DESPITE LIBERIA’S PEACE AGREEMENT, RIGHTS VIOLATIONS PERSIST

IN TROUBLED ‘POCKETS OF INSECURITY’, SAYS UN COORDINATOR

MONROVIA, 25 September (Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs) -- The Special Humanitarian Coordinator for Liberia, Ross Mountain, today expressed his concern for civilians who, despite the signing of a peace agreement, continue to be subjected to serious human rights violations in north-central Liberia.

MILLENNIUM ECOSYSTEM ASSESSMENT RELEASES FIRST REPORT,

EXAMINES LINKS BETWEEN ENVIRONMENT, DEVELOPMENT

(Reissued as received.)

WASHINGTON, D.C., 24 September (UNEP) -- The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA), the most extensive study ever of the linkages between the world's ecosystems and human well-being, today released its first report, Ecosystems and Human Well-being.

OPENING AD HOC MEETING ON AFGHANISTAN, SECRETARY-GENERAL CALLS FOR CONTINUED

SUPPORT FOR POLITICAL PROCESS, SECURITY REFORM, RECONSTRUCTION

Following is the statement as delivered today by Secretary-General Kofi Annan to the high-level ad hoc meeting on Afghanistan:

SECRETARY-GENERAL, ITALIAN PREMIER SIGN DECLARATION ON UN-EU COOPERATION

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

SECRETARY-GENERAL EXPRESSES HOPE FOR NEW SECURITY COUNCIL COMMITMENT TO PLACE

JUSTICE, RULE OF LAW AT HEART OF EFFORTS TO REBUILD WAR-TORN COUNTRIES

Following is the text of remarks, as delivered today, by Secretary-General Kofi Annan to the ministerial meeting of the Security Council on “Justice and the Rule of Law:  the United Nations Role”:

SECURITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE ADDS SIX INDIVIDUALS

TO AL-QAIDA SECTION OF ITS CONSOLIDATED LIST

The Al-Qaida and Taliban Sanctions Committee on 23 September 2003 added the names of the following six individuals to its consolidated list (Al-Qaida section):

*Name: 1: SHADI 2: MOHAMED 3: MUSTAFA 4: ABDALLA

Security Council

4833^rd Meeting* (AM)

SECURITY COUNCIL CALLS ON MEMBER STATES TO HELP ENHANCE UN ROLE

IN ESTABLISHING JUSTICE, RULE OF LAW IN POST-CONFLICT STATES

Secretary-General Hopes for New Commitment by Council

To Place Those Issues at Heart of Work Rebuilding War-Torn Countries

PROVIDING URBAN POOR WITH CLEAN WATER AND DECENT SANITATION,

FOCUS OF ANNUAL WORLD HABITAT DAY

(Reissued as received.)

Fifty-eighth General Assembly

Plenary

9^th & 10^th Meetings (AM & PM)

HEADS OF STATE, GOVERNMENT UNDERLINE NEED FOR CONCERTED ACTION TO PREVENT

INERTIA, AS GENERAL ASSEMBLY CONTINUES GENERAL DEBATE

Speakers Tell Assembly of Need to Ensure ‘Advent of Century of the Global Village’

INTERNATIONAL TEAM DOCUMENTS DAMAGE FROM PAKISTAN TANKER SPILL;

PROGRAMME OF SCIENTIFIC STUDIES, RESTORATION RECOMMENDED

(Reissued as received.)

BANGKOK, 23 September -- An international team convened to assess the environmental damage caused by oil spilled from the tanker MT Tasman Spirit has reported its findings and recommendations to the Government of Pakistan.