Press Release

FAO SERIOUSLY CONCERNED ABOUT SPREAD OF AVIAN FLU IN EAST ASIA

South Korea, Viet Nam, Japan Affected -- Team of Experts Sent to Viet Nam

ROME, 15 January (FAO) – The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) today expressed serious concern about the spread of Avian flu in East Asia.

"The disease seems to have a regional dimension, with South-Korea, Viet Nam and Japan being affected in a short period of time", the FAO said in a statement.

WORLD MEDIA LEADERS GATHER AT HEADQUARTERS FOR LAUNCH OF AIDS INITIATIVE;

Committee on Elimination of

Discrimination against Women

632^nd & 633^rd Meetings (AM & PM)

FOUNDATIONS FOR GENDER EQUALITY FIRMLY ESTABLISHED IN KYRGYZSTAN,

ACCORDING TO WOMEN’S ANTI-DISCRIMINATION COMMITTEE

Experts Call for Full Implementation of Country’s ‘Significant’ Body of Legislation

Security Council                                           

SECRETARY-GENERAL NAMES LAKHDAR BRAHIMI SPECIAL ADVISER

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

The Secretary-General met on Tuesday afternoon with his former Special Representative for Afghanistan, Lakhdar Brahimi, who has just completed an arduous assignment and needs some rest.

SECRETARY-GENERAL CONGRATULATES AFGHAN PEOPLE ON ADOPTION OF CONSTITUTION,

URGES IMMEDIATE ACTION ON KEY CHALLENGES OF SECURITY, RECONSTRUCTION

Following are Secretary-GeneralKofi Annan’s remarks to the Security Council meeting on Afghanistan in New York, on 15 January:

Committee on Elimination of

Discrimination against Women

634^th & 635^th Meetings (AM & PM)

WOMEN’S ANTI-DISCRIMINATION COMMITTEE EXAMINES REPORT OF KUWAIT

Security Council

4892^nd Meeting (AM)

THREAT POSED BY AL QAEDA, TALIBAN MUST REMAIN TOP INTERNATIONAL

CONCERN, SECURITY COUNCIL TOLD

But Lack of Reporting by Governments Hinders Work, Committee Chairman Says

CORRECTION

UN LOOKS FORWARD TO WORKING WITH SHANGHAI COOPERATION ORGANIZATION TO FURTHER

COMMON GOALS, SECRETARY-GENERAL SAYS AT INAUGURATION

Following is the message of Secretary-General Kofi Annan to the inauguration ceremony of the secretariat of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, delivered today in Beijing by Geir O. Pedersen, Director for Asia and the Pacific, United Nations Department of Political Affairs:

GLOBAL ECONOMY SURGES IN 2004, BUT DANGEROUS IMBALANCES