GOVERNING COUNCIL OF UN COMPENSATION COMMISSION APPROVES AWARDS

OF APPROXIMATELY $1.4 BILLION

TRANSCRIPT OF PRESS CONFERENCE BY SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN AT UNITED

NATIONS HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK, ON 18 DECEMBER 2003

Good morning, Ladies and Gentlemen.

I am glad to see you all before the holidays.  It has been a rather hard year.

I have no doubt that you will have lots of questions about Iraq.  But before you get on to that, there are a few things I would want to say.

Security Council

4887^th Meeting (PM)

SECURITY COUNCIL CONDEMNS KILLING OF KUWAITIS, THIRD-COUNTRY NATIONALS

BY PREVIOUS IRAQI REGIME IN VIOLATION OF INTERNATIONAL LAW

In Presidential Statement, Council Expresses

Strong Hope That Those Responsible Should Be Brought to Justice

DESERT LOCUST THREAT GROWING

FAO Locust Group Publishes New Report 

(Reissued as received.)

      ROME, 18 December (FAO)-- After a summer season of good rains and recent favourable rainfall, Desert Locust populations continue to increase and may threaten winter crops in north-west Africa and along the Red Sea, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) warns today.

Committee on NGOs

34^th & 35^th Meetings (AM & PM)

COMMITTEE ON NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS TAKES NOTE

OF 52 QUADRENNIAL REPORTS AS IT CONTINUES 2003 SESSION

It Also Grants Six Reports for Special

Consultative Status with Economic and Social Council

Fifty-eighth General Assembly

Fifth Committee

29^th Meeting (PM)

INTERNATIONAL TRIBUNALS, ASSESSMENT SCALES FOR REGULAR, PEACEKEEPING BUDGETS

PRESS STATEMENT BY SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT CONCERNING

WORKING GROUP ON GENERAL ISSUES OF SANCTIONS

Following is the text of a statement made to the press today by Security Council President Stefan Tafrov (Bulgaria):

PRESS STATEMENT BY SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT ON CYPRUS

Following is the text of a statement made to the press today by Security Council President Stefan Tafrov (Bulgaria):

CHINESE SCHOLARS, INTERNATIONAL EXPERTS EXPLORE ROLE

OF CIVIL SOCIETY IN MIDDLE EAST CONFLICT

(Received from a UN Information Officer.)

BEIJING, 18 December –- Chinese academics and experts from the 16-17 December United Nations Meeting for Asia and the Pacific on the Question of Palestine met today in Beijing to participate in the Public Forum in Support of Middle East Peace.

Security Council

4886^th Meeting (AM)

UNDER-SECRETARY-GENERAL FOR PEACEKEEPING BRIEFS SECURITY COUNCIL ON KOSOVO,