touched upon.

The President attended a luncheon in honour of H.E. Mr. Bertie Ahern, Prime Minister of Ireland, hosted by H.E. Mr. Richard Ryan, Permanent Representative of Ireland.

Later on the day Mr. Holkeri hosted a reception on the occasion of the HIV/AIDS special session.