Memorials for UN staff to be unveiled on Friday

Two memorials dedicated to United Nations staff who have died in the service of peace will be unveiled Friday at the world body's headquarters in New York and Geneva, marking the annual United Nations Day.

In New York, a memorial has been erected in the North Garden at the UN complex, funded by the prize money from the 1988 Nobel Peace Prize, which was awarded to the UN's peacekeeping forces. Secretary-General Kofi Annan is scheduled to make a brief statement at the unveiling.

In Geneva, a memorial has been built in Ariana Park, near door 20 of the Palais des Nations in the Swiss city. This memorial has been paid for thanks to contributions from the Secretary-General, UN programmes and funds, UN agencies, staff associations and individual UN staff members.

The dangers faced by UN staff in doing their daily work have been tragically highlighted this year, especially after 22 people - including the top UN envoy, Sergio Vieira de Mello - were killed following a terrorist bomb attack on the UN's headquarters in Baghdad on 19 August.

The United Nations Postal Administration is issuing a stamp dedicated to those killed in Baghdad. The stamp shows the UN's flag at half-mast, and contains the words "In Memoriam" in several languages.

UN Day - which celebrates the UN Charter's entry into force on 24 October 1945 - will also be observed in New York this year with a concert given by the Swiss Orchestra.