SECRETARY-GENERAL CALLS FOR END TO ‘SCOURGE’ OF ILLEGAL SMALL-ARMS PROLIFERATION

Following is the message of Secretary-General Kofi Annan on the occasion of Small Arms Destruction Day, 9 July:

                                                      SG/SM/7855

SECRETARY-GENERAL CALLS FOR MORE EMPHASIS ON REDUCING DEMAND FOR ILLEGAL DRUGS

IN MESSAGE FOR DAY AGAINST DRUG ABUSE

   Following is the message of Secretary-General Kofi Annan on the occasion of the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, 26 June:

REFUGEES ‘ARE THE GREAT SURVIVORS OF OUR TIME’, SAYS SECRETARY-GENERAL

IN SALUTE TO WORLD REFUGEE DAY

Following is the text of the message from Secretary-General Kofi Annan on World Refugee Day, 20 June:

GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT SALUTES FIRST WORLD REFUGEE DAY

Following is the message from General Assembly President Harri Holkeri on the occasion of World Refugee Day, 20 June:

Today marks the 50^th anniversary of the United Nations Convention relating to the Status of Refugees.  Today we also join the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in observing the first World Refugee Day.

SALUTING WORLD DAY TO COMBAT DESERTIFICATION, DROUGHT,

ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT CALLS FOR ‘EMPOWERING THE POOR’

Following is the message from General Assembly President Harri Holkeri on the occasion of World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, 17 June:

SECRETARY-GENERAL, IN ‘LOCAL GOVERNMENT DAY’ REMARKS, OUTLINES AREAS

IN WHICH UNITED NATIONS, LOCAL AUTHORITIES CAN WORK TOGETHER

Following are the remarks of Secretary-General Kofi Annan at 'Local Government Day' in New York on 5 June, which included the presentation of the Declaration of the Second World Assembly of Cities and Local Authorities:

GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT SALUTES WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY

Following is the message of General Assembly President Harri Holkeri on the occasion of World Environment Day, 5 June:

Life is a finely designed web in which each species and ecosystem support one another and at the same time depend on each other.  The theme for World Environment Day, “Connect with the World Wide Web of Life”, is a very pertinent one.

SALUTING WORLD NO-TOBACCO DAY, GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT

WARNS OF HAZARDS FROM SECOND-HAND SMOKE

Following is the message of General Assemblypresident Harri Holkeri on the occasion of World No-Tobacco Day, 31 May:

Today we join the World Health Organization in observing May 31 as World No-Tobacco Day, focusing on the often-overlooked adverse effects of second-hand smoke.

MUCH CAN BE DONE TO ASSIST NON-SELF-GOVERNING TERRITORIES, ASSEMBLY

PRESIDENT SAYS IN MESSAGE FOR WEEK OF SOLIDARITY

Following is the text of a message from General Assembly President Harri Holkeri (Finland) on the occasion of the observance of the Week of Solidarity with the Peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories, beginning 25 May: