Press Release

WORLD COMMUNITY MUST PRESSURE ISRAEL TO CEASE CONSTRUCTING

SEPARATION WALL, BEIJING MEETING TOLD

Participants Discuss Illegal Israeli Policies, Actions against Palestinians

(Received from a United Nations Press Officer.)

UNITED NATIONS MEETING FOR ASIA AND PACIFIC ON QUESTION

OF PALESTINE OPENS IN BEIJING

(Received from a United Nations Press Officer.)

Fifty-eighth General Assembly

Fifth Committee

28^th Meeting (AM)

FIFTH COMMITTEE ASSESSES BUDGET IMPLICATIONS OF 11 DRAFT RESOLUTIONS,

ADDRESSING SUCH ITEMS AS SMALL ARMS CONFERENCE, GUATEMALA MISSION

Also Considers Revised Estimates on Counter-Terrorism Committee

COMBATING HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN ASIA -- UNESCAP LAUNCHES RESOURCE GUIDE

BANGKOK, 15 December (United Nations Information Service) -- A resource guide to combating human trafficking in Asia will be launched by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) on Friday, 19 December 2003, at the United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok.

ACHIEVING MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS REQUIRES EVERYONE TO JOIN FORCES,

SECRETARY-GENERAL SAYS IN MESSAGE TO POVERTY SOCCER GAME

Following is the message by Secretary-General Kofi Annan to the poverty soccer game in Basel today, delivered by Mark Malloch Brown, Administrator, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP):

PRESS STATEMENT ON IRAQ BY SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT

Following is the statement to the press on Iraq delivered today by Security Council President Stefan Tafrov (Bulgaria):

Council members welcomed the capture of Saddam Hussein on 13 December.

Council members welcomed the declaration of the Secretary-General of the United Nations on this occasion.

SECRETARY-GENERAL AFFIRMS UN SUPPORT FOR AFRICA ENVIRONMENT ACTION PLAN

IN MESSAGE TO ALGIERS CONFERENCE

Following is Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s message to the partners’ conference on the implementation of the Action Plan for the Environment Initiative of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), delivered by Klaus Töpfer, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme, in Algiers, 15 to 16 December:

SECRETARY-GENERAL, IN INTERNATIONAL MIGRANTS DAY MESSAGE,

UNDERLINES NEED TO MAXIMIZE BENEFITS OF MIGRATION

Following is the text of Secretary-GeneralKofi Annan’s message on International Migrants Day, 18 December 2003:

UNESCAP TO ISSUE ECONOMIC FORECAST FOR 2004

(Reissued as received.)

BANGKOK, 15 December (United Nations Information Services) -- At the end of a turbulent year, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) will release its latest assessment of the region's economy.

Committee on NGOs

28^th & 29^th Meetings (AM & PM)

NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION COMMITTEE OPENS 2003 RESUMED SESSION,

RECOMMENDS CONSULTATIVE STATUS FOR 44 ORGANIZATIONS