Press Release

WEATHER-RELATED NATURAL DISASTERS IN 2003 COST WORLD BILLIONS; UNEP BACKS

EMISSIONS TRADING AS KEY WEAPON AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE

(Reissued as received.)

MILAN/NAIROBI, 10 December (UNEP) -- Natural disasters, the lion's share of which were weather-related catastrophes, cost the world over $60 billion in 2003, up from around $55 billion the year before.

SECRETARY-GENERAL HOPES COMMUNICATION WILL ‘BUILD BRIDGES OF UNDERSTANDING’,

IN MESSAGE TO STUDENTS PARTICIPATING IN WORLD SUMMIT EVENT

Following is the text of the message sent today from Secretary-General Kofi Annan to students participating in the World Summit Event for Schools:

World Electronic Media Forum

Round Table

WORLD ELECTRONIC MEDIA FORUM ROUND TABLE DISCUSSES WORLD VIOLENCE-MEDIA VIOLENCE

(Reissued as received.)

Fifty-eighth General Assembly

Plenary

72^nd Meeting (AM)

GENERAL ASSEMBLY DECIDES TO INCLUDE ITEM ON REPRODUCTIVE CLONING

IN ITS AGENDA FOR 59TH SESSION IN 2004

Decisions Taken on 17 Texts Concerning Legal Committee Issues,

Including Terrorism, Protection of UN Workers, International Trade Law

SECRETARY-GENERAL URGES FULL ENFORCEMENT OF NEW MERIDA CONVENTION,

SEEN AS MAJOR VICTORY IN STRUGGLE AGAINST CORRUPTION

SECRETARY-GENERAL ALARMED BY DETERIORATING HUMANITARIAN SITUATION

IN DARFUR REGION OF SUDAN

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

WIN-WIN OUTCOMES POSSIBLE IF APPROACH TO MIGRATION IS RATIONAL, COMPASSIONATE,

SECRETARY-GENERAL ANNAN TELLS NEW GLOBAL COMMISSION

Following are the remarks made by Secretary-General Kofi Annan, at the launch of the Global Commission on International Migration today in Geneva:

WORLD POPULATION IN 2300 TO BE AROUND NINE BILLION, ACCORDING TO UN PROJECTIONS

ICT HAS TREMENDOUS POTENTIAL TO IMPROVE HEALTH, EDUCATION, GOVERNANCE, SAYS

SECRETARY-GENERAL IN MESSAGE AT LAUNCH OF GHANA-INDIA KOFI ANNAN CENTRE

ANWARUL K. CHOWDHURY DESIGNATED SECRETARY-GENERAL OF 2004 MEETING

TO REVIEW ACTION PROGRAMME FOR SMALL ISLAND STATES