SECRETARY-GENERAL PROFOUNDLY SADDENED BY CHILDREN’S DEATHS

IN AFGHANISTAN AIR STRIKES

The following statement was issued by the Spokesman for Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Sunday, 7 December:

SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA CROP PROSPECTS MIXED, SAYS FAO REPORT

23 Countries Face Food Shortages, Others Expect Bumper Harvests

ROME, 8 December (FAO) -- Though some regions in sub-Saharan Africa can expect bumper crops, food shortages are forecast in 23 countries throughout the continent, according to the Africa Report released today by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)*.

SECRETARY-GENERAL’S HUMANITARIAN ENVOY FOR COTE D’IVOIRE TO BEGIN

NEW FOLLOW-UP, EVALUATION MISSION ON 7 DECEMBER

NEW YORK, 5 December -- Carolyn McAskie, the Secretary-General’s Humanitarian Envoy for the crisis in Côte d’Ivoire, will arrive in Abidjan on 7 December 2003 for a fourth follow-up and evaluation mission.

FIRST SESSION OF UNESCWA COMMITTEE ON WOMEN KICKS OFF

(Reissued as received.)

HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE AND COMMITTEE AGAINST TORTURE RULE

ON COMPLAINTS OF VIOLATIONS FROM INDIVIDUALS

(Reissued as received.)

GENEVA, 5 December (UN Information Service) -- Two independent human rights bodies have found violations of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT).

SHARON CAPELING-ALAKIJA’S LIFE DRIVEN BY ‘SENSE OF SOLIDARITY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE’,

SECRETARY-GENERAL SAYS AT MEMORIAL CEREMONY

Following is the text of the Secretary-General’s remarks at today’s memorial ceremony for Sharon Capeling-Alakija:

HEAD OF UN INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AGENCY CALLS CLOSING SESSION

OF TENTH GENERAL CONFERENCE AN HISTORIC EVENT

(Reissued as received.)

SECRETARY-GENERAL DISMAYED AT APPARENT TERRORIST EXPLOSION

IN RUSSIAN COMMUTER TRAIN

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

The Secretary-General was dismayed to learn of this morning’s explosion in a commuter train near the Yessentuki station in the Russian Federation.  This appears to be yet another act of terrorism.  Terrorism can never be justified.

UNIVERSALITY OF HUMAN RIGHTS REMAINS FORMAL RATHER THAN REAL,

HIGH COMMISSIONER SAYS IN COMMEMORATION MESSAGE

Ramcharan Cites Poverty, Conflicts, Terrorism,

Violence, Prejudice, Bad Governance as Gross Violations

(Reissued as received.)

Following is the message of acting High Commissioner for Human Rights Bertrand Ramcharan on Human Rights Day, which is commemorated on 10 December 2003:

UN DRUG AND CRIME CHIEF DISCUSSES COUNTER-NARCOTICS EFFORTS

WITH VISITING FOREIGN MINISTER OF AFGHANISTAN

(Reissued as received.)