Biographical Note

NEW PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF LATVIA PRESENTS CREDENTIALS

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

Gints Jegermanis, the new Permanent Representative of Latvia to the United Nations, presented his credentials today to the Secretary-General, Kofi Annan.

Biographical Note

NEW PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF KOREA

PRESENTS CREDENTIALS

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

Pak Gil Yon, the new Permanent Representative of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to the United Nations, presented his credentials today to Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

Secretary-General Kofi Annan and Nane Annan left New York on Sunday, 2 December, late in the afternoon for Washington, D.C., where that evening they attended the Kennedy Center Honors gala.

TRUE AFGHAN PEACE NOT POSSIBLE WITHOUT RESTORATION OF WOMEN’S RIGHTS

SAYS SECRETARY-GENERAL IN MESSAGE TO BRUSSELS SUMMIT

Following is the message of Secretary-General Kofi Annan to the Afghan Women’s Summit for Democracy, being held in Brussels 4 to 5 December, delivered today on his behalf by Angela King, Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on Gender Issues and the Advancement of Women:

ISMAT KITTANI’S DEATH DEEP LOSS TO UNITED NATIONS FAMILY

SAYS SECRETARY-GENERAL AT NEW YORK MEMORIAL SERVICE

Following are the remarks of Secretary-General Kofi Annan at the memorial service for Ismat Kittani in New York on 4 December:

SECRETARY-GENERAL, CONCERNED BY CYCLE OF VIOLENCE IN MIDDLE EAST,

URGES ISRAELIS, PALESTINIANS TO LIVE UP TO EARLIER COMMITMENTS

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

SECRETARY-GENERAL PLEASED AT AGREEMENT TO START

DIRECT NEGOTIATIONS BY PARTIES IN CYPRUS

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

The Secretary-General is very pleased at the agreement reached today by Mr. Clerides and Mr. Denktash to start direct negotiations in mid-January 2002, at his invitation.

PARLIAMENTARIANS ‘CAN HELP NATIONS RISE ABOVE DIFFERENCES

AND WORK TOGETHER’ SECRETARY-GENERAL SAYS

Following is the text of remarks by Secretary-General Kofi Annan today to parliamentarians attending the fifty-sixth session of the General Assembly:

I am delighted to welcome you to United Nations Headquarters.

Fifty-sixth General Assembly

Second Committee

36^th Meeting (PM)

SECOND COMMITTEE APPROVES 13 DEVELOPMENT-RELATED DRAFT TEXTS

Drafts on Natural Resources of Palestinian People,

Economic Measures as Means of Coercion Approved by Recorded Vote

Fifty-sixth General Assembly

Fifth Committee

32^nd Meeting (AM)

FIFTH COMMITTEE TO CONTINUE INFORMAL DISCUSSION OF 2002-2003 BUDGET,

STAFF PENSIONS, HONORARIA, ECOSOC AND DISARMAMENT-RELATED MATTERS