HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SPOKESMAN'S NOON BRIEFING

BY STEPHANE DUJARRIC
ASSOCIATE SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

Wednesday, March 2, 2005

 ANNAN MEETS WITH PALESTINIAN PRESIDENT IN LONDON

  • The Secretary-General ended his one-day trip to London last night by meeting with the President of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas.
     
  • They agreed on the importance of following through on the important agreements reached at the  held earlier that day. They also discussed Palestinian elections, for which the Âé¶¹APP was providing technical assistance, as well as the prospects for the Palestinian economy, and the importance of freedom of movement for Palestinians in improving the economic situation.
     
  • The Secretary-General noted that the revised route of the separation barrier in the West Bank still encroaches on a substantial amount of Palestinian land.

 OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

U.N. ENVOY TO RETURN TO LEBANON BEFORE SUBMITTING REPORT: Asked when UN Special Envoy Terje Roed-Larsen would return to Lebanon, the Spokesman said that Roed-Larsen was expected to go back to the region before he submits his report on the implementation of  in April.

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