TENTATIVE SCHEDULE OF MEETINGS OF UNITED NATIONS BODIES IN FEBRUARY 2005

The following is a tentative list of United Nations meetings scheduled to be held in February, including major meetings of intergovernmental organizations related to the United Nations:

Meetings continued from previous month:

24 January-4 February

Note to Correspondents

PHOTO EXHIBIT COMMEMORATING END OF WORLD WAR II OPENS

AT HEADQUARTERS ON 1 FEBRUARY

INDEPENDENT EXPERT ON HUMAN RIGHTS IN AFGHANISTAN TO VISIT

COUNTRY FROM 31 JANUARY TO 6 FEBRUARY

(Reissued as received.)

GENEVA, 31 January (UN Information Service) -- Cherif Bassiouni, the Independent Expert on Human Rights in Afghanistan, will conduct an official mission to that country from 31 January to 6 February 2005.

Round-Up

COMMITTEE ON RIGHTS OF CHILD CONCLUDES THIRTY-EIGHTH SESSION

Adopts Conclusion on Reports from Sweden, Albania,

Luxembourg, Austria, Belize, Bahamas, Iran, Togo, Bolivia, Nigeria

(Reissued as received; delayed in transmission.)

Special Committee on

Peacekeeping Operations

180^th & 181^st Meetings (AM & PM)

UN NEEDS TO CONSOLIDATE PEACEKEEPING SUCCESS, REFORMS FOLLOWING 2004 SURGE

IN OPERATIONS, UNDER-SECRETARY-GENERAL TELLS SPECIAL COMMITTEE

Also Stresses Sexual Abuse Allegations

In Democratic Republic of Congo Must Be Swiftly Addressed

IN ADDRESS TO CANADIAN CLUB, DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL STRESSES NEED

FOR ‘REAL PROGRESS’ ON COLLECTIVE SECURITY, DEVELOPMENT, UN REFORM

Following is the text of the address delivered today by Deputy Secretary-General Louise Fréchette to the Canadian Club in Toronto:

ETHIOPIA’S CROP PRODUCTION UP — FOOD AID STILL NEEDED

NEW YORK, 31 January (OCHA) -- Ethiopia’s crop production is expected to increase by 24 per cent compared to last year’s estimates.  This was a key finding of the recent crop and food supply assessment mission undertaken jointly by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP), which pegged cereal and pulse production at 14.27 million tonnes.

Committee on Elimination of

Discrimination against Women

683^rd Meeting (PM)

CHINA SET TO STAY GROWTH COURSE, ACCORDING TO UNCTAD HANDBOOK OF STATISTICS 2004

(Reissued as received.)

SECRETARY-GENERAL SHOCKED BY DEATH OF SHAH ABU MOHAMMAD SHAMSUL KIBRIA,

DISTINGUISHED BANGLADESHI PUBLIC SERVANT

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