SECRETARY-GENERAL, OBSERVING HUMAN RIGHTS DAY, STRESSES

THAT DEFENDING RIGHTS IS RESPONSIBILITY OF ALL

Following is the text of Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s message on Human Rights Day, 10 December:

UNITED NATIONS FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION CALLS

FOR INTENSIFIED ACTION TO COMBAT ILLEGAL FISHING

Agency Gears to Do More as It Reports

Deepening of Problem to Governing Conference

CITIES CAN BE VEHICLES FOR PEACE, SECRETARY-GENERAL TELLS LOS ANGELES CITY COUNCIL

Following are the remarks delivered by Secretary-General Kofi Annan at a meeting with the City Council and Mayor of Los Angeles today:

I am delighted and honoured to be among you today.  Above all, I am heartened that you have adopted this resolution in support of the Millennium Development Goals.

Fifty-eighth General Assembly

Fifth Committee

24^th Meeting (AM)

FIFTH COMMITTEE CONTINUES DISCUSSION ON PROPOSED CHANGES

TO PLANNING, BUDGETING PROCESS

PRESS STATEMENT ON SOMALIA BY PRESIDENT OF SECURITY COUNCIL

Following is today’s statement to the press on Somalia by Security Council President Stefan Tafrov (Bulgaria):

FAO, united arab emirates to support food security in arab world

by strengthening national agricultral information centre

(Reissued as received.)

SECRETARY-GENERAL PAYS TRIBUTE TO MEMBERS OF HOSPITALITY COMMITTEE FOR UN DELEGATIONS

Following is the text of the video message by Secretary-General Kofi Annan to the Hospitality Committee for United Nations Delegations:

GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT ANNOUNCES AWARDEES OF 2003 UNITED NATIONS

PRIZE IN FIELD OF HUMAN RIGHTS

Following is the text of the statement by General AssemblyPresident Julian Robert Hunte (Saint Lucia) announcing the recipients of the 2003 United Nations Prize in the Field of Human Rights:

COTE D’IVOIRE:  VIOLENCE WILL WORSEN HUMANITARIAN CRISIS

NEW YORK, 3 December (OCHA) –- With tensions rising in Abidjan, Jan Egeland, the Emergency Relief Coordinator, expressed his concern for civilians trapped in that country’s conflict.  “If the country lapses back into war, it will only compound the suffering of civilians.  I urge all parties to bring an end to the fighting immediately to prevent a humanitarian crisis from worsening.”

ONLY COLLECTIVE ENGAGEMENT CAN TACKLE AFRICA’S URGENT URBAN CHALLENGE

SAYS SECRETARY-GENERAL TO CAMEROON ‘AFRICITIES’ CONFERENCE

Following is Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s message to the “Africities Summit”, delivered by Anna Tibaijuka, Executive Director, United Nations Human Settlements Programme(UN-HABITAT), in Yaoundé, Cameroon, 2 December: