PROTOCOL TO CONTROL PERSISTENT ORGANIC POLLUTANTS TO ENTER INTO FORCE

GENEVA, 5 August (ECE) -- France has become the sixteenth country to ratify the Protocol on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs).  The Protocol will, consequently, enter into force on 23 October 2003.

STRATEGIES NEEDED TO OFFER YOUNG CHANCE AT DECENT, PRODUCTIVE WORK

SAYS SECRETARY-GENERAL ON INTERNATIONAL YOUTH DAY

Following is Secretary-GeneralKofi Annan’s message on International Youth Day, observed 12 August:

SECRETARY-GENERAL HORRIFIED BY JAKARTA BOMB ATTACK; CONDEMNS

‘DESPICABLE’ ACT IN STRONGEST POSSIBLE TERMS

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

The Secretary-General is horrified at the bomb explosion today at the Marriott Hotel in Jakarta, reportedly killing at least 10 people and injuring many more.  He condemns in the strongest possible terms this apparent act of terrorism.

URGENT ACTION NEEDED TO MAP, PROTECT WORLD’S WILD FORESTS,

SAYS UN ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMME

CAMBRIDGE/NAIROBI, 4 August (UNEP) -- Forests in Chile, made world famous by the series ‘Walking with Dinosaurs’, have been almost destroyed by fire, killing Monkey Puzzle trees up to 2,000 years old.

PRESS STATEMENT ON GUINEA-BISSAU BY SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT

Following is the press statement on Guinea-Bissau delivered today by Security Council President Mikhail Wehbe (Syria):

SECRETARY-GENERAL WELCOMES ESTABLISHMENT, SWIFT DEPLOYMENT

OF LIBERIA MULTINATIONAL FORCE

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

SECRETARY-GENERAL CONDEMNS ‘BRUTAL MURDER’ OF UN POLICE OFFICER IN KOSOVO

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

The Secretary-General is shocked and outraged at the killing of a United Nations police officer in an attack on a police vehicle in the northern part of Kosovo.

ACTING HUMAN RIGHTS CHIEF CONDEMNS SUICIDE BOMBING

OF RUSSIAN MILITARY HOSPITAL

The following statement was issued today by the spokesman for the Acting United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights:

Security Council

4804^th Meeting (PM)

SECURITY COUNCIL AUTHORIZES WEST AFRICAN, FRENCH FORCES

IN CÔTE D’IVOIRE FOR SIX MORE MONTHS

COMMITTEE ON ELIMINATION OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION OPENS

SIXTY-THIRD SESSION AT THE PALAIS DES NATIONS

Hears Address by Acting High Commissioner for Human Rights

(Reissued as received.)