PRESS STATEMENT ON WESTERN SAHARA BY PRESIDENT OF SECURITY COUNCIL

Following is the text of today’s statement on Western Sahara by the President of the Security Council, Adolfo Aguilar Zinser (Mexico):

Members of the Council heard a briefing on 26 February by Hédi Annabi, Assistant Secretary General for Peacekeeping Operations.

Mr. Annabi presented to members of the Council the report of the Secretary General on the situation related to Western Sahara.

SECURITY COUNCIL ENDS MISSION TO ETHIOPIA, ERITREA

All 15 members of the Security Council headed back to New York on Monday, having completed a mission to Ethiopia and Eritrea, during which Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki agreed to work with the United Nations to move the peace process forward.

Ad Hoc Committee on International Convention

against Reproductive Cloning of Human Beings

3^rd Meeting (AM)

IN OPENING DEBATE ON HUMAN CLONING BAN, SOME SPEAKERS URGE OUTRIGHT PROHIBITION,

PRESS STATEMENT ON CYPRUS BY PRESIDENT OF SECURITY COUNCIL

Following is the text of today’s press statement on Cyprus by the President of the Security Council, Adolfo Aguilar Zinser (Mexico):

Members of the Council heard a briefing on 26 February from Alvaro de Soto, the Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on Cyprus.  Mr. de Soto briefed Council members on the series of direct meetings between the two leaders which ran from 16 January to 19 February.

WORLD’S WATER PROBLEMS CAN BE ‘CATALYST FOR COOPERATION’

SAYS SECRETARY-GENERAL IN MESSAGE ON WORLD WATER DAY

Following is the message of Secretary-General Kofi Annan on the World Day for Water, observed 22 March:

The theme of this year’s observance of World Day for Water -– “Water for Development” –- reflects the fundamental place of water in sustaining life and conserving the environment.

Security Council

4478^th Meeting* (PM)

U.S. VISION FOR MIDDLE EAST IS ‘VIABLE STATE OF PALESTINE

LIVING ALONGSIDE STATE OF ISRAEL’, SECURITY COUNCIL TOLD

Fifty-sixth General Assembly

Third Committee

61^st  & 62^nd Meetings (AM & PM)

THIRD COMMITTEE APPROVES FOUR DRAFT TEXTS ON RACISM, RACIAL DISCRIMINATION,

AS IT CONCLUDES WORK FOR 56^TH SESSION

Draft Supporting Establishment of Anti-Discrimination Unit,

Appointment of Experts by Secretary-General Approved by Vote of 137-2-2

SECRETARY-GENERAL DEEPLY CONCERNED AT REPORTS CONCERNING

MADAGASCAR PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS

The following statement was issued on 21 February by the Spokesman for Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

The Secretary-General has been following very closely the situation in Madagascar since the first round of presidential elections of 16 December 2001, the results of which called for a second round.

Ad Hoc Committee for International Convention

against Reproductive Cloning of Human Beings

1^st and 2^nd Meetings (AM & PM)

AT FIRST-EVER MEETING, COMMITTEE ON CONVENTION TO BAN HUMAN CLONING

HEARS EXPERT VIEWS ON SCIENCE, ETHICS INVOLVED

SECRETARY-GENERAL CONDEMNS KIDNAPPING OF COLOMBIAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE

The following statement was issued on 24 February by the Spokesman for Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

The Secretary-General condemns the kidnapping by the FARC of presidential candidate, Ingrid Betancourt, as a clear violation of international humanitarian law.  Such violent actions undermine the forthcoming elections and intimidate the civilian population.