PRESS BRIEFING BY UNDER-SECRETARY-GENERAL FOR PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS

The next 12 months could prove critical for the development and reconstruction of Afghanistan, Jean-Marie Guéhenno, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, told correspondents at a Headquarters press briefing this afternoon.

PRESS BRIEFING BY UNDER-SECRETARY-GENERAL FOR ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL AFFAIRS

There was a strong correlation between economic growth and poverty reduction, Jose Antonio Ocampo, Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, said this morning at the launch of the second part of the World Economic and Social Survey 2003.

PRESS BRIEFING BY UNDER-SECRETARY-GENERAL FOR LEGAL AFFAIRS

Corruption is a major obstacle for development efforts, Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs, Hans Corell, told correspondents this morning at an advance briefing for next week’s conference for the signing of the United Nations Convention against Corruption in Merida, Mexico.  The Convention is the first binding legal agreement to tackle corruption on a global scale.

PRESS BRIEFING BY DEPARTMENT OF PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS ON MINE ACTION

Some $290 million would be needed next year to fund 300 mine action projects in 36 countries, Jean-Marie Guéhenno, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, said at a Headquarters press briefing today.

PRESS BRIEFING BY SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT

The President of the Security Council for December, Stefan Tafrov (Bulgaria), this afternoon briefed correspondents at Headquarters on the Council’s programme of work.

PRESS BRIEFING ON 2003 UN HUMAN RIGHTS PRIZE

At a Headquarters press briefing today, the President of the fifty-eighth session of the General Assembly, Julian Hunte (Saint Lucia) announced the recipients of the 2003 United Nations Prize in the Field of Human Rights.

PRESS BRIEFING BY CHAIRMAN OF SECURITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE

ON SANCTIONS ON AL QAEDA, TALIBAN

The second report of a Security Council Committee overseeing sanctions against Al Qaeda and the Taliban was richer and more detailed than the first, but still unsatisfactory, the Committee’s Chairman told a Headquarters press briefing this morning.

PRESS BRIEFING ON DEATH OF SECURITY OFFICER

A senior officer of the United Nations Safety and Security Service was found dead this morning in the Organization’s third floor express lounge with a gunshot wound to the head, United Nations Security Chief Michael McCann told correspondents at Headquarters this afternoon.

PRESS CONFERENCE SPONSORED BY PERMANENT MISSION OF NIGERIA

Super-middleweight boxing champion Laila Ali, daughter of Muhammad Ali, and rhythm and blues star Ashanti expressed excitement today over their forthcoming participation in the “Battle of Hope”, a women’s boxing/concert doubleheader to be held in Abuja, Nigeria, on 10 January 2004 to raise awareness and funds for the fight against AIDS and the trafficking of women in that country.

PRESS CONFERENCE BY OBSERVER FOR PALESTINE

Declaring the attempt by Israel to present a draft resolution on the situation of and assistance to Israeli children to the General Assembly’s Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) unwise, Nasser Al-Kidwa, Observer for Palestine, said that action constituted an attempt to abuse the title “children” to achieve political goals.