24 October – United Nations
Secretary General Kofi Annan today promised that the organization
would continue its work of helping the peoples of the world, despite
facing difficult times, in his annual UN Day message.
Mr. Annan said
innocent people in Iraq and many other regions faced death and suffering
from violence and terror, with the UN suffering its own attack against
it in August, when 22 people were killed - including his top envoy
for Iraq, Sergio Vieira de Mello - after the UN's Baghdad headquarters
were hit by a bomb.
But he urged people to remember why those fallen colleagues had
been in Iraq, and why so many UN workers serve in war-torn countries
- to alleviate suffering and restore peace.
"We will continue our efforts to tackle poverty, disease, climate
change, and the spread of small arms. And we will also work together
to fight terrorism and the spread of weapons of mass destruction.
We do not have to choose. The United Nations must confront all these
threats at once," he said.
Mr. Annan said changes may have to be made to the UN to improve
it, and he plans to appoint a high-level panel to make suggestions.
He called on the public to let their views be known through their
governments.
"I believe that if you do make your voices heard, loudly and firmly
enough, we can indeed win through this crisis and build a better
world, based on the rule of law," he said.
Those themes were reflected in the statement
of the General Assembly President, Julian R. Hunte of Saint Lucia,
in his UN Day message.
Mr. Hunte said that while the UN is sorely challenged, "we can
still say with confidence that the global community truly believes
in the UN."
He said the UN could reflect on its accomplishments with pride,
including promoting human rights and freedoms; fighting deadly diseases;
assisting vulnerable groups, such as refugees, women and children;
protecting the environment; reducing poverty; tackling crime and
terrorism; and peacekeeping.
Mr. Hunte said the UN can be strengthened by reforms and by ensuring
it has adequate resources to carry out its work.
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