SECRETARY-GENERAL, WELCOMING US OPEN DRAW CEREMONY TO HEADQUARTERS, SAYS

HOLDING EVENT AT ‘TIME OF GREAT SADNESS’ HONOURS LOST COLLEAGUES

Following is Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s message to the 2003 United States Open Tennis Championship draw ceremony, delivered by Shashi Tharoor, Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information, at Headquarters on 20 August:

HOW CAN WE THANK LOST COLLEAGUES?  VOW EACH DAY TO COMPLETE WORK

THEY BEGAN, SAYS SECRETARY-GENERAL IN VIDEO MESSAGE

Following is the text of Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s video message following the bomb attack on the United Nations Mission in Iraq, delivered

20 August:

PRESS STATEMENT BY SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT ON ARMS EMBARGO IN SOMALIA

Following is today’s statement to the press by Security Council President Fayssal Mekdad (Syria) on the midterm report of the panel of experts established to investigate violations of the arms embargo in Somalia, pursuant to resolution 1474 (2003):

ACTING HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS EXPRESSES

SHOCK, OUTRAGE OVER EXPLOSION IN BAGHDAD

The following statement was issued today by acting High Commissioner for Human Rights Bertrand Ramcharan:

VIEIRA DE MELLO’S DEATH ‘BITTER BLOW’ FOR UNITED NATIONS,

SAYS SECRETARY-GENERAL

The following statement by Secretary-General Kofi Annan was issued today at Headquarters:

The loss of Sergio Vieira de Mello is a bitter blow for the United Nations, and for me personally.

UN COMMITTEE ON STAFF SECURITY OUTRAGED BY ATTACK IN BAGHDAD,

CALLS FOR WITHDRAWAL OF STAFF

NEW YORK, 19 August -- The United Nations Staff Council’s Standing Committee on the Security and Independence of the International Civil Service is outraged by today’s attack on the United Nations headquarters in Baghdad, which killed the top United Nations envoy in Iraq, Sergio Vieira de Mello, and at least 14 other staff members.

PRESS STATEMENT ON BAGHDAD BOMBING BY SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT

The following press statement was issued today by the President of the Security Council, Fayssal Mekdad (Syria):

Members of the Council were shocked to hear of the terrorist criminal attack against the United Nations headquarters in Baghdad.

SECRETARY-GENERAL CONDEMNS JERUSALEM SUICIDE BOMBING,

URGES DECISIVE ACTION TO ARREST INSTIGATORS

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

Security Council

4810^th Meeting (AM)

ISRAELIS, PALESTINIANS NEED COURAGE, DETERMINATION TO ‘STAY THE COURSE’

ON MIDDLE EAST ROAD MAP, SECURITY COUNCIL TOLD

Briefing Council, Assistant Secretary-General

Says Parties Should Be Encouraged to ‘Take Risks for Peace’

BAGHDAD ATTACK ‘ACT OF UNPROVOKED AND MURDEROUS VIOLENCE’ SAYS SECRETARY-GENERAL

The following statement by Secretary-General Kofi Annan was issued today at Headquarters: