SECRETARY GENERAL EXPRESSES SUPPORT FOR WORLD FOOD SUMMIT

SECRETARY GENERAL EXPRESSES SUPPORT FOR WORLD FOOD SUMMIT

Following is the text of a statement issued today by the Office of the Spokesman for Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

The views expressed by the Secretary-General's Personal Representative for southern Lebanon, Steffan de Mistura, concerning the World Food Summit in Rome were unauthorized and unwarranted.  They do not represent the position of the Secretary-General or of the United Nations.  The Secretary-General is informing

Mr. de Mistura accordingly.

All conferences of this nature are authorized by the member governments, in this case of the UN Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), and are usually held at headquarters.

The Secretary-General supports the convening of this conference and has confirmed his attendance.

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