Press Release

Secretary-General, in message on buddhism’s day of vesak, calls for sustained

campaign to rebuild trust between different faiths, cultures

Following is Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s message to the “International Recognition of the Day of Vesak Ceremony” in New York, 1 June:

It gives me great pleasure to send my warmest greetings to this international observance of the Day of Vesak.

un ready to work with haiti to ensure sustainable future, says

Secretary-General as stabilization mission assumes authority

Following is Secretary-General Kofi Annan’smessage at the beginning of the mandate of United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haitiin Port-au-Prince, 1 June:

in message to ‘handover’ ceremony for un operation in burundi, Secretary-General

pledges to work ‘shoulder to shoulder’ with people to build better future

Following is the message by the Secretary-General Kofi Annan, read out by Berhanu Dinka, Special Representative for Burundi, at the handover ceremony from the African Mission in Burundi to the United Nations Operation in Burundi, in Bujumbura today:

ON ESTABLISHMENT OF UN OPERATION IN BURUNDI, SECRETARY-GENERAL SAYS COUNTRY’S

LEADERS, PEOPLE MUST ACCELERATE EFFORTS ON ELECTIONS, SECURITY REFORM

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

SECRETARY-GENERAL ‘VERY DISTURBED’ BY REPORTS OF VIOLENCE IN KARACHI, PAKISTAN;

CONDEMNS TERRORISM TARGETING INNOCENT CIVILIANS, PLACES OF WORSHIP

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

SECRETARY-GENERAL APPALLED BY TERRORIST ATTACK IN SAUDI ARABIA

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

Food emergencies in 35 countries worldwide –- Civil strife,

bad weather and HIV/AIDS said to be main causes

(Reissued as received.)

ROME, 31 May (FAO) -- The number of countries facing serious food shortages this month declined to 35 from 38 in February, but in Africa the number of countries needing food aid remains unchanged at 24, according to a report released today by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

LIVING MODIFIED ORGANISMS:  NEW GUIDELINES FOR RISK ASSESSMENT

New Tool to Help Determine if Genetically Modified Plant Is Weed

(Reissued as received.)

ROME, 1 June (FAO) -- New guidelines for determining if a living modified organism (LMO) poses a hazard to plants have been published by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

UNRWA LAUNCHES $15.8 MILLION CRISIS APPEAL FOR RAFAH

(Reissued as received.)

JERUSALEM, 31 May (UNRWA) -- The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) today launched an appeal to the international community for $15.84 million to meet the immediate needs of the people of Rafah.  The appeal follows weeks of the most intense destruction in Gaza since the start of the intifada.

United Nations Committee on Peaceful Uses of Outer Space

to Hold 47th Session in Vienna

Implementation of UNISPACE III and Space and Water to Be Discussed

(Reissued as received.)