Background Release

COMMITTEE AGAINST TORTURE TO HOLD TWENTY-SIXTH SESSION AT PALAIS WILSON

IN GENEVA FROM 30 APRIL TO 18 MAY 2001

Panel Scheduled to Consider Reports from Georgia, Greece,

Bolivia, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Brazil, Kazakhstan and Costa Rica

(Reissued as received.)

MESSAGE FROM GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT ON ANNIVERSARY

OF CHERNOBYL NUCLEAR DISASTER

Following is the text of a message from the President of the General Assembly, Harri Holkeri (Finland), on the occasion of the fifteenth anniversary of Chernobyl nuclear disaster on 26 April 2001:

FIGHT AGAINST INFECTIOUS DISEASES WILL REQUIRE WILL POWER, RESOURCES

AND CAPACITIES, ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT TELLS AFRICAN LEADERS SUMMIT

Following is the text of a statement made by General Assembly President Harri Holkeri (Finland) at the African Summit on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Other Infectious Diseases in Abuja, Nigeria:

DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL DESCRIBES VISION, ACCOMPLISHMENTS

OF ‘NEW’ UNITED NATIONS, IN NEW YORK ADDRESS

Following is the text of an address given by Deputy Secretary-General Louise Fréchetteto the annual luncheon meeting of the Pilgrims of the United States in New York on 25 April:

SECRETARY-GENERAL CALLS FOR GREATER ASSISTANCE FOR CHERNOBYL VICTIMS

Following is the text of a statement made today -– the fifteenth anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident –- by Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

SECRETARY-GENERAL EXPRESSES SADNESS AT DEATH OF REVEREND LEON SULLIVAN

Following is the text of a statement from Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

Security Council                                            SC/7052/Rev.1**

FIFTEEN YEARS AFTER CHERNOBYL NUCLEAR ACCIDENT,

UN CALLS FOR MORE ASSISTANCE TO VICTIMS

ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY DESCRIBES DISASTROUS IMPACT, ‘LESSONS LEARNED’

FIFTEEN YEARS AFTER CHERNOBYL ACCIDENT

VIENNA, 25 April (IAEA) -- When the news of an accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant came out, it shocked the world.  The accident was by far the most devastating in the history of nuclear power, and the people of the region continue to live with its consequences.

Security Council

4314^th Meeting (PM)*

IN PRESIDENTIAL STATEMENT, SECURITY COUNCIL SAYS LACK OF PROGRESS ON KEY ISSUES

REGARDING CONFLICT IN ABKHAZIA, GEORGIA, IS UNACCEPTABLE

The continued lack of progress on key issues concerning a comprehensive settlement of the conflict in Abkhazia, Georgia, was unacceptable, the Security Council stressed in a statement this afternoon.