Group of Governmental Experts on UN Register of Conventional Arms

CONCLUDES HEADQUARTERS SESSION, ADOPTS CONSENSUS REPORT

Security Council

4803^rd Meeting (Evening)

SECURITY COUNCIL AUTHORIZES MULTINATIONAL FORCE TO SUPPORT CEASEFIRE IN LIBERIA

Resolution 1497 (2003) Adopted by 12-0-3 (France, Germany, Mexico);

Also Declares Readiness to Deploy UN Peacekeeping Force by 1 October

SEABED COMMISSION AGREES TO LOOK AT HIGH SEAS BIODIVERSITY

(Reissued as received.)

KINGSTON, 31 July (International Seabed Authority) -- The Legal and Technical Commission of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) agreed in Kingston this afternoon on steps to involve itself more closely in biodiversity issues relating to deep-sea mineral exploration and exploitation.

SECRETARY-GENERAL ENCOURAGED BY PROSPECT OF EARLY

SIX-WAY TALKS ON KOREAN ISSUES

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

COMMITTEE ON ELIMINATION OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION TO MEET

AT PALAIS DES NATIONS FROM 4 TO 22 AUGUST 2003

Will Consider Reports of Albania, Bolivia, Cape Verde, Czech Republic, Finland,

Iran, Latvia, Norway, Republic of Korea, Saint Vincent and Grenadines, United Kingdom

(Reissued as received.)

FOOD CRISIS WORSENING IN HAITI WITH MORE THAN 3.8 MILLION HUNGRY PEOPLE

FAO Proposes Farming, Livestock Projects in Support of 500,000 People

ROME, 31 July (FAO) -- A “silent” food crisis is looming in Haiti, the poorest country in Latin America and the Caribbean, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) warned today.

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE OF MEETINGS OF UNITED NATIONS BODIES IN AUGUST 2003

     The following is a tentative list of United Nations meetings scheduled to be held in August, including major meetings of intergovernmental organizations related to the United Nations:

Meetings continued from previous month:

7 July-8 August  International Law Commission, fifty-fifth session (also 5 May-6 June), Geneva

SECRETARY-GENERAL GRATIFIED WITH SECURITY COUNCIL’S SUPPORT FOR WESTERN SAHARA

PEACE PLAN, INVITES PARTIES TO ‘ACT CONSTRUCTIVELY’

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

The Secretary-General is gratified that the Security Council has adopted a resolution expressing its clear and strong support for his efforts and those of his Personal Envoy, James A. Baker III, and for the peace plan.

Security Council

4801^st Meeting (AM)

SECURITY COUNCIL EXTENDS MANDATE OF WESTERN SAHARA MISSION, CALLS ON PARTIES

TO WORK TOWARDS ACCEPTANCE OF SPECIAL ENVOY’S PEACE PLAN

Unanimously Adopting Resolution 1495 (2003), Council

Members Say Parties Have ‘Enough Political Room’ to Reach Solution

GLOBAL COMMUNITY MUST DO MORE TO DEMONSTRATE COMMITMENT TO NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT

AND NON-PROLIFERATION, SECRETARY-GENERAL TELLS PEOPLE OF HIROSHIMA

Following is the message of Secretary-General Kofi Annan to the Peace Memorial Ceremony, on 6 August in Hiroshima, Japan: