SG/SM/9051
5 December 2003

NEWLY APPOINTED HIGH-LEVEL PANEL ON THREATS,
CHALLENGES, CHANGE TO MEET 5 - 7 DECEMBER

NEW YORK, 4 December (UN Headquarters) -- The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

The High-Level Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change, chaired by Mr. Anand Panyarachun of Thailand, will meet for the first time from 5 to 7 December.  The Panel will meet with the Secretary-General and will then proceed to a venue outside the city for two days of intensive briefings and meetings.

The Panel is being asked to examine the landscape of peace and security, broadly defined; identify the contribution of collective action in addressing the major challenges and threats, both hard and soft; and recommend the changes necessary to ensure effective collection action, especially by the United Nations.

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