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.

SECRETARY-GENERAL RINGS PEACE BELL FOR UN COLLEAGUES, FRIENDS

STRUCK IN BAGHDAD, PEOPLE OF EVERY NATION NEEDING PEACE

Following is the text of remarks today by Secretary-General Kofi Annan on ringing the peace bell in observance of the International Day of Peace (21 September):

SECRETARY-GENERAL MARKS INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE WITH CALL FOR REFLECTION,

DIALOGUE ON MAJOR THREATS, CHALLENGES

Following is the message of Secretary-General Kofi Annan to mark the International Day of Peace, 21 September:

UNITED NATIONS MESSENGERS OF PEACE JOIN IN INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE OBSERVANCE

United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan will ring the Peace Bell at 10 a.m., 19 September at United Nations Headquarters to herald the twenty-second observance of the International Day of Peace.  At his side will be five of the United Nations Messengers of Peace:  Muhammad Ali, Anna Cataldi, Michael Douglas, Jane Goodall and Elie Wiesel.

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 PRAISES IMPRESSIVE, GLOBAL RESPONSE TO OZONE LAYER DESTRUCTION,

BUT WARNS ‘CANNOT BE COMPLACENT’, IN MESSAGE ON INTERNATIONAL DAY

Following is Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s message on the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer, observed 16 September:

LITERACY PREREQUISITE FOR REACHING GLOBAL ANTI-POVERTY GOALS

SAYS SECRETARY-GENERAL IN LITERACY DAY MESSAGE

Following is Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s message on the occasion of Literacy Day, observed 8 September:

GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT URGES GOVERNMENT ACTION ON YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT

IN MESSAGE ON INTERNATIONAL YOUTH DAY

Following is the message by Jan Kavan (Czech Republic), President of the fifty-seventh session of the General Assembly, on International Youth Day, observed 12 August: