Press Release

CARTAGENA PROTOCOL ON BIOSAFETY TAKES EFFECT 11 SEPTEMBER

(Reissued as received.)

MONTREAL, 9 September (UNEP) -- The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, the first legally binding international agreement governing the transboundary movement of living modified organisms resulting from modern biotechnology, enters into force on Thursday, 11 September 2003.

PLANET’S LIST OF PROTECTED AREAS TOPS 100,000 MARK

United Nations Outlines over Century of Success

And Failure in Conserving World's Natural Heritage

(Reissued as received.)

SECRETARY-GENERAL CONDEMNS TERROR ATTACKS IN ISRAEL

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

The Secretary-General condemns today’s two terror attacks by suicide bombers near Tel Aviv and in Jerusalem, in which at least 12 people were killed and many others injured.  He conveys his deepest condolences to the families of the victims and to the Government of Israel.

DPI/NGO Annual Conference

AM & PM Meetings

FIFTY-SIXTH ANNUAL DPI/NGO CONFERENCE OPENS AT HEADQUARTERS,

DEDICATED TO MEMORY OF THOSE LOST IN BAGHDAD ATTACK

International Criminal Court

Assembly of States Parties

Second Session

1^st Meeting (AM)

INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT ‘NOW A FUNCTIONING JUDICIAL INSTITUTION’,

ASSEMBLY OF STATES PARTIES TOLD, AS IT BEGINS ONE-WEEK SESSION

TRANSCRIPT OF PRESS CONFERENCE BY SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN

AT UNITED NATIONS HEADQUARTERS, 8 SEPTEMBER 2003

‘UNITED NATIONS WORKS TO MAKE SOCIETIES TRULY ACCESSIBLE, CARING

AND INCLUSIVE FOR ALL PEOPLE’, SECRETARY-GENERAL SAYS

Following is the message by Secretary-General Kofi Annan to the Fourth National Congress of the China Disabled Persons’ Federation in Beijing, 8 September:

SECRETARY-GENERAL HOPES PALESTINIAN PRIME MINISTER’S RESIGNATION

WILL NOT DERAIL PEACE EFFORTS

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

CIVIL SOCIETY ROLE VITAL IN GLOBAL ANTI-POVERTY EFFORT, SAYS

DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL TO HEADQUARTERS CONFERENCE

Following is the speech of Deputy Secretary-General Louise Fréchette to the fifty-sixth Annual DPI/NGO Conference in New York, 8 September:

OPEN-MINDED, PRAGMATIC, FLEXIBLE APPROACH NEEDED FOR BIODIVERSITY

PROTECTION, SECRETARY-GENERAL SAYS

Following is the message by Secretary-General Kofi Annan to the World Parks Congress in Durban, South Africa, delivered by Klaus Toepfer, Executive Director, United Nations Environment Programme: