PRESS STATEMENT ON AFGHANISTAN BY SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT

Following is today's press statement by Security Council President Jagdish Koonjul (Mauritius) concerning Afghanistan:

Security Council members were briefed by the Under-Secretary-General Sir Kieran Prendergast on the situation in Afghanistan.

Biographical Note

NEW PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF MALAWI PRESENTS CREDENTIALS

(Based on information received from the Protocol and Liaison Service.)

Isaac Chikwekwere Lamba, the new Permanent Representative of Malawi to the United Nations, presented his credentials today to Secretary-General, Kofi Annan.

Biographical Note

NEW PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF LESOTHO PRESENTS CREDENTIALS

(Based on information received from the Protocol and Liaison Service.)

Lebohang Kenneth Moleko, the new Permanent Representative of Lesotho to the United Nations, presented his credentials today to Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

Biographical Note                                           BIO/3403*

SECRETARY-GENERAL URGES PARTIES TO CONFLICT IN COLOMBIA ‘TO MAKE

EVERY POSSIBLE EFFORT’ TO RESOLVE CURRENT CRISIS

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

RECONCILIATION, REHABILITATION IN SOMALIA ARE KEY CONCERNS, SAYS SECRETARY-GENERAL

Somalia's Leaders Must Rise above Differences and Put Interests of Peace First

Following is the message of Secretary-General Kofi Annan to the Summit Meeting of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), delivered by Mohamed Sahnoun, Special Adviser to the Secretary-General, in Khartoum,

10-11 January:

PRESS STATEMENT ON CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC BY SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT

Following is today's press statement by Security Council President Jagdish Koonjul (Mauritius) concerning the Central African Republic:

Members of the Security Council expressed their deep concern over the increasing problems affecting the political and economic situation in the Central African Republic.

Background Release                                          HR/4578

UN Projects Gross World Product growth of only 1.5 per cent in 2002;

Background Release

WOMEN'S ANTI-DISCRIMINATION COMMITTEE TO HOLD TWENTY-SIXTH SESSION

IN NEW YORK, 14 JANUARY - 1 FEBRUARY

Will Review Reports of Eight States Parties

NEW YORK, 9 January (Division for Advancement of Women) -- The twenty-sixth session of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women

will take place at United Nations Headquarters in New York from 14 January to

1 February 2002.