LITERACY IS KEY TO A FUTURE OF FREEDOM AND HOPE FOR MANKIND

SECRETARY-GENERAL SAYS AT LAUNCH OF UN LITERACY DECADE

      Following is the text of the remarks delivered by Secretary-General Kofi Annan at a ceremony held on Thursday evening, 13 February, at the New York Public Library, to mark the launch of the United Nations Literacy Decade (2003-2012):

UNITED NATIONS IS VALUABLE ALLY, INSTRUMENT IN STRUGGLE FOR PEACE,

SECRETARY-GENERAL TELLS PEACE PRIZE FESTIVAL AND FORUM

Commission for Social Development

Forty-first Session

7^th & 8^th Meetings (AM & PM)

CITING ECONOMIC, SOCIAL VALUE OF OLDER PERSONS, SPEAKERS IN SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

COMMISSION STRESS NEED TO INCLUDE AGEING ISSUES IN DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES

WORLD SUMMIT ON INFORMATION SOCIETY PREPARATORY COMMITTEE

TO BE HELD FROM 17 TO 28 FEBRUARY IN GENEVA

Press Conference to Include Information Society Visionaries

(Reissued as received.)

QUARTET ‘ROAD MAP’ AIMS AT ISRAELI AND PALESTINIAN STATES IN MIDEAST,

SECRETARY-GENERAL TELLS PALESTINIAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE

Following is the text of the statement by Secretary-General Kofi Annan to the opening meeting of the 2003 session of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, delivered by his Chef de Cabinet,

S. Iqbal Riza:

ALARMING SHORTAGE OF NON-FOOD ITEMS TO COMBAT CRISIS

IN SOUTHERN AFRICA, UNITED NATIONS WARNS

(Reissued as received.)

GENEVA, 14 February (UN Information Service) -– The United Nations today launched its mid-term review of the 2002/2003 Consolidated Appeal (CAP) for the humanitarian crisis in southern Africa, placing special emphasis on the urgent need for tens of millions of dollars’ worth of non-food items.

Security Council

4707^th Meeting (AM)

IRAQ COOPERATING WITH DISARMAMENT PROCEDURES, BUT MANY BANNED WEAPONS

REMAIN UNACCOUNTED FOR, INSPECTORS TELL SECURITY COUNCIL

‘Immediate, Unconditional and Active’ Cooperation Needed to Resolve Questions;

Security Council

4706^th Meeting (PM)

SECURITY COUNCIL CONDEMNS 7 FEBRUARY BOMB ATTACK IN BOGOTA,

SAYS ACT OF TERRORISM THREATENS PEACE, SECURITY

Resolution 1465 (2003) Adopted Unanimously

The Security Council this afternoon condemned “in the strongest terms” last week’s bomb attack in Bogota, Colombia, characterizing it as an act of terrorism that threatened peace and security. 

LITERACY A PREREQUISITE FOR A HEALTHY, JUST, PROSPEROUS WORLD, DEPUTY

SECRETARY-GENERAL SAYS AT LAUNCH OF UN LITERACY DECADE

Following is the text of remarks as delivered today, by Deputy Secretary-General Louise Fréchette to mark the launch of the United Nations Literacy Decade:

Security Council

4705^th Meeting (PM)

SECURITY COUNCIL BRIEFED ON URGENCY OF ENDING HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS,

CULTURE OF IMPUNITY IN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO