EXPLORING ROOT CAUSES OF CONFLICT ONLY WAY TO BUILD ENDURING PEACE,

SAYS SECRETARY-GENERAL IN MESSAGE TO BEIRUT MEETING

Following is Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s message to the twenty-second session of the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), delivered by Mervat Tallawy, Executive Secretary, ESCWA, in Beirut on 14 April:

SECRETARY-GENERAL SAYS UN NATURAL HOME FOR NEEDED DIALOGUE AMONG TRADE,

DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTIONS, IN STATEMENT TO HIGH-LEVEL ECOSOC MEETING

Following is the statement of Secretary-General Kofi Annan, delivered on his behalf by Deputy Secretary-General Louise Fréchette, to the special high-level meeting of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) with the Bretton Woods institutions and the World Trade Organization in New York on 14 April:

PRESS STATEMENT BY SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT ON KOSOVO

Following is the press statement on Kosovo, delivered today by Council President Adolfo Aguilar Zinser (Mexico):

Members of the Security Council strongly supported the decisions by the Secretary General’s Special Representative in Kosovo, Michael Steiner, to declare as having no legal effect the enactment of legislation on Higher Education by the Kosovo Assembly on 3 April 2003.

PRESS STATEMENT ON SOMALIA BY SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT

Following is the press statement on Somalia, delivered today by Council President Adolfo Aguilar Zinser (Mexico):

Security Council

4740^th Meeting (PM)

SECURITY COUNCIL REGRETS FAILURE TO REACH AGREEMENT ON SETTLEMENT PLAN

FOR CYPRUS, CITING ‘NEGATIVE APPROACH’ OF TURKISH CYPRIOT LEADERS

Unanimously Adopts Resolution 1475 (2003); Says Secretary-General’s

Plan ‘Carefully Balanced’, Provides ‘Unique Basis’ for Further Negotiations

Note to Correspondents

‘CZECH PRESS PHOTO –- FLOODS IN CENTRAL EUROPE’ EXHIBIT

TO OPEN AT HEADQUARTERS 24 APRIL

Jan Kavan (Czech Republic), President of the fifty-seventh session of the United Nations General Assembly, will open “Czech Press Photo -– Floods in Central Europe” on Thursday, 24 April, at 5:30 p.m. in the United Nations Visitors’ Lobby.  Guests are required to enter from the First Avenue and 46^th Street entrance.

HR/CN/1032

COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS ADOPTS RESOLUTIONS ON SELF-DETERMINATION,

DEFAMATION OF RELIGION

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs

of Georgia Speaks; Debate Begins on Remaining Agenda Items

(Reissued as received.)

COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS CONCLUDES GENERAL DEBATE

ON RIGHTS OF THE CHILD

Hears Address by President of Bundestag

Commission on Human Rights and Humanitarian Aid

(Reissued as received.)

GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT SAYS UN MEETING OF FINANCE, TRADE INSTITUTIONS OFFERS HOPE FOR MORE PROFOUND PROGRESS IN ACHIEVING ANTI-POVERTY GOALS

Following is the statement by the President of the General Assembly, Jan Kavan (Czech Republic), to the special high-level meeting with the Bretton Woods institutions and the World Trade Organization in New York on Monday, 14 April:

SECRETARY-GENERAL URGES DEVELOPED COUNTRIES TO ‘DRAMATICALLY REDUCE’

AGRICULTURAL SUBSIDIES, AT HIGH-LEVEL ECOSOC MEETING