Kofi Annan

In the 10 years I have served as Secretary-General, I have been privileged to meet UNICEF colleagues all around the world. I have seen them do great things for children, on all continents, against all odds. They have given a voice to those children who need it most. The have protected children, and helped them survive and develop.

My dear friends,

Thank you all for being here. I could not ask for better company, on the last International Human Rights Day of my time in office, than this group of courageous human rights leaders from around the world.

The Secretary-General is deeply concerned about the worsening security situation in Darfur and its consequences for the wider region, including Chad and the Central African Republic. He is alarmed by the devastating impact the violence is having on the civilian population in the region, and strongly condemns the recent attacks and destruction of dozens of villages in North Darfur. More than 80,000 people have been forced to flee their homes in the last six weeks alone, 50,000 of them in Darfur and 30,000 in Chad.

Thank you very much, Jan, Madame President, Ministers, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Earlier this year we launched the Central Emergency Response Fund mandated by the World Summit. Today, I am proud to tell you of its first results.

In just eight short months, the upgraded CERF has delivered on its promise to help those most in need; from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe, Lebanon to Liberia, the Fund has committed $230 million to over 320 projects in 30 countries.

It is a pleasure to send my greetings to all the participants in this conference.

This event, convened by the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute, offers an important opportunity to bring to the attention of the international community the issue of security at large-scale events, and the need to ensure effective implementation of the resolution on the subject adopted by the UN Economic and Social Council.

SG: I just came out of my last lunch with the Security Council. I can assure you the atmosphere was nothing like the last supper. [laughter] There was lots of laughter, and some very serious discussions. I shared with them my concern about problem areas that are going to dominate their agenda, and encouraged them to keep an eye on them. I spoke to them about the broader Middle East. I spoke to them about Darfur, and our efforts to resolve Kosovo, which will come to a head early next year.

The Secretary-General welcomes today's adoption by the General Assembly of a resolution launching a process that could lead to a treaty regulating international trade in conventional weapons.

Je félicite très chaleureusement S. E. M. Joseph Kabila à l'occasion de son investiture en tant que Président de la République démocratique du Congo à l'issue des premières élections démocratiques tenues dans le pays en plus de 40 ans. Je félicite également le peuple congolais dont la participation pacifique, enthousiaste et déterminée a été essentielle au succès du processus électoral.

The Secretary-General strongly deplores the seizure of power in the Republic of Fiji by the military leadership. The Secretary-General calls for the immediate reinstatement of the legitimate authority in Fiji and its return to constitutional rule through peaceful means and inclusive dialogue. The Secretary-General is fully supportive of the efforts by the Pacific Islands Forum and other regional and international actors towards that end and remains in close consultation with them to work together to resolve this crisis.

It is a pleasure to send greetings to the eleventh session of the Conference of State Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention.

Since entering into force in 1997, the Convention has contributed to the steady destruction of declared chemical weapons stockpiles worldwide. 180 countries –home to 90 percent of the world's population –are now party to this agreement. Yet several key actors remain outside its framework. On the eve of the Convention's tenth anniversary, I once again urge all Governments that have not yet done so to ratify or accede to the treaty without delay.