BUILDING AN INTERNATIONAL ALLIANCE AGAINST HUNGER

FOCUS OF WORLD FOOD DAY, 16 OCTOBER

ROME, 10 October (Food and Agriculture Organization) -- Creating an International Alliance Against Hunger will be the core theme of this year's World Food Day on 16 October.

A WORLD MIRED IN DESPAIR OF POVERTY ‘WILL NOT BE A WORLD AT PEACE’

SAYS SECRETARY-GENERAL, IN MESSAGE ON INTERNATIONAL DAY

Following is Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s message on the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, observed 17 October:

SECRETARY-GENERAL URGES WORLD BODY TO CONTINUE SERVING HUMANITY, CONFRONT GLOBAL

THREATS, CONSIDER FURTHER CHANGE, IN UNITED NATIONS DAY MESSAGE

Following is the message of Secretary-General Kofi Annan on United Nations Day, 24 October:

These are difficult times, for the world and for the United Nations.

TRUE INTERNATIONAL ALLIANCE NEEDED TO WIN FIGHT AGAINST HUNGER

SAYS SECRETARY-GENERAL IN WORLD FOOD DAY MESSAGE

Following is Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s message on World Food Day, observed 16 October:

WORLD HABITAT DAY SHOULD GIVE ADDED IMPETUS TO GOAL OF PROVIDING

ADEQUATE SHELTER FOR ALL, SAYS GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT

Following is the statement by the President of the General Assembly, Julian R. Hunte (Saint Lucia), on the occasion of World Habitat Day, 6 October:

GOVERNMENTS MUST ENSURE ADEQUATE ATTENTION FOR SPECIAL NEEDS OF YOUNG PEOPLE,

SECRETARY-GENERAL SAYS IN WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY MESSAGE

Following is the message of Secretary-General Kofi Annan on the occasion of World Mental Health Day, 10 October:

OLDER PERSONS ‘A MOST CHERISHED RESOURCE’, GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT

SAYS IN INTERNATIONAL DAY MESSAGE

Following is the message of Julian R. Hunte, President of the fifty-eighth session of the General Assembly, on the occasion of the International Day of Older Persons, 1 October:

BUILDING SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES KEY TO REDUCING VULNERABILITY TO NATURAL HAZARDS,

SECRETARY-GENERAL SAYS ON INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR DISASTER REDUCTION

Following is the message of Secretary-GeneralKofi Annan for the International Day for Disaster Reduction, 8 October:

The theme of this year’s International Day for Disaster Reduction is “turning the tide on disasters towards sustainable development”.

‘POWERFUL RESOURCE’ OF OLDER PERSONS MUST BE TAPPED FOR DEVELOPMENT

SAYS SECRETARY-GENERAL IN MESSAGE ON INTERNATIONAL DAY

Following is Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s message on the International Day of Older Persons, observed 1 October:

INCREASED INVESTMENT CRITICAL TO PROVIDE URBAN POOR WITH ADEQUATE SANITATION

AND CLEAN WATER, SECRETARY-GENERAL SAYS IN WORLD HABITAT DAY MESSAGE

Following is the message of Secretary-General Kofi Annan to mark World Habitat Day, 6 October:

The theme of World Habitat Day 2003 -- “Water and Sanitation for Cities” -- highlights the need to provide the urban poor with clean water and decent sanitation.