GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT HIGHLIGHTS ‘GROWING CHASM’ OF DIGITAL DIVIDE,

IN MESSAGE ON WORLD TELECOMMUNICATION DAY

Following is the message of Jan Kavan (Czech Republic), General Assembly President, on World Telecommunication Day, observed 17 May:

Fifty-seventh General Assembly

Fifth Committee (Resumed)

51^st Meeting (AM)

FULL, TIMELY PAYMENT OF MEMBER STATES’ DUES ESSENTIAL TO UNITED NATIONS’

FINANCIAL HEALTH, DELEGATES STRESS IN BUDGET COMMITTEE

Decline in Number of States Paying in Full,

Committee on NGOS

15^th Meeting (AM)

UNODC SURVEY SHOWS NO EVIDENCE OF MAJOR SHIFT

IN COCA CULTIVATION FROM COLOMBIA TO PERU

(Reissued as received.)

VIENNA, 15 May (UN Information Service) -- A new United Nations survey reveals that coca cultivation has remained stable in Peru, dispelling fears of a possible shift in coca growing from neighbouring Colombia, where a considerable decline in cultivation was recently registered.

CONFERENCE ON DISARMAMENT STARTS SECOND PART OF 2003 SESSION

Hears Statements from Representatives of Japan,

Russian Federation, and Ireland as President of Conference

(Reissued as received.)

KYIV MEETING IN SUPPORT OF MIDDLE EAST PEACE CONCLUDES WITH FINAL DOCUMENT

(Received from a UN information officer.)

KYIV, 14 May –- The United Nations International Meeting in Support of Middle East Peace this afternoon urged the Security Council to endorse the “Road Map”, call for its implementation and remain engaged on the issue.

Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues

Second Session

7^th & 8^th Meetings (AM & PM)         

INDIGENOUS LANDS SEVERELY DAMAGED BY DEVELOPMENT, MINING, TOURISM,

PERMANENT FORUM TOLD, AS DEBATE BEGINS ON ENVIRONMENT

Speakers Urge Halt to Lumber, Oil Concessions,

EXPERTS EXAMINE MEDIA COVERAGE OF ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN CONFLICT

Public Forum in Kyiv Urges Greater

Role for Civil Society, Think Tanks, Academics

(Received from a UN Information Officer.)

‘THE FAMILY IS A NATION IN MINIATURE’, SAYS ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT,

AND CALLS ON GOVERNMENTS, MEDIA TO STRENGTHEN FAMILY UNIT

Following is the message by Jan Kavan, (Czech Republic), President of the General Assembly, on the International Day of Families (15 May):

ON DAY OF VESAK, SECRETARY-GENERAL CALLS ON WORLD TO HEED

BUDDHA’S MESSAGE OF MINDFULNESS FOR HUMANKIND

Following is Secretary-GeneralKofi Annan’s message on the occasion of the Day of Vesak, which is being observed on 15 May: