SEABED ASSEMBLY APPROVES FINANCE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS,

INCLUDING FUNDS FOR DEVELOPING-COUNTRY PARTICIPATION

(Reissued as received.)

SEABED COUNCIL ENDS SESSION AFTER AGREEING TO TAP NONBUDGET FUNDS

FOR TRAVEL OF SOME MEMBERS OF ITS EXPERT BODIES

(Reissued as received.)

PALESTINE RELIEF AGENCY WELCOMES NEW UNITED STATES PLEDGE TO EMERGENCY APPEAL

GAZA, 6 August, (UNRWA) -- Peter Hansen, Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), today warmly welcomed the news that the United States will pledge up to $26 million to the Agency’s sixth emergency appeal for the occupied Palestinian territory.  The current appeal covers the six-month period to the end of December, 2003.

PACIFIC NATIONS START TALKS FOR INTERNATIONAL MEETING

ON SMALL ISLAND DEVELOPING STATES

APIA, SAMOA, 5 August -- The first multinational gathering leading up to next year’s International Meeting on Small Island Developing States is taking place in Apia, Samoa this week to review the progress achieved in ensuring the positive long-term development of small islands.

SEABED ASSEMBLY DISCUSSES SECRETARY-GENERAL’S ANNUAL REPORT

(Reissued as received.)

KINGSTON, 5 August (ISA) -- The Assembly of the International Seabed Authority, meeting this afternoon in Kingston, began its discussion of the report on the Authority’s activities during the past year and plans for its future work.  The report (document ISBA/9/A/3) was presented by the Secretary-General, Satya N. Nandan, at this morning’s meeting.

SEABED COUNCIL NOTES LEGAL AND TECHNICAL COMMISSION REPORT

ON RULES FOR SULPHIDES AND CRUSTS, BIODIVERSITY ISSUES

CORRECTION

In Press Release SEA/1781, issued yesterday, 5 August, the second and third paragraphs from the bottom of page 4 should read:

Security Council

4805^th Meeting (AM)

BOUGAINVILLE PEACE PROCESS CAN PROCEED WITH REMAINING STEPS, AS SECOND STAGE

OF WEAPONS COLLECTION COMPLETED, SECURITY COUNCIL TOLD

UNITED NATIONS HUMANITARIAN AGENCIES REQUEST $69 MILLION

IN EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE FOR LIBERIA

United Nations humanitarian agencies requested $69 million in emergency assistance for Liberia this morning at Headquarters, with Secretary-General Kofi Annan saying, “The logic of this emergency appeal is simple:  without urgent action more lives will be lost.”

UNITED NATIONS CANNOT CONDONE PERSECUTION, DISCRIMINATION ‘ON ANY GROUNDS’, SAYS

SECRETARY-GENERAL, FOLLOWING HEADQUARTERS EVENT ON RIGHTS OF LESBIANS, GAYS

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

SECRETARY-GENERAL COMMENDS REGIONAL RESPONSE TO SOLOMON ISLANDS CRISIS

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