UNLESS ADEQUATELY ADDRESSED, PROLIFERATION OF SMALL ARMS, MERCENARIES WILL

CONTINUE TO POSE SEVERE THREAT TO WEST AFRICA, SECRETARY-GENERAL SAYS

Following is the text of remarks, as delivered, by Secretary-General Kofi Annan, to today’s Security Council meeting on “Proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons and the Phenomenon of Mercenaries:  Threats to Peace and Security in West Africa” in New York: 

Security Council

4720^th Meeting (AM & PM)

SECURITY COUNCIL CALLS FOR STRENGTHENED COOPERATION IN WEST AFRICA

TO COUNTER SMALL ARMS TRAFFICKING

RENEWED FIGHTING IN LIBERIA DISPLACES MORE CIVILIANS

NEW YORK, 18 March (OCHA) -- Fighting between Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy Rebels and Liberian Government forces in Liberia’s Bong County has caused an estimated 15,000 persons to flee the town of Gbarnga toward Totota, where there are already an estimated 60,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs).  There are unconfirmed reports that another

SECRETARY-GENERAL AUTHORIZES WITHDRAWAL OF UNITED NATIONS PERSONNEL FROM IRAQ

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

SECRETARY-GENERAL STRONGLY DEPLORES ISRAEL’S CONTINUING GAZA STRIP RAIDS

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

SECRETARY-GENERAL CONCERNED BY RAPIDLY DETERIORATING SITUATION

IN ITURI REGION OF DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO

The Secretary-General is very concerned by the rapidly deteriorating situation in Ituri, in particular the dangerous rise in the tensions between Rwanda and Uganda.  Everything must be done to ensure that further military confrontations do not erupt in this region, as they would undermine the recent hard-won gains in the peace process.

SECRETARY-GENERAL CONDEMNS COUP D’ETAT IN CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

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

Biographical Note

SECRETARY-GENERAL APPOINTS AKIO NOMURA DIRECTOR OF UN INFORMATION CENTRE IN TOKYO

Secretary-General Kofi Annan has appointed Akio Nomura as the Director of the United Nations Information Centre in Tokyo.  He will take up his duties on

17 March 2003.

IAEA DIRECTOR-GENERAL ADVISED BY U.S. GOVERNMENT TO PULL OUT INSPECTORS

FROM BAGHDAD; SEEKS GUIDANCE FROM SECURITY COUNCIL

(Reissued as received.)

HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE OPENS SEVENTY-SEVENTH SESSION

Elects Officers, Adopts Programme of Work

(Reissued as received.)