Series 1096 consists of delegation files, meeting notes, correspondence, reports and other documents. The records detail meetings and negotiations between the Office of External Relations and governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), civil, religious and academic institutions, the general public and United Nations Information Centres (UNICs).
The delegation files contain information about a wide variety of issues occurring between 1996 and 2006 including the United Nations’ response to: human rights abuses, humanitarian needs and natural disasters; and involvement in military activities and conflict resolution, political negotiations and matters related to elections, personnel appointments and the security of United Nations personnel. There is correspondence between the Secretary-General and ambassadors, heads of state, government officials and United Nations senior officials, as well as reports prepared for the Secretary-General of permanent missions and resident coordinators. The files also contain documents related to delegations sent by member states: Afghanistan, Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Iraq, Lebanon, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Timor-Leste, United States of America and Yugoslavia.
A key set of records in Series 1096 are the meeting notes of Kofi Annan. The notes detail meetings about the terrorist attacks of September 11 and their impact on the work of the United Nations. Several notes focus on issues in the Middle East circa 2002 and 2003 including a meeting with the Weapons of Mass Destruction Commission (WMDC) attended by UN Weapons Inspector Hans Blix and with Prime Minister of Lebanon Rafik Hariri, about Israel’s occupation of lands considered to be Lebanese. Other meetings addressed natural disasters, such as the 26 December 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and South Asian Earthquake, and were attended by Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush. Meetings concerning gender equality are featured prominently, often involving discussions with Rachel Mayanja, Special Advisor on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women.
Other files contain correspondence and reports of meetings between the Secretary-General and representatives of religious institutions about religious violence, religious ceremonies and events held in connection with the activities of the United Nations. Several files contain invitations for the Secretary-General to speak or attend events at educational institutions. Some of the records describe projects and collaborative efforts between the United Nations and educational institutions. In addition, the files contain correspondence from the general public contains opinions expressed about the work of the United Nations, suggestions for United Nations activities, reactions to specific decisions made by the Secretary-General, requests for autographs, well-wishes, as well as personal endorsements from the Secretary-General.