Africa

HEADS OF UN PEACE MISSIONS IN WEST AFRICA TO MEET IN DAKAR, SENEGAL 20 FEBRUARY

FORCE COMMANDERS OF UN MISSIONS TO CÔTE D’IVOIRE, LIBERIA,

SIERRA LEONE MEET IN ABIDJAN

UN REPORT HIGHLIGHTS HOW WAR, CONFLICT HAVE HARMED

LIBERIA’S FORESTS, WATER RESOURCES

Says Restoring Battered Environment One of Keys to Sustainable Future

(Reissued as received.)

NATIONAL CAMPAIGN TO END FISTULA LAUNCHED IN UGANDA, SUPPORTED BY FIRST LADY

FOR FIVE AFRICAN LEAST DEVELOPED COUNTRIES, 2002 A BAD YEAR FOR FDI

(Reissued as received.)

UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL ENVOY ARRIVES IN SUDAN

NEW YORK, 12 February (OCHA) -– Ambassador Tom Eric Vraalsen, the Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Humanitarian Affairs for Sudan, arrived in the Sudan today.

SECRETARY-GENERAL SADDENED BY KILLING OF UN MILITARY OBSERVER

IN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO

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

PRESS STATEMENT BY SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT ON DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO

Following is the press statement on the Democratic Republic of the Congo by Security Council President Wang Guangya (China):

SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION CONCLUDES VISIT TO COTE D’IVOIRE

(Reissued as received.)

GENEVA, 10 February (UN Information Service) -- The Special Rapporteur of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights on the right to freedom of opinion and expression, Ambeyi Ligabo, has completed a visit to Côte d’Ivoire (29 January to 5 February 2004) undertaken at the invitation of the Government.

MAJOR PROGRESS MUST BE ACHIEVED IN REFORM OF SECURITY SECTOR IN DEMOCRATIC

REPUBLIC OF CONGO, DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL SAYS

Following is the text of introductory remarks, translated from French, by Deputy Secretary-General Louise Fréchette at the high-level meeting on security sector reform in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, New York, 9 February: