un ready to work with haiti to ensure sustainable future, says

Secretary-General as stabilization mission assumes authority

Following is Secretary-General Kofi Annan’smessage at the beginning of the mandate of United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haitiin Port-au-Prince, 1 June:

in message to ‘handover’ ceremony for un operation in burundi, Secretary-General

pledges to work ‘shoulder to shoulder’ with people to build better future

Following is the message by the Secretary-General Kofi Annan, read out by Berhanu Dinka, Special Representative for Burundi, at the handover ceremony from the African Mission in Burundi to the United Nations Operation in Burundi, in Bujumbura today:

millennium summit’s anti-poverty goals ‘common cause’ for international

community says Deputy Secretary-General in athens address

Following is Deputy Secretary-General Louise Fréchette’s address to the European Foundation Centre’s annual General Assembly in Athens, 30 May:

SECRETARY-GENERAL APPALLED BY TERRORIST ATTACK IN SAUDI ARABIA

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

Food emergencies in 35 countries worldwide –- Civil strife,

bad weather and HIV/AIDS said to be main causes

(Reissued as received.)

ROME, 31 May (FAO) -- The number of countries facing serious food shortages this month declined to 35 from 38 in February, but in Africa the number of countries needing food aid remains unchanged at 24, according to a report released today by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

Secretary-General, in message on buddhism’s day of vesak, calls for sustained

campaign to rebuild trust between different faiths, cultures

Following is Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s message to the “International Recognition of the Day of Vesak Ceremony” in New York, 1 June:

It gives me great pleasure to send my warmest greetings to this international observance of the Day of Vesak.

UNITED NATIONS RESPONDS TO MYANMAR STORM

NEW YORK, 28 May (OCHA) -- United Nations agencies in Myanmar are providing immediate assistance to people affected by the recent storm that hit four villages in Myanmar.  The storm was the worst since 1968.

in message for day of un peacekeepers, Security Council president pays tribute

to those who have served for their professionalism, dedication, courage

Following is the text of the message from the President of the Security Council, Munir Akram (Pakistan), on the occasion of the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers (29 May):

PRESIDENT OF UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL AND CHAIRMAN

OF MILITARY STAFF COMMITTEE IN JUNE

In accordance with the principle of alphabetical rotation, the following are the President of the United Nations Security Council and the Chairman of the Military Staff Committee for June:

Security Council

UN HUMAN RIGHTS EXPERTS appeal to israel on house demolitions

(Reissued as received.)

GENEVA, 28 May (UN Information Service) -- The Special Rapporteurs of the Commission on Human Rights on adequate housing and on the right to food issued the following statement today: