disarmament COMMENCES IN LIBERIA, PAVES WAY FOR GREATER

HUMANITARIAN ACCESS, ASSISTANCE

MONROVIA, 16 April (UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs) -- Ex-combatants of Liberia’s three armed factions took forward steps yesterday towards contributing to the future peace and stability of the war-torn country by surrendering their weapons, during the resumption of disarmament activities administered by United Nations peacekeeping forces.

Press Statement on NortheRn Uganda by Security Council President

Following is today’s statement to the press by Security Council President Gunter Pleuger (Germany):

The Security Council was briefed today on the humanitarian situation in northern Uganda by the Under Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Co-ordinator, Jan Egeland.

UNITED NATIONS ISSUES APPEAL FOR DARFUR, SUDAN

(Delayed in transmission.)

Secretary-General welcomes signing of ceasefire agreement in Sudan

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

ACTING HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS ESTABLISHES

 

INDEPENDENT COMMISSION OF INQUIRY FOR CÔTE D’IVOIRE

(Reissued as received.)

GENEVA, 8 April (UN Information Service) – The Acting United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Bertrand Ramcharan, has established an Independent Commission of Inquiry to investigate alleged human rights violations committed during an anti-government protest in Côte d’Ivoire two weeks ago.

Under-Secretary-general ENCOURAGED BY PROGRESS

ON CEASEFIRE NEGOTIATIONS FOR DARFUR, SUDAN

NEW YORK, 8 April (Office for the Coordination for Humanitarian Affairs) -- “I am encouraged by the positive signals that a humanitarian ceasefire may soon be signed by parties to the conflict in Darfur, Sudan”, said United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Jan Egeland.

ICC Pays Tribute to Rwandan Victims

(Reissued as received.)

THE HAGUE, 7 April (ICC) -- Upon the occasion of the tenth Anniversary of the Genocide in Rwanda, the International Criminal Court held this morning a commemorative event in memory of the victims.

On behalf of the International Criminal Court the following statement was delivered by President Philippe Kirsch:

Secretary-general saddened at deaths of six un peacekeepers

in democratic republic of congo

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for Secretary-General Kofi Annan on the death of peacekeepers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo:

Secretary-General pays tribute to Rwandans for ‘remarkable resilience

and great dignity’ in recovering from genocide

Following is the message by Secretary-General Kofi Annan to the ceremony commemorating the tenth anniversary of the genocide in Rwanda, in Kigali, delivered by Ibrahim Gambari, Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on Africa:

Tragedy in Rwanda underscored value of finding alternativeS to violence,

General Assembly President says at meeting on 1994 genocide

Following is the statement by General Assembly President Julian R. Hunte (Saint Lucia) at the Assembly’s meeting commemorating the International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide in Rwanda today: