FIVE COUNTRIES SPEAK BEFORE CONFERENCE ON DISARMAMENT

Egypt Calls for Fair Application

of Disarmament Resolutions throughout Middle East

(Reissued as received.)

Conference on Illicit Small Arms Trade in South-Eastern Europe concludes

EXPERT REVIEW OF REGISTER OF CONVENTIONAL ARMS AT HEADQUARTERS, 17-21 MARCH

NEW YORK, 17 March (Department for Disarmament Affairs) -- A group of governmental experts on the continuing operation and further development of the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms is holding its first meeting for the year from 17 to 21 March at United Nations Headquarters.  This is the fourth review of the Register; previous reviews were conducted in 1994, 1997 and 2000.

CONFERENCE ON DISARMAMENT HEARS OFFER BY KENYA TO HOST 2004 REVIEW CONFERENCE

ON CONVENTION PROHIBITING MINES

Conference Expresses Condolences

Over Assassination of Prime Minister of Serbia and Montenegro

(Reissued as received.)

TheUnited Nations, OSCE TO HOLD Conference on Illicit Trade in Small Arms

AND LIGHT Weapons in South-Eastern Europe, 11-12 MARCH, IN SLOVENIA

ANTI-PERSONNEL MINE TREATY’S FOURTH ANNIVERSARY COINCIDES

WITH FIRST DEADLINE:  ALMOST 30 MILLION MINES DESTROYED

GENEVA, 27 February (UN Information Service) -– The 131 States parties to the Convention banning anti-personnel mines will mark the treaty’s fourth anniversary of implementation on 1 March by celebrating the fact that they have destroyed almost 30 million landmines.

SECRETARY-GENERAL’S ADVISORY BOARD ON DISARMAMENT MATTERS

TO MEET FROM 5 TO 7 FEBRUARY

CONFERENCE ON DISARMAMENT DEBATES MIDDLE EAST, NORTH KOREAN WITHDRAWAL

FROM NUCLEAR NON-PROLIFERATION TREATY, OTHER TOPICS

(Reissued as received.)

CONFERENCE ON DISARMAMENT OPENS 2003 SESSION, HEARS MESSAGE

FROM SECRETARY-GENERAL URGING END TO IMPASSE

(Reissued as received.)

GENEVA, 21 January (UN Information Service) -- The Conference on Disarmament began its 2003 session this morning, urged by United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan to "redouble its efforts to overcome its current impasse" and resume substantive work.

Background Release

CONFERENCE ON DISARMAMENT TO OPEN 2003 SESSION ON 20 JANUARY

(Reissued as received.)

GENEVA, 16 January (UN Information Service) -- The Conference on Disarmament, the world's sole multilateral forum for disarmament negotiations, will open its 2003 session on Monday, 20 January, at the Palais des Nations.  The first public plenary will take place at 10 a.m. Tuesday, 21 January.