UNEP HELPS SPEARHEAD GREAT APE RESCUE MISSION

‘Kano Two’ Gorillas Going Home Following

Historic Deal between Cameroon and Nigeria

LAGOS/NAIROBI, 23 May (UNEP) -- A pair of western lowland gorillas, among the rarest and most endangered species in the world, will today jet out of Nigeria to a new life after being rescued from the clutches of the illegal pet trade.

SECRETARY-GENERAL ‘DEEPLY SADDENED’ BY HEAVY LOSS OF LIFE

FOLLOWING ALGERIAN EARTHQUAKE, OFFERS UN ASSISTANCE

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

SECRETARY-GENERAL PLEDGES UN SUPPORT TO IRAQ IN ‘COMPLEX AND DIFFICULT’

TASKS AHEAD, IN MESSAGE TO SECURITY COUNCIL

Following is the text of remarks, as delivered, by Secretary-General Kofi Annan to today’s Security Council meeting on “The Situation between Iraq and Kuwait” in New York:

SECRETARY-GENERAL APPOINTS WILLIAM LACY SWING AS NEW SPECIAL

REPRESENTATIVE FOR DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO

In a letter dated 16 May 2003, addressed to the President of the Security Council, the Secretary-General informed Council members of his intention to appoint William Lacy Swing of the United States to succeed Amos Namanga Ngongi as his Special Representative for the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). 

Security Council

4762^nd Meeting (AM & PM)

LACK OF SECURITY SERIOUS HINDRANCE TO RELIEF EFFORTS IN IRAQ,

TOP UN OFFICIALS TELL SECURITY COUNCIL

Security Council

4761^st Meeting (AM)

SECURITY COUNCIL LIFTS SANCTIONS ON IRAQ, APPROVES UN ROLE, CALLS

FOR APPOINTMENT OF SECRETARY-GENERAL’S SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE

UNRWA PLEDGES TO CONTINUE OPERATIONS IN GAZA

AMMAN, 22 May (UNRWA) -- The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has told a meeting of its major donors that it will not halt its humanitarian operations in the Gaza Strip as a consequence of the closure imposed by the Israeli authorities.

Committee on NGOs

24^th & 25^th Meetings (AM & PM)

NGO COMMITTEE APPROVES THREE ORGANIZATIONS FOR CONSULTATIVE STATUS

WITH ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL, DEFERS FOUR APPLICATIONS

Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues

Second Session

17^th Meeting (PM)

NEED FOR FORMAL COMPLAINT PROCEDURES, EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATIONS STRATEGIES,

INCREASED FUNDING HIGHLIGHTED IN PERMANENT FORUM ON INDIGENOUS ISSUES

DIVERSIFICATION IS BEST LONG-TERM SURVIVAL STRATEGY OF PLANET’S SPECIES,

SAYS GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT

Following is the message by Jan Kavan, President of the General Assembly, for the International Day for Biological Diversity, 22 May 2003: