SECRETARY-GENERAL REMEMBERS LOST, PLEDGES CONTINUED UNITED NATIONS SUPPORT,

ON 40^TH ANNIVERSARY OF SKOPJE EARTHQUAKE

Following is the message of Secretary-General Kofi Annan on the fortieth anniversary of the Skopje earthquake, delivered by Frode Mauring, United Nations Resident Coordinator and United Nations Development Programme Resident Representative for The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, on 26 July in Skopje:

SECRETARY-GENERAL CONGRATULATES SECURITY COUNCIL ON GIVING MONUC STRONG MANDATE

TO FULFIL DIFFICULT MISSION IN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO

Following are the remarks by Secretary-General Kofi Annan to the Security Council this morning, after the adoption of the resolution on the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC):

SECRETARY-GENERAL TO CONVENE FIFTH HIGH-LEVEL MEETING ON COOPERATION

BETWEEN UNITED NATIONS AND REGIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

Security Council

4797^th Meeting* (AM)

SECURITY COUNCIL EXTENDS DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO MISSION

UNTIL 30 JULY 2004, RAISES TROOP LEVEL TO 10,800

Unanimously Adopts Resolution 1493 (2003);

Institutes 12-Month Arms Embargo on North and South Kivu, Ituri

DISTINCTIONS BETWEEN SECURITY COUNCIL COMMITTEES DEALING WITH TERRORISM

(1267 COMMITTEE AND COUNTER-TERRORISM COMMITTEE)

SUBCOMMISSION ON THE PROMOTION AND PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS

OPENS FIFTY-FIFTH SESSION IN GENEVA

Elects Halima Embarek Warzazi as Chairperson, Adopts

Agenda, Hears Statement by Acting High Commissioner for Human Rights

(Reissued as received.)

Biographical Note

NEW PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF UNITED KINGDOM PRESENTS CREDENTIALS

(Based on information received from the Protocol and Liaison Service.)

Sir Emyr Jones Parry, the new Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom, today presented his credentials to Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

SECRETARY-GENERAL ‘VERY PLEASED’ WITH UNITED STATES DECISION TO POSITION ‘APPROPRIATE MILITARY CAPABILITIES’ OFF LIBERIAN COAST

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

SECRETARY-GENERAL CALLS ON NEWLY LAUNCHED COMMISSION ON PRIVATE SECTOR

AND DEVELOPMENT TO FOSTER MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS

Following are the opening remarks by Secretary-General Kofi Annan, as he launched the Commission on the Private Sector and Development today at United Nations Headquarters:

RESOLVING NUCLEAR, SECURITY ISSUES A PRESSING PRIORITY IN KOREAN CONFLICT, SECRETARY-GENERAL SAYS ON 50^TH ANNIVERSARY OF ARMISTICE AGREEMENT

The following message was issued by Secretary-General Kofi Annan to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the Korean War Armistice Agreement, signed on 27 July 1953: