3. Announcements by the President

Verbatim reports

The President welcomed the award of the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize to the Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo. He called on the Chinese authorities to free Liu Xiaobo and other human rights activists, and spoke of Parliament's commitment to human rights.

The President added that the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty had been celebrated on the previous day. Today, it was the fourth European Anti-Trafficking Day. On Tuesday, Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations, would be visiting Parliament to commemorate the Day for the Eradication of Poverty.

The President said that he would deliver his mid-term address on Wednesday 20 October 2010 (12.10-12.30).