[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 142 (Tuesday, November 1, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2239-E2240]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         60TH ANNIVERSARY AND CELEBRATION OF UNITED NATIONS DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHRISTOPHER SHAYS

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 1, 2005

  Mr. SHAYS. Mr. Speaker, the United Nations celebrated its 60th 
Anniversary last week. It seems appropriate to me that in reaching this 
landmark, the world body can reflect upon both its significant 
accomplishments over the years, as well as how it must improve in order 
to be a more effective actor in global interests. While we must 
continue examining its operations and demanding operational 
improvements, the United Nations also deserves U.S. support as it 
continues to combat terrorism, promote economic growth and assist 
countries in moving towards democracy.
  In recognition of the 60th Anniversary and celebration of United 
Nations Day, Under-Secretary General of the United Nations, Ambassador 
Joseph Verner Reed, gave an address at the Hall of the House of 
Representatives in the Connecticut State Capitol. I submit the text of 
Mr. Reed's address to be entered into the Record.

 Remarks by Ambassador Joseph Verner Reed, Under-Secretary-General of 
                           the United Nations

       Governor Rell, Speaker of the House Amann, Mr. Stolberg, 
     President, United Nations Association of the United States of 
     America Connecticut Chapter, Distinguished Members of the 
     Government of the State of Connecticut, ladies and gentlemen, 
     it is an honor and privilege as a life long citizen of the 
     State of Connecticut to be present at the Hall of the House 
     of Representatives to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the 
     founding of the United Nations.
       The Secretary General, Kofi Annan has sent to the people of 
     Connecticut a message on the occasion of United Nations Day:
       ``I send my greetings to the people of Connecticut on the 
     60th anniversary of the entry into force of the United 
     Nations Charter. As you mark this historic occasion and 
     reflect on the Organization's many accomplishments, I 
     encourage you also to look to the future.
       Today's world is very different from that of our founders. 
     The United Nations must reflect this new age, and respond to 
     its challenges--including, first and foremost, the knowledge 
     that hundreds of millions of people are left defenceless 
     against hunger, disease and environmental degradation, even

[[Page E2240]]

     though the world has the means to rescue them.
       Last month, world leaders met in New York to try and forge 
     a common response to these challenges. Leaders of both rich 
     and poor countries committed themselves to detailed policies 
     which, if fully implemented, could reduce hunger and poverty 
     by 50 per cent in the next ten years. They decided to create 
     new UN bodies for promoting human rights and building lasting 
     peace in war-torn countries. They promised to fight terrorism 
     in all its forms, and to take collective action, when needed, 
     to save populations from genocide and other heinous crimes. 
     They decided on important reforms of the UN Secretariat. But 
     on climate change and Security Council reform they could make 
     only weak statements. And on nuclear proliferation and 
     disarmament they could not agree at all.
       They have left us a great deal of work to do. Today, as we 
     mark the 60th anniversary of our indispensable institution, I 
     promise you that I will do my part, and that I will be 
     working with Member States to help them do theirs. I am glad 
     the United Nations can count on the continued support and 
     commitment of you all as we pursue our shared mission.''
       That concludes the message from the Secretary-General.
       Ladies and gentlemen, ``the time to reform the United 
     Nations is now. And we must seize this opportunity 
     together.'' These are words from Secretary of State 
     Condoleezza Rice in her first speech before the United 
     Nations General Assembly in September.
       The 2005 World Summit lived up to being a once-in-a-
     generation event for the United Nations. With breakthroughs 
     in adopting strategies to fight poverty and disease, creating 
     new machinery to win the peace in war-torn countries, and 
     pledging collective action to prevent genocide, progress was 
     made across a broader front than on any other single occasion 
     in the 60 year history of the organization. Major 
     advancements were made on terrorism, human rights, democracy, 
     management of the Secretariat, peacekeeping and humanitarian 
     response. And doors were opened to further action on global 
     public health, global warming and mediation.
       Now, member states will turn to the tough task of 
     implementing what was agreed, and to continue work on the 
     critical differences that remain. Many items must be 
     completed during the 60th session of the General Assembly, 
     ending next September. With so much to do in such a short 
     period of time, civil society will be essential to keeping 
     tabs on progress and keeping all parties involved 
     accountable. While the Summit has come and gone, the hard 
     work is just beginning.
       First, on management reform, world leaders committed to 
     reviewing extensive management reforms to make the 
     Secretariat more efficient, more effective and more 
     accountable. This will include a review by the Secretary-
     General of all ongoing mandates in the first 55 years of the 
     organization, as well as a thorough assessment of the 
     organization's antiquated human resources and budget rules. 
     The Secretary-General is moving forward expeditiously on his 
     own authority to establish an independent ethics office, 
     which will protect whistleblowers and ensure more extensive 
     financial disclosure.
       Second, world leaders agreed to strengthen the 
     organization's human rights machinery across the board. The 
     High Commissioner for Human Rights is moving ahead to 
     implement her plan of action, supported by the Summit's 
     commitment to double the office's regular budget. Building on 
     the groundbreaking agreement to create a new Human Rights 
     Council, the President of the General Assembly will soon 
     begin conducting negotiations to finalize agreement on 
     important details.
       Third, progress must continue on terrorism. The Summit 
     outcome produced for the first time, an unqualified 
     condemnation of terrorism ``in all its forms and 
     manifestations, committed by whomever, wherever and for 
     whatever purposes.'' The work in the coming months will be to 
     build on that simple statement to complete a comprehensive 
     convention against terrorism by the end of September, and 
     forge a global counter-terrorism strategy that weakens 
     terrorists and strengthens the international community.
       Fourth, the final details must be locked down on the Peace-
     building Commission to get it up and running by the end of 
     the year. Almost all the key details have now been agreed, 
     but the next few months will be critical to operationalizing 
     the commission. The Secretariat is already moving forward to 
     set up a support office and a standing fund to support the 
     commission.
       Fifth, with an ambitious commitment to add $50 billion a 
     year for development, the Summit removed any doubt about the 
     global support for the Millennium Development Goals. Every 
     developing country is now pledged to formulate and implement 
     a national strategy bold enough to achieve those development 
     objectives by 2015. For their part, developed countries must 
     now deliver on their pledges to boost financing for 
     development and relieve debt.
       With each passing week it becomes dramatically clearer how 
     much the world's leaders agreed to at the Summit. This is 
     equally true about the sheer amount of work ahead. Every 
     effort must be made to see the promise outlined by world 
     leaders fulfilled. If we do that, we will help save millions 
     of lives, and give hope to billions of people--a fitting 
     achievement to mark the 60th anniversary of the United 
     Nations, and a platform from which to do even more in the 
     years ahead.
       Let us celebrate United Nations Day.

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