Press Release

GOVERNMENTS MUST ENSURE ADEQUATE ATTENTION FOR SPECIAL NEEDS OF YOUNG PEOPLE,

SECRETARY-GENERAL SAYS IN WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY MESSAGE

Following is the message of Secretary-General Kofi Annan on the occasion of World Mental Health Day, 10 October:

SECRETARY-GENERAL STRONGLY DEPLORES ISRAELI AIR STRIKE ON SYRIAN TERRITORY

Following is a statement issued on 5 October by the Spokesman for Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

LUBBERS TO CONTINUE AS UN HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES

(Reissued as received)

GENEVA, 6 October (UNHCR) –- Acting on the proposal of the Secretary-General, the United Nations General Assembly today extended the term of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Ruud Lubbers through the end of 2005.  With the two-year extension, Mr. Lubbers will have served a term of five full years.

Fifty-eighth General Assembly

Second Committee

2^nd Meeting (PM)

IMBALANCES CAST SHADOW OVER WORLD’S ECONOMIC RECOVERY, UNDER-SECRETARY-GENERAL

TELLS SECOND COMMITTEE AT START OF GENERAL DEBATE

WORLD HABITAT DAY SHOULD GIVE ADDED IMPETUS TO GOAL OF PROVIDING

ADEQUATE SHELTER FOR ALL, SAYS GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT

Following is the statement by the President of the General Assembly, Julian R. Hunte (Saint Lucia), on the occasion of World Habitat Day, 6 October:

Fifty-eighth General Assembly

First Committee

2^nd Meeting (AM)

‘CRISIS OF CONFIDENCE’ IN COLLECTIVE SECURITY, DIVERSION OF SCARCE RESOURCES

TO ARMS AMONG ISSUES RAISED, AS FIRST COMMITTEE BEGINS DEBATE

Fifty-eighth General Assembly

Sixth Committee

2^nd & 3^rd Meetings (AM & PM)

LEGAL COMMITTEE TOLD OF INITIATIVES ON GLOBAL TRADE RULES

UNCITRAL Chairman Reviews Work on Standards for Infrastructure

Projects, Sustainable Development, Insolvency Law and in Other Areas

UNITED NATIONS, MORE THAN EVER, NEEDS STRONG, COHERENT DEVELOPMENT VOICE

SAYS SECRETARY-GENERAL TO MEETING OF RESIDENT REPRESENTATIVES

Following is Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s address to the global resident representatives meeting in Tarrytown, New York, on 6 October:

It is hard to believe that it has been almost four years since the last global meeting of resident representatives.

Security Council

4836^th Meeting (PM)

SECURITY COUNCIL MEETS IN EMERGENCY SESSION FOLLOWING ISRAELI

AIR STRIKE AGAINST SYRIA

Syria Asks Council to Condemn Attack; Israel Says

Attack Response for Islamic Jihad’s Bombing in Haifa

The Security Council met in an emergency session this afternoon, at Syria’s request, following an Israeli air strike against that country earlier today.

SECRETARY-GENERAL CONGRATULATES INTER-PARLIAMENTARY UNION ON INAUGURATION

OF NEW HEADQUARTERS -- ‘HOUSE OF PARLIAMENTS’

Following is Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s message for the inauguration of the new headquarters of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, delivered by Sergei Ordzhonikidze, Director-General, United Nations Office in Geneva, 3 October: