Press Release

HUNGARY WORKS WITH UNODC ON NATIONAL CRIME PREVENTION STRATEGY

(Reissued as received.)

VIENNA, 26 February (UN Information Service) -- Hungary’s new National Strategy for Social Crime Prevention was the focus of a half-day workshop organized here yesterday by the Hungarian Ministry of Justice and the Vienna-based United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

SECRETARY-GENERAL SADDENED BY TRAGIC DEATH OF PRESIDENT

OF FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA

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

The Secretary-General learned with deep sadness of the tragic death of the President of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Boris Trajkovski, and members of his delegation in a plane crash today.

UNITED NATIONS ‘DISAPPOINTED’ IF MEDIA REPORTS OF BRITISH SPYING TRUE;

SAYS SUCH ACTS UNDERMINE DIPLOMATIC INTEGRITY, CONFIDENTIALITY

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

We have seen today’s media reports alleging that the Secretary-General’s phone conversations were tapped by British intelligence.  We would be disappointed if this were true.

Biographical Note                                         

SECRETARY-GENERAL APPOINTS JOHN REGINALD DUMAS OF TRINIDAD

AND TOBAGO SPECIAL ADVISER ON HAITI

Security Council                                           

Security Council                                           

CONFERENCE ON DISARMAMENT HEARS STATEMENTS ON FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF MINE-BAN CONVENTION

(Reissued as received.)

GENEVA, 26 February (UN Information Service) –- The Conference on Disarmament this morning heard a series of statements marking the fifth anniversary of the Mine-Ban Convention on 1 March and expressing aspirations for the First Review Conference of the Convention which, will be held in Kenya at the end of the year.

MILLIONS OF CHILDREN’S FUTURE BLIGHTED BY FUNDING CRISIS IN SOUTHERN AFRICA

GENEVA, 26 February (OCHA) -– The future of millions of children in six southern African countries is being put in jeopardy by a massive lack of funds and international support for crucial aid projects, according to a warning issued today by eight United Nations agencies at the launch of the Mid Term Review of the Consolidated Appeal for southern Africa.

Secretary-General Kofi Annan arrived in Tokyo on Saturday afternoon, 21 February, for an official visit to Japan.

PRESS STATEMENT ON HAITI BY SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT

Following is the press statement on Haiti delivered by Security Council President Wang Guangya (China):

The members of the Security Council condemn the continued violence and political crisis in Haiti that has led to the loss of lives, the deterioration of the humanitarian situation, and the abuse of human rights.