Press Release

UNITED NATIONS RIGHTS EXPERT CALLS FOR RELEASE OF AID WORKER ABDUCTED IN SOMALIA

GENEVA, 4 February (UN Information Service) -- The following statement was issued today by the Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Somalia, Ghanim Alnajjar:

Secretary-General Kofi Annan flew from Brussels to Geneva in the early afternoon of Friday, 30 January.

POPPY CULTIVATION IN AFGHANISTAN -– SEARCH FOR ALTERNATIVES

FAO Asks for $25.5 Million to Finance

Development Projects in Main Poppy-Producing Areas

ROME, 2 February (FAO) -- Eliminating opium production in Afghanistan will only be successful if poverty and unemployment are reduced at the same time, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said today.

TRANSCRIPT OF JOINT PRESS CONFERENCE BY SECRETARY-GENERAL AND PRESIDENTS

OF FRANCE, BRAZIL AND CHILE AT PALAIS DES NATIONS, GENEVA, 30 JANUARY

UNITED NATIONS HOLDS TRAINING COURSE ON SATELLITE-AIDED SEARCH AND RESCUE

(Reissued as received.)

DISARMAMENT ADVISORY BOARD TO ADDRESS TERRORISM, WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION

AT FORTHCOMING NEW YORK SESSION, 4 - 6 FEBRUARY

NEW YORK, 3 February (Department for Disarmament Affairs) -- The Secretary-General’s Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters will meet for a three-day closed session in New York from 4 to 6 February 2004.  The last session of the Board was held in Geneva from 16 to 18 July 2003.  The Board meets twice a year.

LEAD ADDITIVES FOR GASOLINE, DEADLY PESTICIDE TARGETED FOR TRADE WATCH LIST

(Reissued as received.)

Background Release                             

COMMISSION FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT TO MEET AT HEADQUARTERS FROM 4 TO 13 FEBRUARY;

MEMBERS TO DISCUSS PUBLIC SECTOR EFFECTIVENESS

                                                            SG/SM/9143

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE OF MEETINGS OF UNITED NATIONS BODIES IN FEBRUARY 2004

The following is a tentative list of United Nations meetings scheduled to be held in February, including major meetings of intergovernmental organizations related to the United Nations:

Meetings continued from previous month:

19 January-26 March

Conference on Disarmament, first part, Geneva

26 January-6 February