UN LEADERS DESCRIBE FREE PRESS AS ESSENTIAL FOR DEVELOPMENT,

IN JOINT WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY MESSAGE

Following is the text of a joint message, on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day (3 May 2001), from Secretary-General Kofi Annan; the Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Koichiro Matsuura; and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson:

WORLD COMMUNITY MUST ADDRESS MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS OPENLY, HONESTLY,

SAYS SECRETARY-GENERAL IN MESSAGE ON WORLD HEALTH DAY

Following is the message of Secretary-General Kofi Annan on World Health Day, which is observed 7 April:

GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE FOR WORLD DAY FOR WATER

Following is the text of a statement issued today by General Assembly President Harri Holkeri (Finland) on the occasion of the World Day for Water (22 March):

GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE FOR WORLD POETRY DAY

Following is the text of a statement issued today by General Assembly President Harri Holkeri (Finland) on the occasion of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) World Poetry Day

(21 March):

GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT STRESSES NEED FOR RACIAL EQUALITY, TOLERANCE

ON INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR ELIMINATION OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION

Following is the text of the message of the President of the General Assembly, Harri Holkeri (Finland), on the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, which is observed 21 March:

ACCESS TO SAFE WATER FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN NEED, BASIC HUMAN RIGHT,

SAYS SECRETARY-GENERAL IN MESSAGE ON WORLD WATER DAY

Following is the message of Secretary-General Kofi Annan on World Water Day, which is observed 22 March:

Access to safe water is a fundamental human need and, therefore, a basic human right.  Contaminated water jeopardizes both the physical and social health of all people.  It is an affront to human dignity.

SECRETARY-GENERAL SAYS DAY FOR ELIMINATION OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION

CELEBRATES STEPS WORLD HAS TAKEN TO FREE ITSELF FROM RACIAL HATRED

Following is the message of Secretary-General Kofi Annan on the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, which is observed on 21 March:

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY STATEMENT BY GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT

Following is the text of a statement made today by the President of the General Assembly, Harri Holkeri (Finland), on the occasion of International Women’s Day (8 March 2001):

The theme for this year’s celebration of International Women’s Day is very timely:  Women managing conflict.

WOMEN CAN BE POWERFUL FORCE FOR PEACE AND RECONCILIATION AND MUST BE INTEGRATED

MORE EFFECTIVELY IN PEACE PROCESSES WORLDWIDE, SAYS DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL

Following is the text of remarks by Deputy Secretary-General Louise Fréchette delivered today at the “Women and Peace” panel at United Nations Headquarters on the occasion of International Women’s Day:

CAUTION: ADVANCE RELEASE

Not for use before

6:30 p.m. (EST) Thursday, 8 March

DESPITE CONTRIBUTION TO PEACE, 'WOMEN ARE ALL TOO OFTEN ABSENT OR POORLY

REPRESENTED IN FORMAL PEACE TALKS', DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL SAYS

Following is the text of remarks by Deputy Secretary-General Louise Fréchette at the Millennium Peace Prize Dinner in New York on 8 March: