HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE OPENS SEVENTY-SEVENTH SESSION

Elects Officers, Adopts Programme of Work

(Reissued as received.)

SECRETARY-GENERAL CONDEMNS COUP D’ETAT IN CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

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

IAEA DIRECTOR-GENERAL ADVISED BY U.S. GOVERNMENT TO PULL OUT INSPECTORS

FROM BAGHDAD; SEEKS GUIDANCE FROM SECURITY COUNCIL

(Reissued as received.)

Conference on Illicit Small Arms Trade in South-Eastern Europe concludes

COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS OPENS FIFTY-NINTH SESSION

High Commissioner for Human Rights:  One Cannot Compromise

Hard-Won Human Rights to Give States Free Hand in Fighting Terrorism

(Reissued as received.)

SECRETARY-GENERAL CONCERNED BY RAPIDLY DETERIORATING SITUATION

IN ITURI REGION OF DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO

The Secretary-General is very concerned by the rapidly deteriorating situation in Ituri, in particular the dangerous rise in the tensions between Rwanda and Uganda.  Everything must be done to ensure that further military confrontations do not erupt in this region, as they would undermine the recent hard-won gains in the peace process.

EXPERT REVIEW OF REGISTER OF CONVENTIONAL ARMS AT HEADQUARTERS, 17-21 MARCH

NEW YORK, 17 March (Department for Disarmament Affairs) -- A group of governmental experts on the continuing operation and further development of the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms is holding its first meeting for the year from 17 to 21 March at United Nations Headquarters.  This is the fourth review of the Register; previous reviews were conducted in 1994, 1997 and 2000.

SECRETARY-GENERAL STRONGLY DEPLORES ISRAEL’S CONTINUING GAZA STRIP RAIDS

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

CONFERENCE ON DISARMAMENT HEARS OFFER BY KENYA TO HOST 2004 REVIEW CONFERENCE

ON CONVENTION PROHIBITING MINES

Conference Expresses Condolences

Over Assassination of Prime Minister of Serbia and Montenegro

(Reissued as received.)

FRENCH LANGUAGE TELEVISION CHANNEL -- TV5 -- TO BE AVAILABLE TO UN DELEGATES, MEDIA,

STAFF UNDER AGREEMENT WITH INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATION OF LA FRANCOPHONIE

Following the signing of a memorandum of understanding this morning between the United Nations and the International Organisation of La Francophonie, delegates, non-governmental organizations, media and staff at Headquarters will have access to the French language television channel TV5.