SECRETARY-GENERAL NOTES WORRYING DECLINE IN ASSISTANCE TO PALESTINIAN PEOPLE

Following is the text of a message from Secretary-General Kofi Annan to the opening today of the United Nations Seminar on Assistance to the Palestinian People in Vienna, delivered on the Secretary-General’s behalf by Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Kieran Prendergast:

UN SECRETARY-GENERAL CALLS ON GOVERNMENTS TO TAKE UP AIDS CHALLENGE

Seeks Global Commitment to Reverse AIDS Spread

Declaring the HIV/AIDS epidemic “the most formidable development challenge of our time”, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, in a report released today, calls on governments to secure a global commitment for intensified and coordinated action.

SECRETARY-GENERAL EXPRESSES CONCERN ABOUT MIDDLE EAST INCIDENT

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

BORDER CLOSURES AND OTHER RESTRICTIONS CAUSE CONCERN ABOUT PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY’S

CAPACITY TO CONTINUE FUNCTIONING, SECRETARY-GENERAL STATES

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

SECRETARY-GENERAL SADDENED TO HEAR OF DEATH OF F.T. LIU

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

The Secretary-General is deeply saddened by the news of the death of

F.T. Liu, a very distinguished servant of the United Nations who was recruited by and worked closely with Ralph Bunche, and did much to ensure the continuation of Bunche's legacy.

SECRETARY-GENERAL APPOINTS NEW DEPUTY SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE IN KOSOVO

Secretary-General Kofi Annan today announced the appointment of Gary L. Matthews of the United States as his Principal Deputy Special Representative of the United Nations Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK).  Mr. Matthews will replace Jock Covey, who had served in the same position since the middle of 1999.

SECRETARY-GENERAL SADDENED BY SECOND EL SALVADOR EARTHQUAKE,

ASSURES GOVERNMENT OF UN COMMITMENT TO RELIEF EFFORT

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

The Secretary-General was deeply saddened to learn of the second earthquake to strike El Salvador in a month's time.  He extends his condolences to the Government and to the families of the victims.

SECRETARY-GENERAL EXPRESSES GREAT REGRET AT DEATH OF WILLIAM EPSTEIN,

LEADING ADVOCATE FOR ‘NOBLE CAUSE’ OF GLOBAL NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT

Following is the statement of Secretary-General Kofi Annan, delivered on his behalf by Under-Secretary-General for Disarmament Affairs Jayantha Dhanapala, at a memorial service for William Epstein in New York on

14 February:

MILLENNIUM SUMMIT TARGETS CANNOT BE MET WITHOUT RESOURCES FOR DEVELOPMENT,

SECRETARY-GENERAL TELLS PANEL

Following is the text of Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s opening remarks at the first meeting of the High-level Panel on Financing for Development in New York today:

URBANIZATION OF POVERTY ONE OF NEW MILLENNIUM’S BIGGEST GLOBAL CHALLENGES,

SAYS SECRETARY-GENERAL IN MESSAGE TO UN COMMISSION ON HUMAN SETTLEMENTS

Following is the message of Secretary-General Kofi Annan to the eighteenth session of the United Nations Commission on Human Settlements, delivered on his behalf by Anna Kajumulo Tibaijuka, Executive Director of the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (HABITAT), in Nairobi on 12 February: