Press Release

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.)

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE OF MEETINGS OF UNITED NATIONS BODIES IN APRIL 2004

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

IN CASE OF MEXICAN NATIONALS SENTENCED TO DEATH, INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE FINDS

UNITED STATES HAS BREACHED OBLIGATIONS UNDER VIENNA CONSULAR RELATIONS CONVENTION

(Reissued as received.)

COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS STARTS CONSIDERATION

OF CIVIL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS

Hears from Four Mandate Holders Dealing

With Extrajudicial or Arbitrary Executions, Arbitrary Detention, and Torture

(Reissued as received.)

HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION ADDRESSED BY OFFICE FOR SECURITY

AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE, BRAZIL

Also Concludes Debate on Economic, Social, Cultural Rights