PRESS CONFERENCE BY COSTA RICA’S PRESIDENT

Abel Pacheco, President of Costa Rica, told correspondents at a Headquarters press conference today that his Government was opposed to human cloning on moral grounds and he hoped that the United Nations would reach a decision before the end of the year on a convention against human cloning.

PRESS CONFERENCE ON AFRICA’S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Even as developing countries as a whole had been extremely successful in expanding their share of manufactured goods in global trade, accounting for some 70 per cent of developing country exports, Africa had not shared in that success, Jan Kregel, Senior Adviser, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), told a Headquarters press conference today.

PRESS BRIEFING ON IRAQ FACT-FINDING MISSION

Once the basic legal framework had been completed, it would take at least eight months to hold credible and well organized elections with results that would be accepted by the Iraqis, Carina Perelli, Director of the Electoral Assistance Division, Department of Political Affairs, told correspondents at Headquarters this morning.

Press Briefing by director, electoral assistance division

Elections should not be seen as “silver bullets that cured all ills”, Carina Perelli, Director of the Electoral Assistance Division of the Department of Political Affairs, said at a Headquarters press briefing this afternoon.

PRESS BRIEFING BY COTE D’IVOIRE HUMANITARIAN COORDINATOR

Although ethnic tensions still gripped pockets of Côte d’Ivoire and troubling humanitarian concerns lingered, nearly two years after a military rebellion wrecked the economy and threw the country into crisis the fragile peace process was finally gathering some momentum, the top United Nations humanitarian official for the country said today.

PRESS BRIEFING BY OUTGOING LEBANON FORCE COMMANDER

Aware of the current tensions and potential for escalation in southern Lebanon -– “the toughest neighbourhood in the world” -- the outgoing military commander of the United Nations force monitoring the situation there said today much more work was needed to ensure that the troubled region moved from fragile stability towards lasting peace and security.

PRESS CONFERENCE ON ‘CARING COMMUNITIES’ MEETING

Without meaningful public diplomacy the meritorious goal of enriching the quality of life of today’s ageing population through information and communication technology would be impossible, correspondents were told at a Headquarters press conference today.

PRESS BRIEFING ON 2004 INTERNATIONAL YOUTH ART COMPETITION

The 2004 International Youth Art Competition was being launched to promote cultural diversity and build a world where people lived together in peace and harmony, Nancy Rivard, President of Airline Ambassadors International told correspondents today.

PRESS CONFERENCE BY SECURITY COUNCIL SANCTIONS COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN

Security Council resolution 1526 (2004), unanimously adopted on 30 January, improved and deepened sanctions on Al-Qaida and the Taliban, Heraldo Muñoz (Chile), Chairman of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1267 (1999) told correspondents today at a Headquarters press conference.

PRESS BRIEFINGONLIBERIA’S HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION

Although security had improved greatly since the deployment of the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), very serious remaining concerns must be addressed if the Accra Peace Agreement was to be successfully implemented, Charlotte Abaka, Independent Expert on the human rights situation in Liberia, said at a Headquarters press conference this afternoon.