Statements and Messages

WE APPROACH OPENING OF GENERAL ASSEMBLY ‘WITH HEAVY HEARTS’,

IN AFTERMATH OF TERRORIST ATTACKS, SECRETARY-GENERAL SAYS

Following is the message by Secretary-General Kofi Annan to the annual interfaith service of commitment to the work of the United Nations at St. Bartholomew's Church, New York, delivered today by Gillian M. Sorensen, Assistant Secretary-General for External Relations:

IN MESSAGE TO WTO CONFERENCE, SECRETARY-GENERAL CALLS ON TRADE MINISTERS

TO ADDRESS NEEDS OF WORLD’S POOREST

Following is the message by Secretary-General Kofi Annan to the Fifth Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization in Cancun, delivered today by Rubens Ricupero, Secretary-General, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development:

The rhetoric of global trade is filled with promise.

SECRETARY-GENERAL PRAISES IMPRESSIVE, GLOBAL RESPONSE TO OZONE LAYER DESTRUCTION,

BUT WARNS ‘CANNOT BE COMPLACENT’, IN MESSAGE ON INTERNATIONAL DAY

Following is Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s message on the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer, observed 16 September:

SECRETARY-GENERAL PAYS TRIBUTE TO ARTHR HELTON ‘A MODEL

OF COMMITMENT, CREATIVE PROBLEM-SOLVER’

Following is the text of a message by Secretary-General Kofi Annan to the Council on Foreign Relations in tribute to Arthur Helton, delivered today by Edward Mortimer, Director of Communications:

DEMOCRACY CANNOT BE IMPOSED FROM ABROAD, BUT INTERNATIONAL EFFORTS CAN ENCOURAGE, ASSIST SAYS SECRETARY-GENERAL TO MONGOLIA CONFERENCE

Following is Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s message to the Fifth International Conference of New or Restored Democracies, delivered by Danilo Türk, Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs, in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, 10-12 September:

SECRETARY-GENERAL SHOCKED TO LEARN OF ATTACK ON FOREIGN MINISTER OF SWEDEN

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

SECRETARY-GENERAL CONDEMNS TERROR ATTACKS IN ISRAEL

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

The Secretary-General condemns today’s two terror attacks by suicide bombers near Tel Aviv and in Jerusalem, in which at least 12 people were killed and many others injured.  He conveys his deepest condolences to the families of the victims and to the Government of Israel.

FOREIGN MINISTERS OF SECURITY COUNCIL PERMANENT MEMBERS, SECRETARY-GENERAL

TO MEET ON IRAQ 13 SEPTEMBER IN GENEVA

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

ENTRY INTO FORCE OF CARTAGENA PROTOCOL ON BIOSAFETY ‘LANDMARK

FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT’, SAYS SECRETARY-GENERAL

Following is Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s statement on the 11 September entry into force of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety:

SECRETARY-GENERAL CONDEMNS ISRAELI ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT

OF HAMAS SPIRITUAL LEADER

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

The Secretary-General is greatly troubled by the intensifying cycle of violence, retaliation and revenge between Israelis and Palestinians.  He deplores the tendency of both sides to disregard their obligation to protect civilians under international humanitarian law.