Donors Meet in Tokyo to Commit to Major Recovery Plan

for Conflict-Ravaged Afghanistan

Ministers from leading donor countries are meeting in Tokyo, Japan, on

21-22 January to make commitments to a major recovery plan for conflict-ravaged Afghanistan.

CONFERENCE ON DISARMAMENT TO OPEN 2002 SESSION ON 21 JANUARY

(Reissued as received.)

GENEVA, 18 January (UN Information Service) -- The Conference on Disarmament, the world's sole multilateral forum for disarmament negotiations, will open its 2002 session on Monday, 21 January at the Palais des Nations.  The first public plenary will take place at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, 22 January.

Committee on Elimination of

Discrimination against Women

Twenty-sixth Session

534^th and 535^th Meetings (AM and PM)

COMMITTEE EXPERTS PRAISE PORTUGAL’S EFFORTS TO PROMOTE EQUALITY OF WOMEN

Country Is Urged to Further Raise Public Awareness

Committee on NGOs

39^th Meeting (AM)

QUESTIONS RAISED IN NGO COMMITTEE CONCERNING REPORT OF FREEDOM HOUSE

A representative of Freedom House responded this morning to comments on a recently submitted special report to the Committee on Non-Governmental Organization (NGOs) as the Committee met this morning to continue discussing its methods of work and to begin consideration of special reports.

SECRETARY-GENERAL TO PUT UN ASSETS ‘TO FULL USE’ IN ASSISTING GOVERNMENTS

OF DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO, RWANDA, CONCERNING VOLCANIC ERUPTION

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

UNITED NATIONS PRESENTS INTERIM PROGRAMME TO BRING

IMMEDIATE RELIEF, RECOVERY TO AFGHANISTAN

International donors and development partners, gathering in Tokyo, Japan, 21-22 January to pledge funds to rebuild Afghanistan’s shattered infrastructure and economy, will have the opportunity to jump-start the country’s recovery by financing a unique interim strategy that will provide the long-suffering Afghan people with immediate benefits.

Committee on NGOs

37^th Meeting (AM)

COMMITTEE ON NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS

TAKES NOTE OF TEN PERIODIC REPORTS

The Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) this morning took note of ten quadrennial reports submitted by NGOs that have general and special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council, as it continued its resumed 2001 session.  It deferred two such reports pending clarifications.

Committee on NGOs

38^th Meeting (PM)

NGO COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS SPECIAL CONSULTATIVE STATUS FOR DOMINICANS

FOR JUSTICE AND PEACE; ADOPTS REVISED QUESTIONNAIRE FOR APPLICANTS

Dominicans for Justice and Peace, an international organization based in Switzerland, was recommended for special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council this afternoon by the Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs). 

Fifty-sixth General Assembly

Fifth Committee

40^th Meeting (AM)

FIFTH COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS $2.63 BILLION 2002-2003 BUDGET,

CONCLUDES MAIN PART OF FIFTY-SIXTH SESSION

CORRECTIONS

      On page 12 of Press Release GA/AB/3492 of 24 December 2001, the fourth paragraph should read:

Preparatory Committee for the

International Conference

 on Financing for Development

4^th Meeting (AM)

FREE ACCESS TO MARKETS, TRADE LIBERALIZATION, DEBT RESOLUTION NEEDED FOR SUCCESSFUL