SECRETARY-GENERAL APPOINTS NEW SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR SIERRA LEONE

The Secretary-General has appointed Daudi Ngelautwa Mwakawago as his new Special Representative for Sierra Leone, with immediate effect.

PRESIDENT OF UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL AND CHAIRMAN

OF MILITARY STAFF COMMITTEE IN DECEMBER

In accordance with the principle of alphabetical rotation, the following are the President of the United Nations Security Council and the Chairman of the Military Staff Committee for December:

Security Council

GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT, IN INTERNATIONAL DAY MESSAGE, CALLS FOR SUPPORT

FOR EFFORTS TO RESOLVE ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN CONFLICT

Following is the statement by the President of the fifty-eighth session of the United Nations General Assembly, Julian Robert Hunte (Saint Lucia), on the occasion of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People:

Fifty-eighth General Assembly

Third Committee

61^st & 62^nd Meetings (AM & PM)

CONCLUDING CURRENT SESSION, THIRD COMMITTEE APPROVES DRAFT RESOLUTIONS

ON HUMAN RIGHTS IN CAMBODIA, MYANMAR, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO

Five Recorded Votes Held Concerning Text on Democratic Republic of Congo

Committee on the Inalienable Rights

of the Palestinian People

276^th Meeting (AM)

SECRETARY-GENERAL MARKS DAY OF SOLIDARITY WITH PALESTINIANS

BY CALLING FOR INTERNATIONAL PRESENCE IN MIDDLE EAST

It Would Hold Israelis, Palestinians

To Their Commitments Under Road Map, He Tells Committee

Fifty-eighth General Assembly

Fifth Committee

23^rd Meeting (AM)

FIFTH COMMITTEE DEBATE FOCUSES ON PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS

TO PLANNING, BUDGETING PROCESS

The Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) this morning focused on the proposed improvements to the current process of planning and budgeting and on the administration of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Fifty-eighth General Assembly

Plenary

65^th Meeting (PM)

SPEAKERS IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY REAFFIRM SUPPORT FOR MIDDLE EAST ROAD MAP, REGRET

LACK OF PROGRESS IN ITS IMPLEMENTATION

FAO STUDY EXAMINES IMPACT OF HIV/AIDS IN RURAL AFRICA

ROME, 1 December (FAO) -- The steady advance of HIV/AIDS is devastating rural households in Africa, plunging families into poverty and hunger, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said on World Aids Day.

‘INTOLERABLE AND UNACCEPTABLE’ PRACTICE OF SLAVERY HAS YET TO BE ERADICATED,

SECRETARY-GENERAL SAYS IN INTERNATIONAL DAY MESSAGE

Following is the message of Secretary-GeneralKofi Annan on the occasion of the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery, 2 December:

BEST WAY TO REMEMBER THOSE LOST IN WAR IS TO ‘REDEDICATE OURSELVES TO THE CAUSE

OF PEACE’, SECRETARY-GENERAL TELLS WORLD VETERANS FEDERATION

Following is the message of Secretary-General Kofi Annan to the twenty-fourth General Assembly of the World Veterans Federation, to be held in Johannesburg, South Africa, on 1 December: