Press Release

NOW THAT WE HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY, ‘WE CANNOT LET IT PASS’, SECRETARY-GENERAL

TELLS GREEK CYPRIOT, TURKISH CYPRIOT LEADERS

Following is the text of the opening statement by Secretary-General Kofi Annan as delivered at today’s meeting with the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leadership and the foreign ministers of Greece and Turkey in Bürgenstock, Switzerland:

SECRETARY-GENERAL SADDENED AT DEATH OF SIR PETER USTINOV

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

The Secretary-General was deeply saddened to learn of the death of Sir Peter Ustinov, the actor, writer and humanitarian.

IF CONFRONTED TODAY BY NEW RWANDA, CAN WORLD RESPOND EFFECTIVELY?

ASKS SECRETARY-GENERAL IN MESSAGE TO LONDON FORUM

Following is Secretary-GeneralKofi Annan’s message to the Rwanda Forum, organized by “Never Again”, the ImperialWarMuseum and the Rwandan Embassy,delivered by Ibrahima Fall, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for the Great Lakes Region, in London, 27 March :

Committee on Charter                                       

Human Rights Committee                                     

INDEPENDENT EXPERT ON EFFECTS OF STRUCTURAL ADJUSTMENT,

SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON RIGHT TO FOOD PRESENT REPORTS

Commission Continues General Debate on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

(Reissued as received.)

INDEPENDENT EXPERT TELLS COMMISSION THAT EXTREME POVERTY NEGATES ALL RIGHTS

Numerous NGOs Speak as General Debate

Concludes On Worldwide Human Rights Situation

(Reissued as received.)

GENEVA, 29 March (UN Information Service) -- The Independent Expert on extreme poverty told the Commission on Human Rights this morning that such poverty amounted to an absolute denial of human rights wherever it occurred.

Special Committee on                                       

DEAD ZONES EMERGING AS BIG THREAT TO TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY FISH STOCKS

Eighth Special Session of Governing Council of United Nations

Environment Programme and Global Ministerial Environment Forum, 29-31 March 2004

(Reissued as received.)

METHYL BROMIDE APPROVED FOR TEMPORARY USES

AFTER MONTREAL PROTOCOL PHASE-OUT DEADLINE

(Reissued as received.)

MONTREAL, 26 March (UNEP) -- An intergovernmental meeting here on the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer has granted limited “critical use exemptions” to 11 developed countries facing a year-end deadline for phasing out methyl bromide.