Press Release

WORK FOR DEVELOPMENT MUST FOCUS ON NEEDS, PRIORITIES OF WOMEN, SECRETARY-GENERAL

SAYS IN MESSAGE FOR INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY

Following is the message by Secretary-General Kofi Annan for International Women’s Day, 8 March 2003:

UN HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS OFFICE ANNOUNCES FUNDING NEEDS

FOR DISPLACED PERSONS IN COLOMBIA

NEW YORK, 24 February (OCHA) -- In an effort to assist more than 2 million persons displaced by the ongoing armed conflict in Colombia, the United Nations last week presented donors with a Humanitarian Action Plan with a total budget of $79.4 million for one year.  Of this amount, $48.9 million is still to be raised.

FAO'S COMMITTEE ON FISHERIES OPENS TODAY

Half of World Marine Stocks Fully Exploited

(Reissued as received.)

ROME, 24 February (FAO) -- Delegates from over 100 countries, observers from the United Nations, UN bodies and specialized agencies, regional fishery bodies, and other international organizations, attend the twenty-fifth session of the Committee on Fisheries of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) which opens today.

Secretary-General Kofi Annan arrived in Paris early in the evening of Wednesday, 19 February.

HUMANITARIAN AGENCIES FACE DIFFICULTIES AS CIVILIANS TARGETED IN CÔTE D’IVOIRE

NEW YORK, 24 February (OCHA) -- As continuing instability limits their access to people in need, humanitarian agencies in Côte d’Ivoire are receiving consistent reports of abuses against civilians.  Shortages of food and access to health care are also taking their toll on civilians caught in conflict.

SECRETARY-GENERAL APPALLED BY ATTACK ON SHIITE MOSQUE IN PAKISTAN

The following statement was issued today by the spokesman for

Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

UN SPECIAL ENVOY FOR CHILDREN AND ARMED CONFLICT ARRIVES IN SIERRA LEONE

(Received from a UN Information Officer.)

FREETOWN, 23 February -– Under-Secretary-General Olara A. Otunnu, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, arrived yesterday in Sierra Leone for a week-long visit to assess the status of war-affected children in the post-conflict peace-building phase.

SECRETARY-GENERAL SAYS WAR NOT INEVITABLE, BUT IRAQ MUST DISARM;

INSPECTIONS SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO CONTINUE

Following is the message by Secretary-General Kofi Annan to the Thirteenth Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement, delivered today by Lakhdar Brahimi, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia:

Security Council

4711^th Meeting (AM)

SECURITY COUNCIL PRESS STATEMENT ON CÔTE D’IVOIRE

Following is the press statement on Côte d’Ivoire delivered today by Security Council President Gunther Pleuger (Germany):