Press Release

UN VIENNA STAFF PAYS TRIBUTE TO VICTIMS OF BAGHDAD ATTACK

(Reissued as received.)

Secretary-General Kofi Annan, while on holiday in Europe, spent time in Helsinki to meet with the President of Finland, Tarja Halonen.

REMARKS OF BERTRAND RAMCHARAN, ACTING HIGH COMMISSIONER

FOR HUMAN RIGHTS, AT BAGHDAD AIRPORT

(Reissued as received.)

GENEVA, 22 August (UN Information Service) -- Following are the comments made today by Bertrand Ramcharan, Acting High Commissioner for Human Rights, at Baghdad Airport:

Friends of the United Nations, supporters of the human rights movement, dear colleagues,

Committee on the Elimination

of Racial Discrimination

Afternoon Round-Up

COMMITTEE ON ELIMINATION OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION CONCLUDES SIXTY-THIRD SESSION

Issues Observations on Reports of 11 Countries

(Reissued as received.)

HEAD OF UN GENEVA OFFICE EXPRESSES SORROW, OUTRAGE AT LOSS

OF COLLEAGUES IN ATTACK ON UN BAGHDAD HEADQUARTERS

Pays Tribute to Sergio Vieira de Mello for his Dedication to Cause of Peace

(Reissued as received.)

Security Council

4812^th Meeting (AM)

COALITION PARTNERS BRIEF SECURITY COUNCIL ON SITUATION IN IRAQ, CALLING

FOR STEPPED UP INTERNATIONAL INVOLVEMENT, ENHANCED SECURITY

Council Members Voice Support for Stronger

UN Role, Timetable for Return of Iraqi Sovereignty

YOUNG ENVIRONMENTALISTS WILL GATHER IN DUBNA, RUSSIAN FEDERATION

FOR UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE, 25 - 27 AUGUST

(Reissued as received.)

NAIROBI/DUBNA, 21 August (UNEP) -- Young environmentalists from more than 60 countries are meeting in the Russian Federation to discuss environmental topics vital to sustainable development in the twenty-first century.

IN REMARKS TO STAFF AFTER BAGHDAD BOMBING, SECRETARY-GENERAL SAYS

SERVICE WITH UN ‘IS NOT SIMPLY A JOB –- IT IS A CALLING’

Following is the text of remarks by Secretary-General Kofi Annan to United Nations staff members today:

Dear friends,

Today our hearts are heavy with loss.

Our senses reel from the sights and sounds of one of the darkest days in the history of the United Nations.

SECRETARY-GENERAL DEEPLY CONCERNED BY SHARP ESCALATION

OF MIDDLE EAST VIOLENCE

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

The Secretary-General is deeply concerned at the sharp escalation in violence in the Middle East.  While recognizing the right of Israel to live in security, Israel does not have the right to resort to extrajudicial measures, as it used today in the Gaza Strip.

2002 A RECORD YEAR FOR LIBERALIZING FDI LAWS AND REGULATIONS

(Reissued as received.)

GENEVA, 21 August (United Nations Conference on Trade and Development) -- In an effort to attract foreign direct investment (FDI), countries are increasingly improving their investment climates, judging by the record number of changes introduced into national laws and bilateral instruments signed last year.