Press Release

FAO/OIE CAUTIOUS ABOUT DECLARING VICTORY OVER AVIAN FLU IN ASIA

Virus Still Not Under Control Despite

Improvements; In-Depth Investigations are Crucial

(Reissued as received.)

UN LAUNCHES APPEAL TO AID MADAGASCAR CYCLONE VICTIMS

(Reissued as received.)

ANTANANARIVO, 19 March (UN Information Service) -- The United Nations today launched a flash appeal to raise $8.7 million to assist the Government of Madagascar to address the urgent relief needs of some 309,500 people affected by Cyclone Gafilo, which struck Madagascar twice in the last 10 days.

Human Rights Committee                                     

Fifth-eighth General Assembly                              

UNITED NATIONS WORKING GROUP MAKES RECOMMENDATIONS

ON DRAFT OF E-COMMERCE CONVENTION

A United Nations working group drafting a convention to facilitate global electronic commerce came closer to its goal at a one-week meeting that concluded today at United Nations Headquarters.

Republic of Korea to Host Asia's first Global Ministerial Environment Forum

Water, Sanitation to Top Agenda;

Dead Zones in Oceans Highlighted as Major Emerging Threat

(Reissued as received.)

KOSOVO’S LEADERS MUST WORK WITH INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY AND EACH OTHER TO RESTORE

CALM, SECRETARY-GENERAL TELLS SECURITY COUNCIL

Following is the statement by Secretary-General Kofi Annan to the Security Council on the situation in Kosovo today:

AS PAN AFRICAN PARLIAMENT HOLDS INAUGURAL MEETING, SECRETARY-GENERAL

OFFERS CONGRATULATIONS, UN ASSISTANCE

Following is Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s message to the inaugural meeting of the Pan African Parliament of the African Union, delivered by Tuliameni Kalomoh, Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs, in Addis Ababa, 18 March:

CYPRUS TALKS WILL CONTINUE 24 MARCH AT BÜRGENSTOCK, SWITZERLAND

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

Security Council