SALUTING WORLD DAY TO COMBAT DESERTIFICATION, DROUGHT,

ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT CALLS FOR ‘EMPOWERING THE POOR’

Following is the message from General Assembly President Harri Holkeri on the occasion of World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, 17 June:

SECRETARY-GENERAL, IN ‘LOCAL GOVERNMENT DAY’ REMARKS, OUTLINES AREAS

IN WHICH UNITED NATIONS, LOCAL AUTHORITIES CAN WORK TOGETHER

Following are the remarks of Secretary-General Kofi Annan at 'Local Government Day' in New York on 5 June, which included the presentation of the Declaration of the Second World Assembly of Cities and Local Authorities:

GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT SALUTES WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY

Following is the message of General Assembly President Harri Holkeri on the occasion of World Environment Day, 5 June:

Life is a finely designed web in which each species and ecosystem support one another and at the same time depend on each other.  The theme for World Environment Day, “Connect with the World Wide Web of Life”, is a very pertinent one.

SALUTING WORLD NO-TOBACCO DAY, GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT

WARNS OF HAZARDS FROM SECOND-HAND SMOKE

Following is the message of General Assemblypresident Harri Holkeri on the occasion of World No-Tobacco Day, 31 May:

Today we join the World Health Organization in observing May 31 as World No-Tobacco Day, focusing on the often-overlooked adverse effects of second-hand smoke.

MUCH CAN BE DONE TO ASSIST NON-SELF-GOVERNING TERRITORIES, ASSEMBLY

PRESIDENT SAYS IN MESSAGE FOR WEEK OF SOLIDARITY

Following is the text of a message from General Assembly President Harri Holkeri (Finland) on the occasion of the observance of the Week of Solidarity with the Peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories, beginning 25 May:

PROBLEM OF INVASIVE ALIEN SPECIES MUST BE ADDRESSED, SAYS ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT,

IN MESSAGE MARKING INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY

Following is the text of a message from General Assembly President Harri Holkeri (Finland) on the occasion of the International Day for Biological Diversity, 22 May:

SECRETARY-GENERAL'S MESSAGE FOR THE INTERNATIONAL DAY

FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY, 22 MAY 2001

IN INTERCONNECTED WORLD ALL PEOPLE MUST HAVE ACCESS TO INTERNET

SAYS SECRETARY-GENERAL, IN WORLD TELECOMMUNICATION DAY MESSAGE

      Following is the message of Secretary-General Kofi Annan on the occasion of World Telecommunication Day, observed 17 May:

FAMILIES, VOLUNTEERS PLAY INDISPENSABLE ROLE IN ENRICHING COMMUNITY LIFE,

SAYS SECRETARY-GENERAL ON INTERNATIONAL DAY OF FAMILIES

Following is the message of Secretary-General Kofi Annan on the International Day of Families, which is observed 15 May:

PRESS FREEDOM POWERFUL INSTRUMENT TO FIGHT RACISM, INTOLERANCE

SAYS GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT ON WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY

Following is the statement of the President of the General Assembly, Harri Holkeri (Finland) entitled "Fighting Racism and Promoting Diversity:  The Role of the Free Press", on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day, which is observed on 3 May: