Press Release

                                                            SG/SM/9229

DEAD ZONES EMERGING AS BIG THREAT TO TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY FISH STOCKS

Eighth Special Session of Governing Council of United Nations

Environment Programme and Global Ministerial Environment Forum, 29-31 March 2004

(Reissued as received.)

EIGHT UN HUMAN RIGHTS EXPERTS GRAVELY CONCERNED ABOUT REPORTED

WIDESPREAD ABUSES IN DARFUR, SUDAN

(Delayed in transmission.)

GENEVA, 26 March (UN Information Service) -- The following statement was issued today by eight fact-finding experts of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights:

METHYL BROMIDE APPROVED FOR TEMPORARY USES

AFTER MONTREAL PROTOCOL PHASE-OUT DEADLINE

(Reissued as received.)

MONTREAL, 26 March (UNEP) -- An intergovernmental meeting here on the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer has granted limited “critical use exemptions” to 11 developed countries facing a year-end deadline for phasing out methyl bromide.

NOW THAT WE HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY, ‘WE CANNOT LET IT PASS’, SECRETARY-GENERAL

TELLS GREEK CYPRIOT, TURKISH CYPRIOT LEADERS

Following is the text of the opening statement by Secretary-General Kofi Annan as delivered at today’s meeting with the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leadership and the foreign ministers of Greece and Turkey in Bürgenstock, Switzerland:

Security Council                                           

United Nations audio-visual team to attend world’S leading

television market, MIPTV 2004, IN CANNES, FRANCE

GLOBAL INTERNET GOVERNANCE SYSTEM IS WORKING BUT NEEDS TO BE

MORE INCLUSIVE, UN FORUM ON INTERNET GOVERNANCE TOLD

NEW YORK, 26 March (UN DPI) -- The current system of Internet governance seemed to be working well, and the question was how to better coordinate the work of specialized bodies and ensure the involvement of all stakeholders, participants told a forum on the issue that concluded today at United Nations Headquarters.

PRESS STATEMENT ON CÔTE D’IVOIRE BY SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT

The following press statement on Côte d’Ivoire was delivered today by Security Council President Jean-Marc de La Sablière (France):

The members of the Security Council expressed grave concern at the events that occurred in Côte d’Ivoire, in particular in Abidjan, on 25 March.

SECRETARY-GENERAL, IN WORLD HEALTH DAY MESSAGE, SAYS ROAD SAFETY

CAN PREVENT NEEDLESS SUFFERING, BUT DOES NOT HAPPEN BY CHANCE

Following is Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s message on World Health Day, observed 7 April: