URGENT ACTION NEEDED TO MAP, PROTECT WORLD’S WILD FORESTS,

SAYS UN ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMME

CAMBRIDGE/NAIROBI, 4 August (UNEP) -- Forests in Chile, made world famous by the series ‘Walking with Dinosaurs’, have been almost destroyed by fire, killing Monkey Puzzle trees up to 2,000 years old.

SECRETARY-GENERAL CONDEMNS ‘BRUTAL MURDER’ OF UN POLICE OFFICER IN KOSOVO

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

The Secretary-General is shocked and outraged at the killing of a United Nations police officer in an attack on a police vehicle in the northern part of Kosovo.

SECRETARY-GENERAL WELCOMES ESTABLISHMENT, SWIFT DEPLOYMENT

OF LIBERIA MULTINATIONAL FORCE

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

PRESS STATEMENT ON GUINEA-BISSAU BY SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT

Following is the press statement on Guinea-Bissau delivered today by Security Council President Mikhail Wehbe (Syria):

Security Council

4804^th Meeting (PM)

SECURITY COUNCIL AUTHORIZES WEST AFRICAN, FRENCH FORCES

IN CÔTE D’IVOIRE FOR SIX MORE MONTHS

COMMITTEE ON ELIMINATION OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION OPENS

SIXTY-THIRD SESSION AT THE PALAIS DES NATIONS

Hears Address by Acting High Commissioner for Human Rights

(Reissued as received.)

ACTING HUMAN RIGHTS CHIEF CONDEMNS SUICIDE BOMBING

OF RUSSIAN MILITARY HOSPITAL

The following statement was issued today by the spokesman for the Acting United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights:

SECRETARY-GENERAL ENCOURAGED BY PROSPECT OF EARLY

SIX-WAY TALKS ON KOREAN ISSUES

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

SEABED COMMISSION AGREES TO LOOK AT HIGH SEAS BIODIVERSITY

(Reissued as received.)

KINGSTON, 31 July (International Seabed Authority) -- The Legal and Technical Commission of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) agreed in Kingston this afternoon on steps to involve itself more closely in biodiversity issues relating to deep-sea mineral exploration and exploitation.

Security Council

4803^rd Meeting (Evening)

SECURITY COUNCIL AUTHORIZES MULTINATIONAL FORCE TO SUPPORT CEASEFIRE IN LIBERIA

Resolution 1497 (2003) Adopted by 12-0-3 (France, Germany, Mexico);

Also Declares Readiness to Deploy UN Peacekeeping Force by 1 October