UNRWA, UNDP, PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY SIGN LAND AGREEMENT TO REBUILD HOMES IN RAFAH

(Reissued as received.)

RAMALLAH, 12 July (UNRWA) -- The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Palestinian Authority today signed a land agreement that will allow the United Nations agencies to build replacement homes in Rafah in the Gaza Strip.

DRUG OFFICE CHIEF UNDERSCORES NEED TO CHECK SPREAD OF HIV/AIDS

THROUGH SHARING OF NEEDLES AMONG DRUG USERS

(Reissued as received.)

WOMEN’S ANTI-DISCRIMINATION COMMITTEE CONSIDERS REPORT OF BANGLADESH;

EXPERTS FOCUS ON LEGAL STRUCTURE, ELIMINATING VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

Country’s Representative, Presenting Fifth Report,

Describes BroadRange of Political, Economic, Educational Advances

LAO PEOPLE’S DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC REDUCES ITS OPIUM POPPY

CULTIVATION BY HALF IN ONE SEASON

(Reissued as received.)

Conference of Parties to United Nations Organized

Crime Convention Concludes Inaugural Session

(Reissued as received.)

VIENNA, 9 July 2004 (UN Information Service) -- The Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime has adopted a programme of work for 2005 and approved a questionnaire to collect information, based on which it will decide the future direction of its work.

Secretary-General Kofi Annan flew from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to Nairobi, Kenya, in the morning of Wednesday, 7 July.

Secretary-General calls for release of hostages

HELD BY IRAQI MILITANTS

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

The Secretary-General is deeply concerned about the threats to the lives of two Bulgarians and one Filipino national who are reportedly held hostage by Iraqi militants.

Secretary-General forwards world court’s advisory opinion

on israel’s wall to General Assembly

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

The Secretary-General has today received from the International Court of Justice its advisory opinion on “the legal consequences of the construction of a wall in occupied Palestinian territory”.

Secretary-General expresses full support for afghanistan election dates,

underscores need for safe, secure environment for electoral process

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

Security Council