GENERAL ASSEMBLY ELECTS ACHIM STEINER OF GERMANY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

OF UNITED NATIONS ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME

Also Fills Vacancy on Committee on Contributions

UN ENVOY BONDEVIK URGES DONOR COUNTRIES TO FUND APPEALS FOR HORN OF AFRICA

TRUE TEST OF NEW HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL WILL BE USE MEMBER STATES

MAKE OF IT, SECRETARY-GENERAL SAYS

Following is the text of a statement by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, issued today in Antananarivo, Madagascar, on the Human Rights Council:

Security Council

5387^th Meeting (PM)

SECURITY COUNCIL REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO COMPREHENSIVE SOMALIA SETTLEMENT;

WELCOMES ‘ ADEN DECLARATION’, FIRST SESSION OF TRANSITIONAL PARLIAMENT

In Presidential Statement, Council Reiterates Urgent Need

Security Council

5386^th Meeting (AM)

IRAQ ’S POLITICAL TRANSITION INCREASINGLY THREATENED BY INTER-SECTARIAN

VIOLENCE, SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE TELLS SECURITY COUNCIL

Cites Notable Achievement of All Transition Benchmarks

Human Rights Committee

Eighty-sixth Session

2344^th Meeting* (PM)

Human rights committee takes up report of Democratic Republic of Congo;

 

Sixtieth General Assembly

Fifth Committee

40^th Meeting (AM)

Budget committee informs General Assembly human rights council

will require additional appropriation of $4.3 million

 

Also Takes Up Budget Implications of Peacebuilding Support Office

Sixtieth General Assembly

Plenary

72^nd Meeting (AM & PM)

GENERAL ASSEMBLY ESTABLISHES NEW HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL BY VOTE

OF 170 IN FAVOUR TO 4 AGAINST, WITH 3 ABSTENTIONS

Council Elections Scheduled for 9 May; Inaugural Meeting to Be Held on 19 June

Chinese leader’s book provides fascinating account of some seminal moments

in late 20th century Chinese foreign policy, says Deputy Secretary-General

Following are remarks by UN Deputy Secretary-General Louise Fréchette at the launch of Ten Episodes in China’s Diplomacy, 14 March:

Deputy Secretary-General, in remarks to international women’s forum,

 

Defends ability of United Nations to adapt as world changes

She Cites Organization’s Changing Peacekeeping Role,

Flexibility Following End of Cold War, Onset of Globalization