Press Release

un agency says Desert locust situation extremely serious in north-west Africa,

More efforts needed to prevent plague from developing

ROME, 23 March (FAO) -- Despite control operations, the desert locust situation continues to be extremely serious in North-West Africa, according to the latest update by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

Human Rights Committee

Eightieth Session

2178^th and 2179^th Meetings (AM & PM)

POLYGAMY, FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION UNACCEPTABLE, SAYS CHAIRMAN

AS HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE CONCLUDES REVIEW OF UGANDA’S REPORT

Security Council                                           

Montreal Protocol Talks to Consider Exemptions From Methyl Bromide Ban

MONTREAL/NAIROBI, 23 March (UNEP) -- A three-day meeting of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer will consider granting exemptions to 12 developed countries so that they can use the pesticide methyl bromide for certain “critical uses” after its phase-out date of 1 January 2005.

SECURITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE ON LIBERIA INCLUDES

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IN TRAVEL BAN LIST

On 22 March 2004, the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1521 (2003) concerning Liberia, approved the inclusion of additional information in the Date of Birth field for the following individuals included in the list of persons subject to the travel restrictions imposed by paragraph 4 (a) of resolution 1521 (2003):

COMMISSION APPROVES SPECIAL SITTING ON SITUATION IN OCCUPIED

PALESTINE FOLLOWING ASSASSINATION OF SHEIKH YASSIN

Countries Speaking on Right to Development Call

For International Aid, Fair Economic and Trading Systems

(Reissued as received.)

THREATS FACED BY UN STAFF, NGOS, MEDIA REMAIN PROFOUND, SECRETARY-GENERAL

SAYS IN MESSAGE FOR DAY OF SOLIDARITY WITH MISSING STAFF

Following is the message by Secretary-General Kofi Annan on the International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members, 25 March 2004:

Fifty-eighth General Assembly                              

Commission on Population and Development                   

Thirty-seventh Session                                     

1^st & 2^nd Meetings (AM & PM)

PRESS STATEMENT ON BURUNDI BY SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT

Following is today’s statement to the press on Burundi by Security Council President Jean-Marc de La Sablière (France):

This morning, members of the Security Council heard a statement by Mr.Sadry, head of the United Nations Reconnaissance Mission recently sent by the Secretary-General to Burundi, on recent developments in the situation in that country.