SECRETARY-GENERAL TO DISPATCH ASSESSMENT MISSION TO CENTRAL AFRICA

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

SECURITY COUNCIL URGED TO ENSURE GREATER PARTICIPATION OF WOMEN IN PEACE EFFORTS

PRESS STATEMENT ON SIERRA LEONE DIAMOND EMBARGO BY SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT

Following is today’s press statement on the Security Council’s review of the Sierra Leone diamond embargo by Council President Sergey Lavrov (Russian Federation):

SECRETARY-GENERAL SAYS LIBERIA ‘TORN APART BY DISASTROUS CONFLICT’ FOR TOO LONG;

GHANA CONFERENCE AT LAST OFFERS HOPE FOR PEACEFUL RESOLUTION

Following is Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s message to the opening session of the Liberian peace conference, delivered by Abou Moussa, Representative of the Secretary-General in Liberia, in Accra, Ghana, on 4 June:

RECONCILIATION AND REFUGEES:  A DIFFICULT EQUATION FOR CÔTE D’IVOIRE

(Reissued as received –- delayed in transmission.)

SECRETARY-GENERAL URGES OPPOSITION IN ZIMBABWE TO DEMONSTRATE PEACEFULLY, GOVERNMENT TO RESPECT FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION, ASSEMBLY

The following statement was issued by the Spokesman for Secretary-General Kofi Annan on 2 June:

PRESS STATEMENT ON CÔTE D’IVOIRE BY SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT

The following press statement on Côte d’Ivoire was delivered today by Security Council President Sergey Lavrov (Russian Federation):

Members of the Security Council were briefed by Assistant Secretary-General Hédi Annabi on the latest developments in Côte d’Ivoire and on progress made towards establishing the United Nations Mission in Côte d’Ivoire (MINUCI).

SECRETARY-GENERAL ‘HEARTENED’ BY SECURITY COUNCIL APPROVAL

OF MULTINATIONAL FORCE FOR DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO

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

SECRETARY-GENERAL CALLS ON ‘GROUP OF EIGHT’, AFRICAN LEADERS

TO ADDRESS AFRICA’S FOOD SECURITY, HIV/AIDS CHALLENGES

Following is the text of remarks by Secretary-General Kofi Annan at the Group of Eight-New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) Dinner in Evian, France, on 1 June:

ERITREA:  CEREAL AND LEGUME SEEDS TO SAVE 2003 CROP

New FAO Project Helps Drought-Affected Farmers

(Reissued as received.)

ROME, 30 May (FAO) –- The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is helping Eritrean farmers restore their productive capacity through the distribution of cereal and legume seeds for the 2003 cropping season.