TRANSCRIPT OF PRESS CONFERENCE BY SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN

AT UN HEADQUARTERS, 29 JULY 2002

Mr. Eckhard:  Sorry for the delay.  The Secretary-General’s last appointment ran about 15 minutes late.

Ladies and gentlemen, the Secretary-General of the United Nations and his guest.

PRESS STATEMENT ON MIDDLE EAST, OTHER MATTERS BY SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT

Following is today’s statement to the press on the Middle East and Western Sahara by Jeremy Greenstock (United Kingdom), President of the Security Council:

Middle East

Round-Up

HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE CONCLUDES SEVENTY-FIFTH SESSION

Adopts Final Conclusions and Recommendations

SECRETARIAT OF ENDANGERED SPECIES TREATY ASSESSES PROPOSALS

FOR CHANGING WILDLIFE TRADE RULES

GENEVA, 29 July (UNEP) -- The secretariat of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) has completed its provisional assessment of the 54 proposals submitted by member countries (Parties) to amend the Convention's lists of wild plant and animal species that are subject to trade controls or prohibitions.

PRESS STATEMENT ON WESTERN SAHARA, OTHER MATTERS BY PRESIDENT OF SECURITY COUNCIL

Following is today’s statement to the press by Security Council President Jeremy Greenstock (United Kingdom):

Western Sahara

Economic and Social Council

2002 Substantive Session

41^st Meeting (PM) and Round-up of Session

FIRST EVER SESSION OF SOCIAL FORUM TO BE HELD

IN GENEVA FROM 25 TO 26 JULY

(Reissued as received.)

GENEVA, 24 July (UN Information Service) -- The first ever session of the Social Forum, which has been set up to create a space within the United Nations human rights system for dialogue with non-governmental organizations and members of civil society, will be held from 25 to 26 July at the United Nations Office at Geneva.

Background Release

SUBCOMMISSION ON PROMOTION AND PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS

TO MEET IN GENEVA FROM 29 JULY TO 16 AUGUST

(Reissued as received.)

GENEVA, 25 July (UN Information Service) -- The Subcommission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, the Commission on Human Rights’ principal subsidiary organ, will hold its fifty-fourth session at the Palais des Nations in Geneva from 29 July to 16 August 2002.

APPOINTMENTS TO SIERRA LEONE SPECIAL COURT

The Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Government of Sierra Leone, in implementation of the relevant provisions of the Agreement on the Establishment of a Special Court for Sierra Leone, signed in Freetown, Sierra Leone on 16 January, have today announced the appointments of eight judges who will serve on the Trial Chamber and the Appeals Chamber of the Special Court which has its seat in Freetown.

PRESS STATEMENT ON SUDAN BY SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT

The following press statement by Security Council President Jeremy Greenstock (United Kingdom) was made on 24 July: