ECOSOC CONCLUDES GENERAL DISCUSSION ON IMPLEMENTATION OF PROGRAMME

OF ACTION FOR LEAST DEVELOPED COUNTRIES

(Reissued as received.)

GENEVA, 17 July (UN Information Service) -- The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) this morning concluded its general discussion on the review and coordination of the implementation of the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2001-2010 -- the Brussels Programme of Action.

SITUATION OF WORLD’S LEAST DEVELOPED COUNTRIES NOT MUCH BETTER SINCE 2001

GENEVA, 17 July (UN Information Service) -- Halting progress in the world’s 49 least developed countries (LDC’s) was reported this week to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), along with a call to set their plight higher on the international agenda.

SECRETARY-GENERAL EMPHASIZES NEED FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF DAW AUNG SAN SUU KYI IN MEETING WITH MYANMAR’S DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER

Following is the statement by Secretary-General Kofi Annan after the conclusion of his meeting this afternoon with U Khin Maung Win, Deputy Foreign Minister and Special Envoy of the Union of Myanmar:

SECRETARY-GENERAL ‘VERY PLEASED’ AT APPOINTMENT OF OLUYEMI ADENIJI

AS FOREIGN MINISTER OF NIGERIA

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

SECRETARY-GENERAL ‘STRONGLY CONDEMNS’ COUP D’ÉTAT IN SAO TOME AND PRINCIPE

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

The Secretary-General strongly condemns the coup d’état in Sao Tome and Principe and calls for the immediate and unconditional restoration of constitutional order.  He also calls for the prompt release of government officials detained during the coup.

PRESS STATEMENT ON SOMALIA BY SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT

Following is today’s press statement on Somalia by Security Council President Inocencio F. Arias (Spain):

Members of the Security Council heard an update from the Secretariat at informal consultations on 16 July on the developments in Somalia since the publication of the report of the Secretary-General of 10 June (document S/2003/636).

MANAGING CORN PEST IN CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE

Italy Funds Three-Year Regional

Project Under FAO Trust Fund for Food Security

(Reissued as received.)

ROME, 16 July (FAO) -- The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations will help seven countries in Central and Eastern Europe to control the spread of the western corn rootworm, a major threat to corn production in the region.

TWO-DAY UN SEMINAR ON ASSISTANCE TO PALESTINIAN PEOPLE CONCLUDES

(Reissued as received.)

SEMINAR ON ASSISTANCE TO PALESTINIAN PEOPLE HOLDS PANEL

ON COPING STRATEGIES FOR PALESTINIAN ECONOMY

Speakers Underline Difficulties Resulting from

Dependence of Palestinian Economy on Israel International Aid

(Reissued as received.)

ECOSOC CONTINUES CONSIDERATION OF FOLLOW-UP TO MAJOR

UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCES, SUMMITS

Speakers Stress Need for Monitoring Mechanisms, Political

Will, Harmonization, and Increased Dialogue with Bretton Woods Institutions

(Reissued as received.)