INTERNATIONAL MEETING IN SUPPORT OF MIDDLE EAST PEACE APPROVES NICOSIA DECLARATION

Speakers at Closing Meeting Stress Urgency of Ending

Israeli Occupation, Establishing Palestinian State as Key to Peace in Region

(Received from a UN Information Officer.)

‘TANGIBLE PEACE DIVIDEND’ ALREADY IN PLACE IN AFGHANISTAN,

UNDP ADMINISTRATOR TELLS PARTICIPANTS AT SPECIAL BRIEFING

UNEP CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY

Governments to Advance Work on Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety

THE HAGUE, 17 April 2002 -- With the legally-binding Protocol on Biosafety gaining momentum towards its entry into force, delegates from over 160 governments as well as non-governmental, intergovernmental and indigenous and private sector organizations will meet here for continuing discussions from 22-26 April.

Meeting of States Parties

to Law of Sea Convention

63^rd Meeting (AM)

STATES PARTIES TO CONVENTION ON LAW OF SEA BRIEFED BY SECRETARY-GENERAL

OF INTERNATIONAL SEABED AUTHORITY

PRESS STATEMENT ON BOUGAINVILLE BY PRESIDENT OF SECURITY COUNCIL

Following is today’s press statement on Bougainville by the President of the Security Council, Sergey Lavrov (Russian Federation):

Members of the Security Council heard a briefing from Ambassador Noel Sinclair [head of the United Nations Political Office in Bougainville] on Bougainville, Papua New Guinea.

SECURITY COUNCIL PRESS STATEMENT ON REPATRIATION OF KUWAITIS,

THIRD COUNTRY NATIONALS

Following is the text of today’s press statement on the question of repatriation of Kuwaiti and third country nationals, delivered by the President of the Security Council, Sergey Lavrov (Russian Federation):

PRESS STATEMENT ON ERITREA-ETHIOPIA BOUNDARY COMMISSION

DECISION BY PRESIDENT OF SECURITY COUNCIL

Following is the press statement on the 13 April decision by the Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission, delivered by the President of the Security Council, Sergey Lavrov (Russian Federation):

GHANAIAN RURAL HEALTH INNOVATOR, REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH NGO

WIN UNITED NATIONS POPULATION AWARD

NEW YORK, 17 April 2002 (UNFPA) –- Dr. Kwasi Odoi-Agyarko, the leader of an innovative rural health programme in Ghana, and EngenderHealth, a non-governmental organization that trains and gives technical assistance to reproductive health service providers in developing countries, will share the 2002 United Nations Population Award.

PANELLISTS EXAMINE INTERNATIONAL EFFORTS TO CONTAIN

MIDDLE EAST CRISIS, RESUME DIALOGUE

(Received from a UN Information Officer.)

NICOSIA, 17 April –- The events of Sabra and Shatila were being repeated today in the Palestinian occupied territory, Jerusalem Times publisher Hanna Siniora said this morning at the International Meeting in Support of Middle East Peace.

GLOBAL WARMING TRIGGERS GLACIAL LAKES FLOOD THREAT

Himalayan Mountain Lakes at High Risk

Of Bursting Banks, with Devastating Consequences for People and Property

GENEVA/LONDON/NAIROBI, 16 April (UN Information Service) -- Nearly 50 lakes, high in the Himalayas, could burst their banks sending millions of gallons of deadly floodwaters swirling down valleys, putting at risk tens of thousands of lives, scientists are warning.