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.

DELIVERING INAUGURAL ROBERT BURNS MEMORIAL LECTURE, SECRETARY-GENERAL ANNAN

CALLS FOR BROTHERHOOD, TOLERANCE, COEXISTENCE AMONG ALL PEOPLES

Following is Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s Inaugural Robert Burns Memorial Lecture, “The Brotherhood of Man”, which he delivered at United Nations Headquarters on Tuesday, 13 January:

SECRETARY-GENERAL ‘DEEPLY SADDENED’ AT DEATH OF RICHARD CONROY,

UN RESIDENT COORDINATOR IN TASHKENT, UZBEKISTAN

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

The Secretary-General was deeply saddened to learn of the death of Richard Conroy, the United Nations Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in Tashkent, in a plane crash in Uzbekistan.

7.2 MILLION PEOPLE STILL NEED FOOD AID IN ETHIOPIA, DESPITE GOOD HARVEST IN 2003

(Reissued as received.)

ROME, 14 January (FAO/WFP) -- Despite a good harvest, 7.2 million people still require assistance to meet minimum food requirements in 2004, according to a joint report released today by two United Nations agencies.  Last year, 13.2 million Ethiopians needed food assistance.

States Parties to Convention

Against Racial Discrimination

Twentieth Session

29^th Meeting (AM)

STATES PARTIES TO CONVENTION AGAINST RACIAL DISCRIMINATION

ELECT NINE MEMBERS TO MONITORING COMMITTEE

GOOD GOVERNANCE, HUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT, PEACEFUL ENVIRONMENT WOULD ENCOURAGE

FOREIGN INVESTMENT, SECRETARY-GENERAL TELLS WEST AFRICAN SUMMIT

(Delayed in translation.)

GLOBAL ECONOMY SURGES IN 2004, BUT DANGEROUS IMBALANCES

EUROPEANS DEBATE THEIR FUTURE, AFFIRM COMMITMENT TO CAIRO AGENDA

Experts Address Population Trends, Challenges in Diverse Region

(Reissued as received.)

GENEVA, 14 January (UNFPA) -- Population and reproductive health experts meeting in Geneva have affirmed Europe’s strong commitment to the 20-year action plan adopted in Cairo a decade ago.

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

ADVANCES IN GENETICS HAVE BROUGHT TREMENDOUS BENEFITS, BUT ALSO RAISE ETHICAL

QUESTIONS, SECRETARY-GENERAL SAYS, INTRODUCING LECTURE ON ‘DESIGNER GENES’

Following are introductory remarks by Secretary-GeneralKofi Annan at the lecture on “Designer Genes:  The Ethics of Modern Genetics” by Professor Eric Wieschaus in New York, on 12 January:

I am greatly honoured that Professor Eric Wieschaus has accepted my invitation to give this lecture.