Background Release

ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL TO BEGIN ANNUAL SESSION ON 30 JUNE

WITH HIGH-LEVEL MEETING ON RURAL DEVELOPMENT

Scheduled to Conclude on 25 July, Council Will Also Consider

UN Development Activities, Coordination Issues, Humanitarian Affairs, Conference Follow-up

Economic and Social Council

2003 Organizational Session

12^th Meeting (AM)

ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL APPROVES OBSERVER STATUS FOR THREE ORGANIZATIONS

The Economic and Social Council, in a brief meeting this morning, decided to grant observer status to the Islamic Development Bank; the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization; and the Common Fund for Commodities.

UNIDO NAMED FIFTH CORE AGENCY OF GLOBAL COMPACT

Number of Companies Participating Now

Exceeds 1,000 -- Many Are Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises

(Delayed in transmission.)

NEW YORK, 6 June (Office of the Global Compact) -- The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) has been named the fifth United Nations core agency of the Global Compact, responsible for small- and medium-sized enterprises engaged in the initiative.

UNITED NATIONS COMMODITY TRADE DATABASE GOES PUBLIC

Over 700 Million Trade Records,

Covering 40 Years, Now Accessible Online

Economic and Social Council

2003 Organizational Session

11^th Meeting (AM)

Economic and Social Council

2003 Organizational Session

10^th Meeting (AM)

Economic and Social Council

High-Level Segment Preparatory

AM & PM Meeting

RURAL DEVELOPMENT CRITICAL TO MEETING ANTI-POVERTY GOALS SET

AT 2000 MILLENNIUM SUMMIT, ECOSOC TOLD

Series of Round Table Discussions Held

in Preparation for High-Level Segment in Geneva

ESCALATING CRISIS IN RURAL AFRICA MAIN CONCERN AT ECOSOC MEETING

OF MINISTERS, UN AGENCY HEADS IN NEW YORK, 30 APRIL

Economic and Social Council

2003 Organizational Session

9^th Meeting (AM)

ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL ELECTS MEMBERS OF HUMAN RIGHTS

COMMISSION, OTHER SUBSIDIARY BODIES

The Economic and Social Council this morning filled vacancies on a number of its subsidiary bodies, including the Commission on Human Rights, to which it elected 24 members.

Economic and Social Council

Special High-Level Meeting

7^th & 8^th Meetings (AM & PM)

ECOSOC MEETS WITH BRETTON WOODS INSTITUTIONS, WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION;

AIMS AT ‘POLICY COHERENCE’ IN IMPLEMENTING MONTERREY COMMITMENTS

Secretary-General Says UN Natural Home for Needed