Press Release

UNITED NATIONS OF TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY NEEDS JAPAN’S WISDOM,

EXPERIENCE, SAYS SECRETARY-GENERAL IN TOKYO ADDRESS

Following is Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s address to the Japanese Diet in Tokyo, 24 February:

BRIEFING TO SECURITY COUNCIL DESCRIBES ‘TIME OF HOPE’ FOR IRAQ,

WITH MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS OVER PAST THREE MONTHS

United States, United Kingdom Say, against Backdrop of Success,

Attacks Continue by Elements Bent on Sabotaging Reconstruction Efforts

GLOBAL BIOTECHNOLOGY FORUM IN CHILE, 2 - 5 MARCH

VIENNA, 24 February (UNIDO) -- Over 600 participants representing governments, the scientific community and economic life, as well as the general public, will gather in Concepción, Chile from 2 to 5 March for the first Global Biotechnology Forum.  Eminent scientists and experts, as well as other prominent participants, are expected to attend.

INTERNATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATION UNION WORKSHOP ON INTERNET GOVERNANCE,

GENEVA, 26 - 27 FEBRUARY

GENEVA, 24 February (ITU)—- To help prepare input for the United Nations working group on Internet governance, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) will hold a Workshop on Internet Governance at its Geneva headquarters on 26 and 27 February.

ROTTERDAM CONVENTION ON TRADE IN HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS, PESTICIDES

ENTERS INTO FORCE

GENEVA/ROME, 24 February (UNEP/FAO) -- The Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent (PIC) Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade becomes international law and, thus, legally binding on its members today.

UN ECONOMIC COMMISSION LAUNCHES 2004 SURVEY OF EUROPE, SAYS

GLOBAL RECOVERY UNDER WAY, BUT CLOUDED BY IMPORTANT RISKS

(Reissued as received.)

UN MISSION TRAVELS TO NORTHERN HAITI, FINDS

SERIOUS FUEL SHORTAGES DISRUPTING LIFE

PORT-AU-PRINCE, 24 February (OCHA) -- Serious shortages of fuel are badly affecting every day life in north and north-west Haiti.  This was one conclusion of the recent inter-agency mission that travelled to the cities of Port-de-Paix and Cap Haitien on 19 February.  Cap Haitien was taken over by rebel forces on 22 February.

UNITED NATIONS HUMANITARIAN MISSION ARRIVES IN LIRA, UGANDA

(Reissued as received.)

UNITED NATIONS HUMANITARIAN TEAM LEAVES FOR SUDAN

(Reissued as received.)

HEALTH AGENCIES ANNOUNCE EMERGENCY CAMPAIGN AGAINST YELLOW FEVER IN LIBERIA

(Reissued as received.)

MONROVIA, 24 February (OCHA) -– International health agencies announced Tuesday that they were joining forces with the Liberian Government to combat a yellow fever emergency in this bruised and battered land.