Biographical Note

SECRETARY-GENERAL APPOINTS SPECIAL ENVOY FOR CÔTE D’IVOIRE

Secretary-General Kofi Annan appointed Albert Tevoedjre of Benin as his Special Envoy for Côte d’Ivoire today.

ENHANCED VERSION OF UN BIBLIOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM

NOW AVAILABLE ON INTERNET

The Dag Hammarskjöld Library today announced the launch of an enhanced version of the United Nations Bibliographic Information System (UNBISnet).

UNBISnet may be accessed directly at http://unbisnet.un.org or by selecting the link on the Library’s home page http://www.un.org/Depts/dhl.

Governments Back Environmental Rescue Plan For Occupied Palestinian Territories

(Reissued as received.)

NAIROBI, 7 February (UNEP) -- Action to improve the environment of the occupied Palestinian territories was given the go-ahead today by governments, in an historic decision that it is hoped will benefit the people on both sides of the conflict.

International Criminal Court

Assembly of States Parties

First Session (Resumed)

7^th Meeting (Resumed) (PM & Night)

STATES PARTIES TO INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT ELECT FINAL FOUR JUDGES;

IN TOTAL, 18 SELECTED, REQUIRING 33 BALLOTS OVER FOUR DAYS

International Criminal Court

Assembly of States Parties

First Session (Resumed)

7^th Meeting (Resumed) (AM)

JUDGE SHI JIUYONG (CHINA) ELECTED PRESIDENT OF INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE;

JUDGE RAYMOND RANJEVA (MADAGASCAR) ELECTED VICE-PRESIDENT

THE HAGUE, 6 February (ICJ) -- Today, Judge Shi Jiuyong (China) was elected

President of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) by his peers.  Judge Raymond Ranjeva (Madagascar) was elected Vice-President.  They will both serve a three-year term.

‘DIGITAL DIASPORA NETWORK’ TO PROMOTE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES IN CARIBBEAN LAUNCHED AT HEADQUARTERS

NEW YORK, 7 February (ICT Task Force) -- The Digital Diaspora Network for the Caribbean, through which Caribbean expatriates working in the high-tech sector in North America will seek to jump-start information and communication technologies initiatives in their home region, was launched on 24 January at United Nations Headquarters.

Humanitarian Envoy WARNS OF REGIONAL IMPACT FROM CÔte d’Ivoire Crisis

Background Release

SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION TO MEET AT HEADQUARTERS 10-21 FEBRUARY,

WITH FOCUS ON NATIONAL, INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION

“National and International Cooperation for Social Development” will be the focus of the forty-first session of the Commission for Social Development, to be held at Headquarters from 10 to 21 February.

SECRETARY-GENERAL WARNS OF ‘DISTURBING’ EROSION IN INTERNATIONAL NORMS

ON WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION, IN REMARKS TO DISARMAMENT BOARD

Following are the remarks of Secretary-General Kofi Annan at the meeting with the Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters in New York on 6 February: