INVESTMENT CLIMATE IN AFRICAN COUNTRIES IS REVIEWED

AT ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL ROUND TABLE

SECRETARY-GENERAL, ADDRESSING ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL URGES

INCREASED GLOBAL SUPPORT FOR AFRICAN INITIATIVES

GENEVA, 16 July (UN Information Service) -- Secretary-General Kofi Annan told the Economic and Social Council this morning that there should be an expanded international commitment to African development based on support for local African programmes for economic advancement.

ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL CONCLUDES HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS SEGMENT;

ADOPTS VICE-PRESIDENT'S SUMMARY

(Reissued as received.)

SECRETARY-GENERAL TO ATTEND HIGH-LEVEL MEETING ON STRATEGY

FOR EASING UNEMPLOYMENT AMONG WORLD’S YOUTH

Leaders of World Bank and ILO Will Join Geneva Parley

GENEVA, 13 July (UN Information Service) -- With the world’s major economies slowing down and threatening the growth prospects of developing countries, the unemployment of youth –- those between the ages of 15 and 24 –- who account for

ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL TO EMBARK ON IN-DEPTH DISCUSSION

ON RAISING AFRICA OUT OF CONFLICT, UNDER-DEVELOPMENT

(Reissued as received.)

GENEVA, 13 July (UN Information Service) -- The United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) will embark on Monday, 16 July, on an in-depth discussion of ways and means to set Africa, a continent in the most harrowing circumstances, on the path to lasting peace and sustainable development.

United Nations Conference on the

Illicit Trade in Small Arms

8^th Meeting (AM)

CIVIL SOCIETY GROUPS HIGHLIGHT IMPACT OF FIREARMS INJURIES,

GUN OWNERSHIP RIGHTS IN SMALL ARMS CONFERENCE DEBATE

United Nations Conference on the

Illicit Trade in Small Arms

8^th Meeting (AM)

CIVIL SOCIETY GROUPS HIGHLIGHT IMPACT OF FIREARMS INJURIES,

GUN OWNERSHIP RIGHTS IN SMALL ARMS CONFERENCE DEBATE

Committee on Elimination of

Discrimination against Women

Twenty-fifth Session

523^rd Meeting (PM)

ANDORRA AWAITS IMPACT OF NEWLY CREATED MINISTRY FOR FAMILY

ON PROGRESS TOWARDS ADVANCEMENT FOR WOMEN

Committee Chairperson, Commending Country’s Initiative,

Committee on Elimination of

Discrimination against Women

Twenty-fifth Session

522^nd Meeting (AM)

SINGAPORE DELEGATES, DESCRIBING COMPLIANCE WITH WOMEN’S CONVENTION, SAY

ACCOUNT MUST BE TAKEN OF CULTURAL TRADITION, NEED FOR STABILITY

SECRETARY-GENERAL, IN BERLIN, CALLS INTOLERANCE ‘A MANY-HEADED MONSTER’,

ASKS GERMANY TO PLAY ACTIVE PART IN DURBAN RACISM CONFERENCE

   Following is the text of today’s address by Secretary-General Kofi Annan to the Freie Universität, Berlin: