Press Release

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:

SECRETARY-GENERAL HORRIFIED BY JAKARTA BOMB ATTACK; CONDEMNS

‘DESPICABLE’ ACT IN STRONGEST POSSIBLE TERMS

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

The Secretary-General is horrified at the bomb explosion today at the Marriott Hotel in Jakarta, reportedly killing at least 10 people and injuring many more.  He condemns in the strongest possible terms this apparent act of terrorism.

STRATEGIES NEEDED TO OFFER YOUNG CHANCE AT DECENT, PRODUCTIVE WORK

SAYS SECRETARY-GENERAL ON INTERNATIONAL YOUTH DAY

Following is Secretary-GeneralKofi Annan’s message on International Youth Day, observed 12 August:

COUNCIL EXAMINES FINANCE COMMITTEE REPORT, INCLUDING PLAN TO CONTINUE

FUND FOR DEVELOPING COUNTRY PARTICIPATION

CORRECTION

COUNCIL EXAMINES FINANCE COMMITTEE REPORT, INCLUDING PLAN TO CONTINUE

FUND FOR DEVELOPING COUNTRY PARTICIPATION

(Reissued as received.)

DOMENICO DA EMPOLI OF ITALY, PRESIDENT OF SEABED COUNCIL FOR 2003

(Reissued as received.)

KINGSTON, 4 August -- Domenico da Empoli (Italy), who was elected today as President of the Council of the International Seabed Authority at its ninth session (2003) in Kingston, is professor of public finance and public accounting at the University of Rome.

SEABED COUNCIL NOTES LEGAL AND TECHNICAL COMMISSION REPORT ON RULES

FOR SULPHIDES AND CRUSTS, BIODIVERSITY ISSUES

(Reissued as received.)

KINGSTON, 4 August -- Commencing this morning the substantive work of its current session in Kingston, the Council of the International Seabed Authority discussed and took note of the report of its Legal and Technical Commission.

PROTOCOL TO CONTROL PERSISTENT ORGANIC POLLUTANTS TO ENTER INTO FORCE

GENEVA, 5 August (ECE) -- France has become the sixteenth country to ratify the Protocol on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs).  The Protocol will, consequently, enter into force on 23 October 2003.

Committee on the Inalienable Rights

of the Palestinian People

273^rd Meeting (AM)