[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 206 (Wednesday, October 26, 1994)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 53719-53720]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-26675]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: October 26, 1994]
Presidential Documents
Federal Register
Vol. 59, No. 206
Wednesday, October 26, 1994
____________________________________________________________________
Title 3--
The President
Proclamation 6747 of October 20, 1994
United Nations Day, 1994
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
In this era of extraordinary change, it is increasingly
important that we honor the uplifting principles of the
United Nations Charter by working tirelessly to bring
them closer to reality. Such commitment is especially
appropriate as we mark the 49th anniversary of the
founding of the United Nations and look forward to
beginning its second half-century of service.
Throughout the past year, the United Nations has not
wavered in its efforts to safeguard international peace
and security. The U.N. Special Commission in Iraq has
made progress toward finding and destroying weapons of
mass destruction and working to establish a long-term
monitoring mechanism. The U.N. has mobilized one of the
largest refugee assistance programs in history in
response to the humanitarian disaster in Rwanda and is
working to bring to justice those guilty of atrocities.
United Nations humanitarian relief efforts in Bosnia
have continued despite the most trying of
circumstances. The U.N. demobilization and repatriation
program in Mozambique has helped to end that nation's
long and bitter conflict.
While much of humanity advances together toward a
bright future of political and economic pluralism, some
parts of the world remain mired in failed ideologies or
racked by cultural, religious, and ethnic divisions. As
these regions endanger international security by their
refugee flows and other trans-border impacts,
multilateral cooperation has become more important than
ever before.
That cooperation is particularly vital in Africa. After
years of U.N. support, the people of South Africa
finally have eradicated the apartheid system and
installed a democratic and nonracial government of
national unity. The growing number of conflicts
elsewhere in Africa is in stark contrast to that
success. In the end, the disputing parties must solve
their own differences, but the U.N. continues to
promote reconciliation and peace in Rwanda, Burundi,
Somalia, Angola, Liberia, Sudan, and Mozambique.
One of the most vital roles of the U.N. is in
humanitarian affairs. During the past year, the U.N.
High Commissioner for Human Rights has played an
important part in calling attention to violations of
international humanitarian law. The U.N. High
Commissioner for Refugees has worked hard to reduce the
suffering of those forced from their own homes by
strife.
The growing number and complexity of U.N. peacekeeping
operations pose new challenges. In the past year, the
United States has worked with the U.N. to improve the
U.N. system's effectiveness and efficiency. The recent
creation of an inspector general function--the Office
of Internal Oversight Services--was an important step
toward strengthening the management of U.N. operations.
We look forward to the adoption of a system for
financing U.N. peacekeeping operations that does not
place undue burdens on any one nation.
As the United States works with the U.N. to improve
operations, we must rededicate ourselves to promoting
diplomacy and crisis prevention in areas of potential
conflict. In this regard, the U.N. now has an
opportunity to build on the recent breakthroughs in the
Middle East peace process by providing tangible support
for implementing the agreements.
The United States firmly supports the U.N. efforts to
meet global challenges in the area of sustainable
development. The U.N. has engaged in a broad spectrum
of activities to implement Agenda 21 and other outcomes
of the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio. The U.N. Commission on
Sustainable Development continues to work on global
health and environmental issues. In September, the U.N.
Conference on Population and Development in Cairo
addressed a comprehensive population growth strategy
that includes education and economic opportunity for
women. United Nations agencies such as the U.N.
Development Program, U.N. Children's Fund, World Health
Organization, and the Food and Agriculture Organization
continue to make significant strides in improving basic
health, increasing global food production, and
alleviating poverty for all of the peoples of the
Earth.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, WILLIAM J. CLINTON, President of the
United States of America, by virtue of the authority
vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United
States, do hereby proclaim Monday, October 24, 1994, as
``United Nations Day'' and urge all Americans to
acquaint themselves with the activities and
accomplishments of the United Nations.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
twentieth day of October, in the year of our Lord
nineteen hundred and ninety-four, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two
hundred and nineteenth.
(Presidential Sig.)>
[FR Doc. 94-26675
Filed 10-24-94; 2:40 pm]
Billing code 3195-01-P