Press Release

SECRETARY-GENERAL ‘STRONGLY CONDEMNS’ DOUBLE SUICIDE BOMBING IN ASHDOD, ISRAEL

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

Fifty-eighth General Assembly                              

ARCTIC FACES DRASTIC CHANGE WITHOUT EUROPEAN UNION POLICY ACTION

(Reissued as received.)

BRUSSELS/COPENHAGEN, 15 March (UNEP/EEA) -- The Arctic’s unique environment and indigenous peoples are under increasing threat from industrial activities and the region is likely to change drastically unless decision-makers in the European Union and elsewhere address the challenges seriously.

JOSE ANTONIO OCAMPO TO SERVE AS UN FOCAL POINT FOR BOLIVIA

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

Human Rights Committee

Eightieth Session

2166^th & 2167^th Meetings (AM & PM)

HUMAN RIGHTS BODY OPENS SESSION, REVIEWS COLOMBIA’S HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD

The United Nations expert panel monitoring the efforts of world governments to ensure respect for civil liberties, promote self-determination, and safeguard fundamental freedoms kicked off its first substantive session of 2004 today in New York.

SWEDEN INTRODUCES NEW ANTI-DRUG STRATEGY TO STRENGTHEN PARTNERSHIP

WITH UN OFFICE ON DRUGS AND CRIME

COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS BEGINS HIGH-LEVEL SEGMENT

Foreign Ministers of Ireland, Germany, Paraguay,

And Senior Official from Nigeria Deliver Statements

(Reissued as received.)

SECRETARY-GENERAL, IN MESSAGE TO ANNUAL DIPLOMACY LECTURE, PRAISES SENATOR

JESSE HELMS FOR FOSTERING STRONGER RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN US, UN

Following is Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s video message to the first Helms International Diplomacy Lecture in Washington, D.C., 15 March:

ENTIRE SOCIETIES NEED TO GET INVOLVED IN COUNTERING DRUG ABUSE, UN COMMISSION

ON NARCOTIC DRUGS TOLD, AS IT BEGINS 47TH SESSION

TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF RWANDA GENOCIDE SHOULD PROMPT REMORSE, RESOLVE

SAYS SECRETARY-GENERAL TO OTTAWA SYMPOSIUM

Following is Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s message to the Symposium on the Media and the Rwanda Genocide at Carleton University School of Journalism and Communication in Ottawa, 13 March: