Press Release

SECRETARY-GENERAL, DISTURBED BY UPSURGE OF VIOLENCE IN MIDDLE EAST,

URGES PARTIES BACK TO NEGOTIATING TABLE

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

The Secretary-General is deeply disturbed by the recent upsurge of violence in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory.

SECRETARY-GENERAL APPOINTS SHALINI DEWAN AS DIRECTOR

OF UNITED NATIONS INFORMATION CENTRE IN ROME

Secretary-General Kofi Annan has appointed Shalini Dewan as the Director of the United Nations Information Centre in Rome.  She took up her duties on

3 December.

MAJOR-GENERAL JIN HA HWANG APPOINTED FORCE COMMANDER

OF UNITED NATIONS PEACEKEEPING FORCE IN CYPRUS

Secretary-General Kofi Annan announced today the appointment of Major-General Jin Ha Hwang of the Republic of Korea as Force Commander of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) to succeed Major-General Victory Rana who relinquishes his post on 15 December 2001.

PRESS STATEMENT ON SIERRA LEONE BY PRESIDENT OF SECURITY COUNCIL

This is the text of a statement to the press today by the President of the Security Council, Moctar Ouane (Mali):

Council members reviewed the ban on Sierra Leone diamonds imposed by resolution 1306.  They emphasized the continued importance of Security Council resolution 1306 in the Council’s efforts to build peace in Sierra Leone and the region.

PRESS STATEMENT ON BOUGAINVILLE BY SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT

This is the text of a statement to the press today by the President of the Security Council, Moctar Ouane (Mali):

Members of the Security Council heard a briefing from the Head of the United Nations Political Office in Bougainville, Ambassador Noel Sinclair.

GOVERNING COUNCIL OF UNITED NATIONS COMPENSATION COMMISSION

APPROVES AWARDS OF $132.7 MILLION FOR COMPENSATION

Fifty-sixth General Assembly

Fifth Committee

36^th Meeting (PM)

FINANCING OF FIVE UNITED NATIONS PEACEKEEPING MISSIONS APPROVED

BY BUDGET COMMITTEE, DESPITE LACK OF SPECIFIC DOLLAR AMOUNTS

                                                      DEV/2357

IN MESSAGE FOR INTERNATIONAL MIGRANTS DAY, SECRETARY-GENERAL CALLS FOR

WIDER SUPPORT FOR GLOBAL COVENANT ON RIGHTS OF MIGRANT WORKERS

Migration Called ‘Fact of Life’ of Modern World, Positive

Factor for Host and Home Countries; Exploitation of Workers a Concern

This is the text of a message from Secretary-General Kofi Annan on the observance of 18 December as International Migrants Day:

PRESS STATEMENT ON CYPRUS BY PRESIDENT OF SECURITY COUNCIL

Following is this afternoon’s statement on Cyprus by Moctar Ouane (Mali), President of the Security Council: