IMPACT OF PAST ON GLOBALIZATION, MIDDLE EAST ARE MAJOR

DISCRIMINATION AGAINST MINORITIES, MIDDLE EAST, REPARATIONS FOR SLAVERY

AMONG ISSUES RAISED AT WORLD CONFERENCE AGAINST RACISM

OPENING SESSION OF CONFERENCE GENERAL DEBATE FOCUSES

ON ADDRESSING LEGACY OF SLAVERY, COLONIALISM

DURBAN, 1 September -- Several heads of State and other top government officials from countries around the world this morning spoke on the scourge of racial hatred and the need to broaden practices of tolerance, as the United Nations World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance opened its general debate.

WORKING GROUP COMMENCES REVIEW OF DRAFT PROGRAMME OF ACTION

AFTER LENGTHY PROCEDURAL DISCUSSION

Approves Paragraphs on Development of Capacity–Building

Programmes and Access to Justice Systems for Those of African Descent

ANTI-DISCRIMINATION MESSAGE VITAL, ANNAN TELLS BUSINESS LEADERS

DURBAN, 31 August 2001 -- It is vital that company heads send a consistent message that they will not tolerate discrimination in hiring or promotion practices and make clear that their companies will uphold human rights in their operations, Secretary-General Kofi Annan said this afternoon.

Round Tableof Heads

of State/Government

HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT DEBATE ACTION AGAINST RACISM

Secretary-General Urges Participants

To Use Their Power to Enhance National Dialogue

Opening Session

WORLD CONFERENCE AGAINST RACISM OPENS IN DURBAN

South African President Mbeki Tells Conference

‘We Must Defeat Consequences of Slavery, Colonialism, Racism’

DELEGATES’ CONSTRUCTIVE SPIRIT GIVES HOPE FOR SUCCESSFUL CONFERENCE,

SAYS SECRETARY-GENERAL OF RACISM CONFERENCE

DURBAN -- Following is a summary of a press briefing held by Mary Robinson, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and Secretary-General of the World Conference against Racism, on 4 September in Durban, South Africa:

SECRETARY-GENERAL OF CONFERENCE URGES DELEGATES TO SHOW CONSTRUCTIVE

SPIRIT TO ENSURE DURBAN MEETS ASPIRATION OF VICTIMS

DURBAN -- Following is the text of the statement of Mary Robinson, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and Secretary-General of the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, to the plenary of the Conference on 4 September:

HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS CALLS FOR INTENSIFIED EFFORTS

AFTER UNITED STATES, ISRAEL LEAVE WORLD CONFERENCE