Note to Correspondents

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF SOLIDARITY WITH DETAINED STAFF MEMBERS

TO BE OBSERVED ON 25 MARCH

To draw attention on the staff members who have been arrested, detained, abducted or "disappeared" while in the service of the United Nations, the eighteenth annual International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members will be observed on Tuesday, 25 March.

Note to Correspondents

ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL MEETS 24 MARCH ON MEANS TO ATTACK RURAL POVERTY

The 2003 focus of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) on rural development as a key in the fight against poverty kicks off today at an open session attended by international experts.

‘GARDEN OF EDEN’ IN SOUTHERN IRAQ LIKELY TO DISAPPEAR COMPLETELY

IN FIVE YEARS UNLESS URGENT ACTION TAKEN

UNEP Says Post-War Rehabilitation Should Include

Marshlands of Mesopotamia for Sake of People and Wildlife

(Reissued as received.)

FOREIGN MINISTER OF FRANCE TO COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS:

WORLD IS LIVING DRAMATIC EVENTS WITH IRAQ CRISIS

Commission Continues to Debate Right of Peoples to Self-Determination

(Reissued as received.)

GENEVA, 24 March (UN Information Service) -- Dominique de Villepin, the French Foreign Minister, this morning told the Commission on Human Rights that the world was living dramatic events with regard to the crisis in Iraq.

COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS TAKES UP DISCUSSION OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION

(Reissued as received.)

GENEVA, 24 March (UN Information Service) -- The Commission on Human Rights began this afternoon its annual discussion of racism and racial discrimination, hearing a number of requests from national delegations for more vigorous efforts to implement the Declaration and Programme of Action of the Durban World Conference against Racism and Racial Discrimination.

PRESS STATEMENT ON SIERRA LEONE BY SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT

Following is the press statement on Sierra Leone delivered by Security Council President Mamady Traoré (Guinea):

The members of the Council considered the situation in Sierra Leone and the situation of the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) on the basis of the Secretary-General’s latest report (document S/2003/321).

PRESS STATEMENT ON IRAQ BY SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT

Following is the text of a statement to the press on Iraq by Security Council President Mamady Traoré (Guinea):

The Members of the Security Council welcomed the Secretary General’s proposals concerning the emergency humanitarian plan in Iraq and decided that they provide a good working basis.

UNFPA PREPARES TO AID PREGNANT IRAQI WOMEN

(Reissued as received.)

NEW YORK, 21 March (UNFPA) -- To protect the health of pregnant women displaced by the war in Iraq, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has put essential medical supplies and equipment in place inside the country and at sites in neighbouring countries where refugees are anticipated.

UNEP'S POST-CONFLICT ASSESSMENT UNIT INITIATES STUDY OF ENVIRONMENT IN IRAQ

(Reissued as received.)

NAIROBI/GENEVA, 21 March (UNEP) -- The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) today announced that its Post-Conflict Assessment Unit has initiated a desk study of the environment in Iraq.

HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION BEGINS DEBATE ON SELF-DETERMINATION

Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Thailand,

Chairman of Committee on Elimination of Racial Discrimination also Speak

(Reissued as received.)