Background Release

PREPARATORY COMMITTEE FOR THE 2005 NUCLEAR NON-PROLIFERATION TREATY

REVIEW CONFERENCE TO MEET IN GENEVA 28 APRIL – 9 MAY

BLACK SEA ECONOMIC COOPERATION ORGANIZATION IS VALUABLE PARTNER

OF UNITED NATIONS SYSTEM, SECRETARY-GENERAL SAYS

Following is the message by Secretary-General Kofi Annan to the eighth meeting of the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization (BSEC), delivered by Sergei Ordzhonikidze,
Director-General, United Nations Office at Geneva, in Yerevan, on 18 April:

International Criminal Court

Assembly of States Parties

First Session (Resumed)

10^th Meeting (PM)

International Criminal Court

Assembly of States Parties

First Session (Resumed)

9^th Meeting* (AM)

STATES PARTIES TO ROME STATUTE ELECT LUIS MORENO OCAMPO

AS PROSECUTOR OF INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT

The Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, meeting in its second resumed first session this morning, elected Luis Moreno Ocampo of Argentina as Prosecutor of the Court.

UN DRUG COMMISSION CONCLUDES MINISTERIAL SEGMENTS;

ADOPTS MEASURES TO ENHANCE DRUG CONTROL EFFORTS

(Reissued as received.)

UN MINISTERIAL MEETING FOCUSES ON LINKS BETWEEN DRUG TRAFFICKING

AND OTHER FORMS OF ORGANIZED CRIME

(Reissued as received.)

DRUG COMMISSION CONTINUES MINISTERIAL-LEVEL MEETING

TO REVIEW EFFORTS TO TACKLE GLOBAL DRUG PROBLEM

(Reissued as received.)

VIENNA, 16 April (UN Information Service) -- Ministers assessed progress achieved and difficulties encountered in meeting the goals and targets set out in the Political Declaration adopted at the 1998 General Assembly special session, particularly with regard to cannabis.

RIGHT TO LIVE FREE FROM INTIMIDATION, FORCED EXPULSION MUST BE RESPECTED,

SAYS SECRETARY-GENERAL, FOLLOWING REPORTS OF VIOLENCE IN NORTHERN IRAQ

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

VITAL TO HEAL DIVISIONS CREATED BY IRAQ, REUNITE AROUND BASIC PRINCIPLES

TO GUIDE FUTURE ACTIONS, SAYS SECRETARY-GENERAL IN ATHENS STATEMENT

Following is the statement of Secretary-General Kofi Annan to the European Conference in Athens, 17 April:

It is a great honour for me to join you on this historic occasion.

PRESS STATEMENT ON CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC BY SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT

Following is the press statement on the Central African Republic by Security Council President Adolfo Aguilar Zinser (Mexico):

Members of the Council heard a briefing by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, General Lamine Cissé.