SECRETARY-GENERAL, ITALIAN PREMIER SIGN DECLARATION ON UN-EU COOPERATION

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

OPENING AD HOC MEETING ON AFGHANISTAN, SECRETARY-GENERAL CALLS FOR CONTINUED

SUPPORT FOR POLITICAL PROCESS, SECURITY REFORM, RECONSTRUCTION

Following is the statement as delivered today by Secretary-General Kofi Annan to the high-level ad hoc meeting on Afghanistan:

RECENT, ‘OFTEN TRAGIC’ WORLDWIDE DEVELOPMENTS POSE SERIOUS CHALLENGE FOR UN,

SAYS GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT OPENING FIFTY-EIGHTH SESSION

Following is the statement by the President of the General Assembly, Julian Hunte (Saint Lucia), at its opening today:

Fifty-eighth General Assembly

Plenary

8^th Meeting (PM)

UNITED NATIONS MUST REFORM TO MEET OBJECTIVES IN INCREASINGLY COMPLEX WORLD,

GENERAL ASSEMBLY TOLD, AS ANNUAL DEBATE CONTINUES

INTERNATIONAL TEAM DOCUMENTS DAMAGE FROM PAKISTAN TANKER SPILL;

PROGRAMME OF SCIENTIFIC STUDIES, RESTORATION RECOMMENDED

(Reissued as received.)

BANGKOK, 23 September -- An international team convened to assess the environmental damage caused by oil spilled from the tanker MT Tasman Spirit has reported its findings and recommendations to the Government of Pakistan.

ADOPTION OF POLICY OF PRE-EMPTION COULD RESULT IN PROLIFERATION OF UNILATERAL,

LAWLESS USE OF FORCE, SECRETARY-GENERAL TELLS GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Following is the address, as delivered today, by Secretary-General Kofi Annan to the General Assembly:

The last 12 months have been very painful for those of us who believe in collective answers to our common problems and challenges.

MILLIONS REMAIN FOOD INSECURE IN IRAQ DESPITE BETTER HARVEST, SAY UN AGENCIES

(Reissued as received.)

ROME,23 September (FAO) -- Despite a better cereal harvest and the lifting of economic sanctions, according to a report published today by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP), nearly half of the 26.3 million Iraqis are estimated to be poor and in need of assistance.

SYNTHETIC DRUG ABUSE EXCEEDS THAT OF HEROIN AND COCAINE COMBINED,

SAYS NEW UN STUDY

Global Survey on Ecstasy, Amphetamines

Reveals Alarming Abuse and Trafficking Patterns

(Reissued as received.)

SPECIAL HUMANITARIAN COORDINATOR FOR LIBERIA CALLS FOR IMMEDIATE END

TO USE OF CHILD SOLDIERS, KEY ELEMENT FOR LONG-TERM PEACE

MONROVIA, 22 September (Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs) -- The United Nations Special Humanitarian Coordinator for Liberia, Ross Mountain, today backed a call from the Security Council for all parties to the conflict to immediately cease their use of child soldiers.

Fifty-eighth General Assembly

Plenary

7^th Meeting (AM)

OPENING ANNUAL GENERAL DEBATE, GENERAL ASSEMBLY HEARS CALL FOR RADICAL CHANGE

TO ADDRESS THREATS OF TERRORISM, WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION