Secretary-General Kofi Annan left New York on Friday, 22 August, arriving in Rio de Janeiro Saturday morning to attend a memorial service for Sergio Vieira de Mello, his Special Representative for Iraq, who was killed in a bomb attack on the United Nations headquarters in Baghdad on Tuesday, 19 August.

IN STATEMENT TO SECURITY COUNCIL, SECRETARY-GENERAL URGES ACTION

AGAINST THOSE ATTACKING UNITED NATIONS PERSONNEL

Following is today’s statement by Secretary-General Kofi Annan to the Security Council meeting on the protection of humanitarian workers:

I wish to express my strong support for the draft resolution before you.

Security Council

4814^th Meeting (Night)

PRESS STATEMENT ON IRAQ/KUWAIT BY SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT

Following is the statement to the press on Iraq/Kuwait delivered today by Security Council President Fayssal Mekdad (Syria):

Members of the Security Council heard a briefing from Yuli Vorontsov, the High-Level Coordinator, on the thirteenth report of the Secretary-General in accordance with paragraph 14 of Security Council resolution 1284 (1999).

PRESS STATEMENT ON LIBERIA TIMBER SANCTIONS BY SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT

Following is the statement to the press on the possible humanitarian and socio-economic impact of the Liberian timber sanctions delivered today by Security Council President Fayssal Mekdad (Syria):

PRESS STATEMENT ON SOLOMON ISLANDS BY SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT

Following is the statement to the press delivered today by Security Council President Fayssal Mekdad (Syria):

Security Council

4813^th Meeting (AM)

SECURITY COUNCIL AUTHORIZES EMERGENCY FORCE IN EASTERN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC

OF CONGO TO ASSIST UN MISSION DURING REINFORECEMENT, TRANSITION

Resolution 1501 (2003) Adopted Unanimously

ANNUAL DPI/NGO CONFERENCE ‘HUMAN SECURITY AND DIGNITY:  FULFILLING THE PROMISE

OF THE UNITED NATIONS’ TO BE HELD FROM 8 TO 10 SEPTEMBER

FAREWELL FOR SERGIO VIEIRA DE MELLO

GENEVA, 26 August (UN Information Service) -- The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights is hosting a celebration of Sergio Vieira de Mello’s life on Thursday 28 August at 19:00 hrs at the Geneva International Conference Centre at 15 Rue Varembé.  Friends, colleagues and acquaintances are warmly invited to attend this event which is open to all. 

NEGOTIATIONS ON LANDLOCKED ISSUES IN ALMATY AT ‘CRITICAL STAGE’

(Received from a UN Information Officer.)

ALMATY, KAZAKHSTAN, 26 August -- A Chairman’s text that attempts to reconcile differences on an action plan for low-income landlocked countries is being presented today to negotiators at a United Nations global conference, according to Under-Secretary-General Anawarul Chowdhury.