SECRETARY-GENERAL ‘DEEPLY DISTURBED’ BY NEWS OF ABDUCTION OF TWO UN MILITARY

OBSERVERS IN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO

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

Security Council

4777^th Meeting (AM)

PLIGHT OF CIVILIANS IN ARMED CONFLICT REMAINS CONSIDERABLE, GRAVE PROBLEM,

UNDER-SECRETARY-GENERAL FOR HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS TELLS SECURITY COUNCIL

Says Core Protection Principles Adopted by Council in 2002 Important Tool;

UN, CENTRAL ASIAN GOVERNMENTS LAUNCH PROJECTS

TO COUNTER HEROIN FLOW FROM AFGHANISTAN

(Reissued as received.)

GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT, IN REFUGEE DAY MESSAGE, SALUTES COURAGE

OF DISPLACED ‘AS THEY STRIVE TOWARDS BETTER LIVES’

Following is the message from Jan Kavan (Czech Republic), President of the General Assembly, on World Refugee Day, observed 20 June:

UNIDO NAMED FIFTH CORE AGENCY OF GLOBAL COMPACT

Number of Companies Participating Now

Exceeds 1,000 -- Many Are Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises

(Delayed in transmission.)

NEW YORK, 6 June (Office of the Global Compact) -- The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) has been named the fifth United Nations core agency of the Global Compact, responsible for small- and medium-sized enterprises engaged in the initiative.

Committee on the Inalienable Rights

of the Palestinian People

272^nd Meeting (AM)

GLOBAL INFORMATION AND EARLY WARNING SYSTEM ON FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

‘Foodcrops and Shortages’ to Be Published Today

(Reissued as received.)

ROME, 19 June (Food and Agriculture Organization) -– FAO’s “Foodcrops and Shortages” will be published on the FAO Web site at 12 noon CET, Thursday, 19 June.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE VOICES SUPPORT FOR CONVENTION

ON RIGHTS OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

A vast majority of speakers expressed support for drafting a convention on the rights of persons with disabilities during the session of the General Assembly committee established to consider such a convention, which opened on 16 June at United Nations Headquarters.

PREPARATORY COMMITTEE FOR LANDLOCKED COUNTRIES CONFERENCE TO MEET, 23-27 JUNE

The first session of the Intergovernmental Preparatory Committee for the Ministerial Conference of Landlocked and Transit Developing Countries and the Donor Community on Transit Transport will take place at Headquarters from 23 to 27 June.

Security Council

4776^th Meeting (AM)

SECURITY COUNCIL, REACTING TO GUINEA-BISSAU’S FRAGILE POLITICAL SITUATION,

URGES PURPOSEFUL EFFORT TO PUT PEACE-BUILDING AGENDA ‘BACK ON TRACK’

Presidential Statement Appeals for Credible Elections, without Violence;