SECRETARY-GENERAL CONGRATULATES HAMID KARZAI ON HIS ELECTION

AS HEAD OF AFGHAN TRANSITIONAL AUTHORITY

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

SECURITY COUNCIL SANCTIONS COMMITTEE ADDS NEW INDIVIDUALS

AND ENTITIES TO ITS CONSOLIDATED LIST

(Reissued as received.)

NEW YORK, 25 April (Department of Political Affairs) -- The Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1267 (1999) on 24 April 2002 decided to add the entities and individuals listed below to its consolidated list.

‘TANGIBLE PEACE DIVIDEND’ ALREADY IN PLACE IN AFGHANISTAN,

UNDP ADMINISTRATOR TELLS PARTICIPANTS AT SPECIAL BRIEFING

UNFPA, AFGHAN HEALTH MINISTRY RUSH MEDICAL TEAM TO SUPPORT

SAFE MOTHERHOOD FOR EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS

PRESS STATEMENT ON AFGHANISTAN BY PRESIDENT OF SECURITY COUNCIL

Following is the text of today’s press statement on Afghanistan by the President of the Security Council, Ole Peter Kolby (Norway):

Council members met in informal consultations and discussed the situation in Afghanistan, in particular the establishment of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan.

SECRETARY-GENERAL DISTRESSED AT 'HEAVY LOSS OF LIFE' FROM AFGHAN EARTHQUAKE

The following statement was issued today in London by the Spokesman for Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

HUMAN RIGHTS TO BE CENTRAL TO NEW UN MISSION FOR AFGHANISTAN,

DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL SAYS IN BRIEFING TO SECURITY COUNCIL

Following is the text of a briefing to today’s Security Council meeting on Afghanistan by Deputy Secretary-General Louise Fréchette:

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SECRETARY-GENERAL, AT OBSERVANCE OF INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY,

SECRETARY-GENERAL APPOINTS JEAN ARNAULT DEPUTY

SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR AFGHANISTAN

The Secretary-General today appointed Jean Arnault as his Deputy Special Representative for Afghanistan.  Mr. Arnault, whose appointment at the level of Assistant Secretary-General comes into effect immediately, succeeds Francesc Vendrell who retired from the United Nations at the end of January.

SECRETARY-GENERAL DEEPLY SADDENED AT LOSS OF LIFE FROM AFGHAN EARTHQUAKE

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

The Secretary-General is deeply saddened by the loss of life as a result of a strong earthquake and severe landslides, which struck Afghanistan on Sunday,