Secretary-General: Press Release

SECRETARY-GENERAL QUESTIONS EXISTENCE OF ‘CLASH OF CIVILIZATIONS’

IN REMARKS AT ‘ISLAM AND THE WEST’ LECTURE

Following are the introductory remarks by Secretary-General Kofi Annan at the lecture on “Islam and the West” by Professor Seyyed Hossein Nasr delivered today in New York:

This afternoon, I am really honoured that Professor Seyyed Hossein Nasr has accepted my invitation to give this lecture.

SECRETARY-GENERAL REGRETS SUSPENSION WITHOUT AGREEMENT OF TRADE TALKS IN CANCÚN

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

SECRETARY-GENERAL CONDEMNS COUP D’ÉTAT IN GUINEA-BISSAU

The following statement was issued on 14 September by the Spokesman for Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

SECRETARY-GENERAL VOICES SUPPORT FOR EFFORTS TO STRENGTHEN NUCLEAR SAFEGUARDS,

ENCOURAGES COUNTRIES TO CONCLUDE SAFEGUARDS AGREEMENTS

Following is the message by Secretary-General Kofi Annan to the forty-seventh General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna, delivered today by Nobuyasu Abe, Under-Secretary-General for Disarmament Affairs:

SECRETARY-GENERAL URGES ACCEPTANCE BY ALL STATES OF CONVENTION AGAINST LANDMINES,

PROVISION OF ASSISTANCE TO AFFECTED STATES

CHALLENGE FOR ALL IS TO MANAGE INTERDEPENDENCE IN WAYS THAT ‘BRING PEOPLE IN,

RATHER THAN SHUTTING THEM OUT’, SECRETARY-GENERAL SAYS

Following is the message by Secretary-General Kofi Annan for the first annual Interdependence Day, Philadelphia, delivered today by Edward Mortimer, Director of Communications:

SECRETARY-GENERAL WELCOMES ELECTION OF VICTIMS TRUST FUND BOARD

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

SECRETARY-GENERAL WELCOMES SECURITY COUNCIL’S LIFTING OF SANCTIONS ON LIBYA

Following is a statement issued today by the Spokesman for Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

The Secretary-General welcomes the adoption today by the Security Council of a resolution lifting sanctions against Libya.

SECRETARY-GENERAL URGES ISRAEL TO RECONSIDER EXPULSION DECISION

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

The Secretary-General strongly urges the Israeli Government to reconsider the Security Cabinet’s decision in principle to expel President Yasser Arafat.  The forcible transfer of President Arafat is dangerous and counter-productive in a situation of tension and instability in the region.

AIM MUST BE FOR PEOPLE EVERYWHERE TO HAVE ACCESS TO INFORMATION

TECHNOLOGY, SECRETARY-GENERAL SAYS

Following is the text of the video message by Secretary-General Kofi Annan to the fifth meeting of the UN Information and Communications Technology Task Force in Geneva, 12 September: