I was just congratulating Josy.

But I don't want any strangers congratulating me.

We take great pleasure in congratulating His Excellency Secretary General Kofi Annan.

Mr. Willians Slate (Nicaragua) (spoke in Spanish) My delegation joins previous speakers in congratulating you, Mr. Chairman, on your well deserved election and in congratulating the other members of the Bureau.

Before we start congratulating ourselves, let's remember we've still got 900 miles to go.

Mr. Jessen Petersen Let me begin, Sir, by congratulating you as the President of the Council.

While congratulating Mr. Konan Banny on his nomination, the Group assured him of its full support.

I am sure that all members join me in congratulating them on receiving that prestigious award.

We join others in congratulating Judge Pocar on his election, and we welcome him to the Council.

President Kufuor I wish to join previous speakers in congratulating the United Nations on its sixtieth anniversary.

I join other speakers in congratulating you on your assumption of the presidency of the Conference on Disarmament.

I would like to start this letter by congratulating you on your re election as the Greek Cypriot President.

Congratulating you on your success in winning parliamentary seats, congratulating the political parties and blocs that won the right to be represented in the Verkhovna Rada, congratulating the new Parliament on beginning its work, I hope and believe that you are all aware of your responsibility for the course which Ukraine is to follow from now on and for Ukraine apos s image as it is ushered into the twenty first century.

Miss Majali (Jordan) Mr. Chairman, my delegation associates itself with other members of the Non Aligned Movement in congratulating you.

ASEAN joins others in congratulating you, Sir, on your assumption of the presidency of the Security Council for this month.

President Mugabe Let me begin by congratulating the Co Chairpersons for accepting the onerous task of presiding over this epochal event.

President Abdul Gayoom Let me begin by congratulating the Co Chairpersons on their election to jointly preside over this important summit.

Mr. Chairman, the Philippines joins other delegations in congratulating you and the members of your Bureau on your well deserved election.

Like many others before me, I join in congratulating Mexico on becoming the one hundredth State party to the Rome Statute.

Mr. GOONETILLEKE (Sri Lanka) Madam President, I should begin by congratulating you on assuming your duties as President of the Conference.

The empress joins her people in congratulating Your Highness... on the birth of a male heir to the throne of Russia.

Mr. BENTSUR (Israel) Mr. President, let me begin by congratulating you on your assumption of the presidency of the Conference on Disarmament.

Next thing I remember waking up in the hospital and there was this general congratulating me on having killed 40 Russians singlehanded.

President Jammeh Let me begin by congratulating you, Sir, on your election to the presidency of the General Assembly at its sixtieth session.

Mrs. KRÁSNOHORSKÁ (Slovakia) Mr. President, please allow me to commence by congratulating you on the assumption of the presidency of the Conference on Disarmament.

Mr. Powles (New Zealand) May I begin by congratulating the President on his election to preside over the General Assembly at its fifty second session.

Mr. PATOKALLIO (Finland) Mr. President, let me begin my brief remarks by congratulating you on your assumption of the presidency of the Conference on Disarmament.

Mr. Walubita (Zambia) Let me start by congratulating Mr. Didier Opertti on his election as President of the General Assembly at its fifty third session.

And when it airs I get calls from all the guys I was with and they tell me that they receive hundreds of calls congratulating them.

We also wish to join others in congratulating you, Sir, on your election to the presidency, and to assure you of our full support and cooperation.

Mrs. Laohaphan (Thailand) Allow me at the outset to join other delegations in congratulating you, Mr. Chairman, and other members of the Bureau on your election.

Mr. Mercado (Philippines) We join other members in congratulating you, Madam, on your assumption of the presidency of the Security Council for the month of May.

Congratulating the people of Burundi for the successful conclusion of the transitional period and the peaceful transfer of authority to representative and democratically elected government and institutions,

Mr. Martirosyan (Armenia) Allow me first to join others in congratulating you, Sir, on your election as Chairman of the First Committee and, through you, the Bureau.

Mr. RAMAKER (Netherlands) May I join others in congratulating you, Madam President, on taking upon your shoulders the indeed heavy responsibilities of the presidency of the Conference?

Mr. REIMAA (Finland) Mr. President, let me start by congratulating you on the assumption of the presidency and assure you of the full cooperation of my delegation.

My delegation joins others in congratulating the Government of Afghanistan and the Afghan people on the remarkable progress they have achieved since the Bonn Agreement of December 2001.

Taking this opportunity, we would also like to join other delegations in congratulating the Agency and its Director General for being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize this year.

Mr. NARAY (Hungary) Mr. President, allow me first of all to join other speakers in congratulating you on your assumption of the presidency of the Conference on Disarmament.

Mr. ORFI (Syrian Arab Republic) (translated from Arabic) Madam President, allow me to begin by congratulating you on your assumption of the presidency of the Conference on Disarmament.

Mr. Godana (Kenya) I would like to begin by congratulating the President on his unanimous election to the presidency of the General Assembly at its fifty third session.

Let me conclude by congratulating the Secretary General and his staff on the work they have undertaken in this historic and hectic year of action, often under difficult circumstances.

Let me close by congratulating you again and renewing our commitment to work with you, and all delegations, to make the CD apos s 1997 session a productive one.

Mrs. KUROKOCHI (Japan) Madam President, I begin by congratulating you on the assumption of the presidency of the Conference, and certainly I pledge the wholehearted cooperation of my delegation.

55. The Chairperson concluded by congratulating the Committee on its achievements and indicated that as a result of continued teamwork, solidarity and commitment she looked forward to further progress.