BENEFITS OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY FOR INDIGENOUS PEOPLES

TO BE HIGHLIGHTED AT UPCOMING COMMUNICATIONS SUMMIT

UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICE APPEALS FOR $54.8 MILLION FOR 2004

(Reissued as received.)

GENEVA, 5 December (UN Information Service) -- The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) is seeking $54.8 million in contributions to fund activities in the coming year and to continue efforts to strengthen the institution.

POPE ENDORSES INTERNATIONAL ALLIANCE AGAINST HUNGER

(Reissued as received.)

      VATICAN CITY, 5 December (FAO) -- Pope John Paul II today gave his backing to the International Alliance Against Hunger promoted by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations.

NEWLY APPOINTED HIGH-LEVEL PANEL ON THREATS, CHALLENGES,

CHANGE TO MEET 5 - 7 DECEMBER

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

SECRETARY-GENERAL STRESSES IMPORTANCE OF STOCKTAKING IN MESSAGE

TO NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS MEETING IN GENEVA

Following is the message of Secretary-General Kofi Annan to the twenty-second General Assembly of the conference of non-governmental organizations in consultative relationship with the United Nations, delivered today in Geneva by Sergei Ordzhonikidze, Director-General, United Nations Office at Geneva:

FAMILIES PLAY VITAL ROLE IN DEVELOPMENT, PEACE EFFORTS, SECRETARY-GENERAL SAYS

AT LAUNCH OF TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF INTERNATIONAL YEAR

Following is the message of Secretary-General Kofi Annan on the launch of the observance of the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family (2004) today:

PRESS STATEMENT ON LIBERIA BY SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT

Following is today’s statement to the press by the President of the Security Council, Stefan Tafrov (Bulgaria):

The members of the Security Council carried out a review of the measures on Liberia pursuant to resolution 1478 (2003) bearing in mind recent developments.

ACTING HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND IRAQI HUMAN

RIGHTS MINISTER DISCUSS HUMAN RIGHTS IN IRAQ

(Reissued as received)

GENEVA, 4 December (UN Information Service) -- The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has offered to make its expertise available to Iraqi officials and representatives of the country's civil society as they establish a legal framework to promote and protect human rights.

Security Council

4875^th Meeting* (PM)

IN PRESIDENTIAL STATEMENT, SECURITY COUNCIL EXPRESSES GRAVE CONCERN AT ATTEMPTS

BY ARMED ELEMENTS IN COTE D’IVOIRE TO CROSS CEASEFIRE LINE

The Security Council this afternoon expressed its grave concern at attempts by armed elements in Côte d’Ivoire to cross the ceasefire line, as observed by the forces of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and France on

DAUGHTER OF WALT DISNEY, FOUNDER OF ‘ROOTS OF PEACE’ PRAISED BY SECRETARY-GENERAL

FOR THEIR GENEROSITY, COMMITMENT TO ANTI-LANDMINE CAUSE

Following are Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s remarks at a luncheon hosted by Diane Disney Miller and Heidi Kuhn, founder of the Roots of Peace, in Los Angeles, 3 December: