SECRETARY-GENERAL ACCEPTS ART WORK GIFT FROM CANADA

MARKING INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF VOLUNTEERS

This is the text of remarks by Secretary-General Kofi Annan today, in the presence of Alfonso Gagliano, Canadian Minister of Public Works and Government Services, and D. Felipe de Borbón, Prince of Asturias, at a ceremony to receive a gift from Canada to commemorate the International Year of Volunteers:

‘MAGNIFICENT CONTRIBUTION’ OF VOLUNTEERS IN ADVANCING UN IDEALS

CITED BY SECRETARY-GENERAL IN REMARKS AT HEADQUARTERS EVENT

Following are the remarks of Secretary-General Kofi Annan at the special event to mark the close of the International Year of Volunteers 2001 at Headquarters 5 December:

One year ago, I had the pleasure of taking part in the opening ceremony of the International Year of Volunteers.

SECRETARY-GENERAL ‘WARMLY WELCOMES’ SIGNING

OF ‘PROVISIONAL ARRANGMENTS IN AFGHANISTAN’

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

SECRETARY-GENERAL SAYS UNITED ACTION AGAINST TERRORISM HAS UNIVERSAL HUMAN RIGHTS

DIMENSION; VIOLATIONS ARE WARNING OF FUTURE CONFLICT

Rights Day Message, Noting Award of Nobel Peace Prize to United Nations,

Urges Respect for All People, Renewed Efforts against Racial Discrimination

PRESS STATEMENT ON AFGHANISTAN AGREEMENT BY SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT

The following statement on the Afghanistan agreement was issued today to the press by the President of the Security Council, Moctar Ouane (Mali):

The Security Council, in the presence of the Secretary-General, heard a briefing by Sir Kieran Prendergast on the agreement concluded today in Bonn on the interim Government in Afghanistan.

Security Council

4433^rd Meeting (AM)

PEACEKEEPING ASSISTANT SECRETARY-GENERAL BRIEFS SECURITY COUNCIL

ON PROGRESS IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA MISSION

Secretary-General’s Report Suggests Follow-up

Mission After 2002 Should Be Regional Responsibility

Fifty-sixth General Assembly

Plenary

75^th and 76^th Meetings (AM and PM)

MARKING END OF INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF VOLUNTEERS, GENERAL ASSEMBLY ENCOURAGES

ALL PEOPLE TO BECOME MORE ENGAGED IN VOLUNTARY ACTIVITIES

Resolution Containing Recommendations for Volunteer Action Adopted without a Vote

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.