UNLESS ADEQUATELY ADDRESSED, PROLIFERATION OF SMALL ARMS, MERCENARIES WILL

CONTINUE TO POSE SEVERE THREAT TO WEST AFRICA, SECRETARY-GENERAL SAYS

Following is the text of remarks, as delivered, by Secretary-General Kofi Annan, to today’s Security Council meeting on “Proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons and the Phenomenon of Mercenaries:  Threats to Peace and Security in West Africa” in New York: 

SECRETARY-GENERAL CONDEMNS COUP D’ETAT IN CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

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

SECRETARY-GENERAL CONCERNED BY RAPIDLY DETERIORATING SITUATION

IN ITURI REGION OF DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO

The Secretary-General is very concerned by the rapidly deteriorating situation in Ituri, in particular the dangerous rise in the tensions between Rwanda and Uganda.  Everything must be done to ensure that further military confrontations do not erupt in this region, as they would undermine the recent hard-won gains in the peace process.

PRESS STATEMENT ON CÔTE D’IVOIRE BY SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT

Following is today’s statement to the press on Côte d’Ivoire by Security Council President Mamady Traoré (Guinea):

PRESS STATEMENT BY SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT ON INDICTMENTS

BY SIERRA LEONE SPECIAL COURT

Following is today’s statement to the press by Security Council President Mamady Traoré (Guinea) on the announcement of indictments by the Sierra Leone Special Court:

UN HUMANITARIAN COORDINATOR DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT WORSENING

HUMANITARIAN SITUATION IN BAIDOA

(Reissued as received.)

NAIROBI, 12 March (OCHA) -- United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia Maxwell Gaylard is deeply concerned about the deterioration of the humanitarian situation in and around Baidoa, where fighting for control of the town has disrupted aid activities for more than eight months.

EXPERT PANEL ON ILLEGAL EXPLOITATION OF RESOURCES IN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO

TO BEGIN WORK IN NAIROBI ON 24 MARCH

PROGRESS IN CONSOLIDATING AFRICA’S PEACE SETS STAGE FOR HARD WORK AHEAD,

SAYS SECRETARY-GENERAL IN MESSAGE TO TOKYO CONFERENCE

Following is Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s message to the “In Search of the Consolidation of Peace in Africa” conference delivered by his Special Adviser on Africa, Ibrahim Gambari, in Tokyo on 12 March:

SECRETARY-GENERAL STRONGLY CONDEMNS KILLING OF HUMANITARIAN WORKERS IN LIBERIA

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for the

Secretary-General:

The Secretary-General strongly condemns the killing of Emmanuel Sharpulo, and Musa Kita, Liberian nationals, and Kaare Lund, a Norwegian national,

AFR/576

IHA/766

HUMANITARIAN EFFORTS IN ERITREA FACE FUNDING CRISIS

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