SPECIAL RAPPORTEURS ON INDEPENDENCE OF JUDGES

AND FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION PRESENT REPORTS

Commission Also Hears from Chairperson of Working Group

On Draft Instrument to Protect Persons from Enforced Disappearance

(Reissued as received.)

SECRETARY-GENERAL PRESENTS FINAL SETTLEMENT PLAN FOR CYPRUS,

SAYS ‘OFFERS THE BEST AND FAIREST’ CHANCE FOR PEACE

Following are Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s remarks at the closing of Cyprus talks in Bürgenstock, 31 March:

Thank you all for joining me here this evening.  The hour is late, but the cause is urgent.

The time for negotiation and consultation is over.

SECRETARY-GENERAL SAYS DEVASTATING CONFLICT IN DARFUR, SUDAN, MUST STOP;

CALLS FOR EFFECTIVE HUMANITARIAN CEASEFIRE

Following is the statement of Secretary-General Kofi Annan, distributed at the ceasefire talks on Darfur, Sudan, in N'Djamena, Chad, on 31 March:

SECRETARY-GENERAL BELIEVES NATIONAL CONVENTION TO DRAFT NEW CONSTITUTION

FOR MYANMAR MUST BE ALL-INCLUSIVE

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

The Secretary-General notes with interest the announcement by the Government of Myanmar that it will convene a National Convention to draft a new constitution on 17 May 2004.

AFGHANISTAN WILL NEED CONTINUED INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE UNTIL TRANSITION

IS COMPLETE, SECRETARY-GENERAL TELLS BERLIN CONFERENCE

Following is the message by Secretary-General Kofi Annan to the International Conference on Afghanistan in Berlin, delivered today by Lakhdar Brahimi, Special Adviser to the Secretary-General:

SECRETARY-GENERAL PRAISES COMMITMENT, COURAGE OF MURDERED KOSOVO POLICE OFFICERS,

SAYS STARK SIGNAL OF DISTANCE STILL TO BE TRAVELLED IN BUILDING PEACE

Following is Secretary-General’s Kofi Annan message to the ceremony commemorating police officers killed in Kosovo, delivered by Harri Holkeri, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Kosovo, in Pristina, 30 March:

PRESIDENT OF UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL AND CHAIRMAN

OF MILITARY STAFF COMMITTEE IN APRIL

In accordance with the principle of alphabetical rotation, the following are the President of the United Nations Security Council and the Chairman of the Military Staff Committee for April:

Security Council

STATEMENT BY SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT ON DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO

Following is today’s press statement by Security Council President Jean-Marc de La Sablière (France) on the Democratic Republic of the Congo:

TREATY ON BIODIVERSITY TO BECOME LAW

ROME, 31 March (FAO) -- Twelve European countries and the European Community have ratified the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, triggering the 90-day countdown to the Treaty's entry into force, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) announced today.

Countries from Asia and Pacific Discuss Eleventh United Nations Congress

on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice

(Reissued as received.)