Committee on Elimination of

Discrimination against Women

630^th & 631^st Meetings (AM & PM)

PROCESS OF WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT WELL UNDER WAY, ANTI-DISCRIMINATION

COMMITTEE TOLD, AS IT CONSIDERS NEPAL’S REPORT

But Experts Say Women Have ‘Long Road

ADVANCES IN GENETICS HAVE BROUGHT TREMENDOUS BENEFITS, BUT ALSO RAISE ETHICAL

QUESTIONS, SECRETARY-GENERAL SAYS, INTRODUCING LECTURE ON ‘DESIGNER GENES’

Following are introductory remarks by Secretary-GeneralKofi Annan at the lecture on “Designer Genes:  The Ethics of Modern Genetics” by Professor Eric Wieschaus in New York, on 12 January:

I am greatly honoured that Professor Eric Wieschaus has accepted my invitation to give this lecture.

RESOLUTIONS AND STATEMENTS

OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL

2003

EARTHQUAKE HAS SERIOUSLY HIT FARMERS IN BAM REGION

Date Palm Plantations, Livestock Production

Worst Affected -- FAO Calls for $2.5 Million Emergency Aid

(Reissued as received.)

ROME, 13 January (FAO) -- The recent earthquake in the city of Bam in Iran has seriously affected the agricultural sector in the region, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said in a statement today.

EXPERTS EXAMINE EUROPE’S POPULATION, REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CONCERNS

(Reissued as received.)

Committee on Elimination of

Discrimination against Women

629^th Meeting (AM)

COMMITTEE ON ELIMINATION OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN OPENS THREE-WEEK SESSION

Economic, Social Policies Needed to Achieve Convention’s Aims

GLOBAL FDI DECLINE BOTTOMS OUT IN 2003

(Reissued as received.)

RULE OF LAW AND HUMAN RIGHTS ARE VITAL FOR DEMOCRACY, ESPECIALLY IN ARAB WORLD,

SECRETARY-GENERAL SAYS IN MESSAGE TO REGIONAL CONFERENCE IN YEMEN

SECRETARY-GENERAL WELCOMES LIBYA’S DECISION TO ACT ON TREATIES

BANNING NUCLEAR TESTING, CHEMICAL WEAPONS

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

Security Council

4892^nd Meeting (AM)

THREAT POSED BY AL QAEDA, TALIBAN MUST REMAIN TOP INTERNATIONAL

CONCERN, SECURITY COUNCIL TOLD

But Lack of Reporting by Governments Hinders Work, Committee Chairman Says