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,

OPIUM-POPPY CULTIVATION IN AFGHANISTAN AT ‘RELATIVELY HIGH LEVEL’, SURVEY CONFIRMS

(Reissued as received.)

SECRETARY-GENERAL APPOINTS NIGEL FISHER AS DEPUTY SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE

FOR HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS IN AFGHANISTAN

While on his first official visit to Kabul on 25 January 2002, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan announced the appointment of Nigel Fisher as his Deputy Special Representative for Humanitarian Affairs in Afghanistan.

SOLIDARITY AND SUPPORT FOR AFGHAN WOMEN EXPRESSED IN STATEMENT

BY COMMITTEE ON ELIMINATION OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN

SECURITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO RESOLUTION 1267 (1999)

CONCERNING AFGHANISTAN REMOVES FOUR ADDITIONAL ENTITIES FROM ITS LIST

AFGHANISTAN NEEDS $1.3 BILLION TO COVER IMMEDIATE NEEDS, $10 BILLION

OVER NEXT FIVE YEARS, SECRETARY-GENERAL TELLS TOKYO CONFERENCE

Following is the address by Secretary-General Kofi Annan to the International Conference on Reconstruction Assistance to Afghanistan, held in Tokyo, 21 January 2002: