ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL ADOPTS MINISTERIAL DECLARATION

ON PROMOTING RURAL DEVELOPMENT FOR POVERTY ERADICATION

Concludes High-Level Segment on Promoting

Integrated Approach to Rural Development in Developing Countries

(Reissued as received.)

UNITED NATIONS GLOBAL COMPACT ANNOUNCES MILESTONE:

1,000 BUSINESSES NOW PARTICIPATING

REPRESENTATIVES OF 19 COUNTRIES, EIGHT ORGANIZATIONS ADDRESS

HIGH-LEVEL SEGMENT OF ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL

(Reissued as received.)

ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL HEARS FROM GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS

ON HOW TO ADDRESS RURAL POVERTY

Introductory Statements Delivered by Under-Secretary-General

For Economic and Social Affairs, Vice-Chairman of Committee for Development Policy

(Reissued as received.)

UN SECRETARY-GENERAL ADDRESSES ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL AT

BEGINNING OF SUBSTANTIVE 2003 SESSION

High-level Policy Dialogue Held with Four

Executive Heads of International Trade and Finance Institutions

(Reissued as received.)

ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL BEGINS HIGH-LEVEL SEGMENT

ON INTEGRATED APPROACH TO RURAL DEVELOPMENT

Four Ministerial Round-Table Discussions Held

To Discuss Integrated Rural Development Strategies

(Reissued as received.)

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

TRADE SLUMP, UNEMPLOYMENT HOLD BACK WORLD ECONOMIC GROWTH,

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.