UN ‘CONVOY OF HOPE’ SETS SAIL FOR KISANGANI, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO,

TO RESTORE TRADE AND ENSURE FOOD SECURITY

SECRETARY-GENERAL PRAISES CENTRAL AFRICAN ADVISORY COMMITTEE’S TIRELESS

EFFORTS FOR PEACE, IN MESSAGE TO KINSHASA MINISTERIAL MEETING

AFRICA’S ‘NEW SPIRIT OF DEMOCRATIC EMPOWERMENT’, CONTINENT’S SOBERING CHALLENGES

HIGHLIGHTED BY SECRETARY-GENERAL IN ADDRESS AT HARVARD’S KENNEDY SCHOOL

Following is the text of the Godkin Lecture delivered by Secretary-General Kofi Annan at the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, on 24 April:

SECRETARY-GENERAL NAMES LENA SUNDH (SWEDEN) DEPUTY SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE

FOR DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO

NUMBER OF COUNTRIES IN SOUTHERN AFRICA WILL REQUIRE SIGNIFICANT INCREASE

SECRETARY-GENERAL WELCOMES AGREEMENT ON MADAGASCAR

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

BUILDING STRONG, PEACEFUL AFRICA WILL HONOUR MEMORY OF JULIUS K. NYERERE,

SAYS SECRETARY-GENERAL, IN MESSAGE TO BIRTHDAY COMMEMORATION

Following is the text of the message of Secretary-General Kofi Annan to the commemorative meeting marking the 80^th birthday of Mwalimu Julius K. Nyerere in New York on 15 April:

LATEST ECONOMIC REPORT ON AFRICA TO BE RELEASED IN MAY

ADDIS ABABA, 16 April (ECA) -- The latest Economic Report on Africa (ERA) 2002, an annual flagship publication of the Economic Commission for Africa that provides a unique perspective on the continent's socio-economic development progress, will be published in May.

FOOD CRISIS THREATENS SEVERAL COUNTRIES IN SOUTHERN AFRICA

NAIROBI/ROME, 16 April (FAO) -- More than 4 million people in southern Africa are threatened by serious food shortages, because of declining food production caused by prolonged dry spells, floods and disruption of farming activities, according to a report released today by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

AFRICAN GOVERNMENTS RESPOND TO INCREASING ILLICIT DRUG TRAFFICKING, ABUSE

Ministerial Meeting to Map out Drug Control Strategy