Biographical Note                                            SG/A/840/Rev.1*

SECRETARY-GENERAL WELCOMES SIX-PARTY TALKS IN BEIJING,

HOPES PROCESS STRENGTHENS PEACE ON KOREAN PENINSULA

Following is the message of Secretary-General Kofi Annan to the participants of the six-party talks in Beijing:

I welcome the beginning of the six-party talks in Beijing.

Secretary-General Kofi Annan left New York on Friday, 22 August, arriving in Rio de Janeiro Saturday morning to attend a memorial service for Sergio Vieira de Mello, his Special Representative for Iraq, who was killed in a bomb attack on the United Nations headquarters in Baghdad on Tuesday, 19 August.

IN STATEMENT TO SECURITY COUNCIL, SECRETARY-GENERAL URGES ACTION

AGAINST THOSE ATTACKING UNITED NATIONS PERSONNEL

Following is today’s statement by Secretary-General Kofi Annan to the Security Council meeting on the protection of humanitarian workers:

I wish to express my strong support for the draft resolution before you.

SECRETARY-GENERAL CONDEMNS TERRORIST BOMB ATTACKS IN INDIA

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

The Secretary-General utterly condemns the terrorist bomb attacks today in Mumbai, India, killing more than 40 innocent civilians and injuring many more.  He is adamantly opposed to all acts of terrorism, from whatever quarter.

SECRETARY-GENERAL MOURNS LOSS OF ‘DEAR FRIEND’ SERGIO VIEIRA DE MELLO

AT MEMORIAL SERVICE IN RIO DE JANEIRO

Following is the text of remarks by Secretary-General Kofi Annan at the memorial service of Sergio Vieira de Mello in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on 23 August:

I thank you all for being here today, as we mourn the loss of a dear friend of mine, a beloved son of Brazil, and a great servant of the United Nations.

Secretary-General Kofi Annan, while on holiday in Europe, spent time in Helsinki to meet with the President of Finland, Tarja Halonen.

SECRETARY-GENERAL DEEPLY CONCERNED BY SHARP ESCALATION

OF MIDDLE EAST VIOLENCE

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

The Secretary-General is deeply concerned at the sharp escalation in violence in the Middle East.  While recognizing the right of Israel to live in security, Israel does not have the right to resort to extrajudicial measures, as it used today in the Gaza Strip.

IN REMARKS TO STAFF AFTER BAGHDAD BOMBING, SECRETARY-GENERAL SAYS

SERVICE WITH UN ‘IS NOT SIMPLY A JOB –- IT IS A CALLING’

Following is the text of remarks by Secretary-General Kofi Annan to United Nations staff members today:

Dear friends,

Today our hearts are heavy with loss.

Our senses reel from the sights and sounds of one of the darkest days in the history of the United Nations.

HOW CAN WE THANK LOST COLLEAGUES?  VOW EACH DAY TO COMPLETE WORK

THEY BEGAN, SAYS SECRETARY-GENERAL IN VIDEO MESSAGE

Following is the text of Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s video message following the bomb attack on the United Nations Mission in Iraq, delivered

20 August: