Secretary-General: Press Release

The Secretary-General flew from the Middle East to Europe on Friday, 24 June, arriving in Basel, Switzerland, in the evening.

The Secretary-General and his party arrived in Damascus in the afternoon of Thursday, 22 June.

On his way to Damascus from Jerusalem, the Secretary-General travelled to Ramalah to meet with Yassir Arafat, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization and President of the Palestinian Authority.

The Secretary-General travelled overland from Amman, Jordan, to Israel in the morning of Wednesday, 21 June.

The Secretary-General flew to Amman from Beirut in the morning of Tuesday, 20 June.

Press Release
SG/SM/7462

SECRETARY-GENERAL, PRESIDENT OF INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE ISSUE JOINT MESSAGE ON OCCASION OF OLYMPIC DAY OBSERVANCE

Following is the joint statement of Secretary-General Kofi Annan and the President of the International Olympic Committee, Juan Antonio Samaranch, on the occasion of Olympic Day, which is observed 23 June:

Press Release
SG/SM/7461
OBV/147

SECRETARY-GENERAL CALLS FOR STEADFAST FIGHT AGAINST VILE HUMAN ACT, IN MESSAGE ON INTERNATIONAL DAY IN SUPPORT OF VICTIMS OF TORTURE

Following is the message of Secretary-General Kofi Annan on the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, which is observed on 26 June:

Press Release
SG/SM/7460
OBV/146

SECRETARY-GENERAL, IN MESSAGE ON INTERNATIONAL DAY AGAINST DRUG ABUSE, CALLS FOR NEW COMMITMENT TO STAMPING OUT 'DISEASE' OF DRUG MENACE

Following is the message of Secretary-General Kofi Annan on the occasion of the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, "Facing Reality: Denial, Corruption and Violence", which is observed 26 June:

Press Release
SG/A/735
PI/1260

SECRETARY-GENERAL APPOINTS MARIA-LUISA CHAVEZ DIRECTOR OF UN INFORMATION CENTRE IN ATHENS

Secretary-General Kofi Annan has appointed Maria-Luisa Chavez as the Director of the United Nations Information Centre in Athens, Greece. She is expected to take up her duties on 20 June.

Press Release
SG/SM/7459

FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA AND GREECE HOLD TALKS ON 15 JUNE

The following statement was issued on 15 June by the Spokesman for Secretary-General Kofi Annan: