    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1994, Book II)]
    [September 26, 1994]
    [Page 1631]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks at a Luncheon for Heads of State in New York City
    September 26, 1994

        Mr. Secretary-General, distinguished heads of state and government,
    your Excellencies, guests: First, I think I can speak for all of us in
    thanking the Secretary-General for his remarks, for his hospitality, and
    most important of all, for his very strong leadership of the United
    Nations.
        Mr. Secretary-General, you have taken the ideas of peace, help, and
    security that are at the heart of the U.N.'s mission and worked hard to
    make them a reality. As the cold war has ended, the world has looked to
    the U.N. for even more assistance and leadership. You have met this
    challenge by effectively placing the U.N. at the forefront of
    international affairs. Your leadership has been particularly apparent in
    the improvements of the U.N.'s peacekeeping operations. There are now
    approximately 70,000 peacekeepers deployed around the world, some 5
    times the number when you took office. Collaboration among nations is
    improving, and the operations are growing more efficient.
        Your initiatives at the Cairo conference, your efforts to improve
    coordination of development assistance, the establishment of an
    independent inspector general and meaningful cost controls and your work
    to improve the U.N.'s field operations, all these are testaments to your
    outstanding leadership.
        Above all, you have focused on the use of diplomacy to prevent
    bloodshed and conflict and on building the kinds of permanent
    institutions that lead to long-term stability within and, as you have so
    eloquently stated, among nations. For these things and more, all of us
    applaud you.
        Today, opportunities abound to build a world in which democracy
    reigns, respect for human rights is the rule, political stability
    expands, economic prosperity is shared by all. These things will not
    occur, however, unless we commit ourselves to a cooperative spirit
    unmatched in all human history. That is our challenge. As leaders of
    member states, we must take responsibility for making the U.N. more
    responsive and more effective than it has ever been. Only in this way
    can the U.N. remain a positive force for change and a symbol of justice
    and hope for the world.
        Mr. Secretary-General, you have kept our focus on building the kind
    of organization that can effectively turn our ideals into reality. We
    thank you for your vision.
        As the United Nations approaches its 50th birthday, let us all
    pledge to continue to work together for the promise of a better
    tomorrow. And let us raise our glasses in toast to the Secretary-General
    and to that promise.

    Note: The President spoke at 1:45 p.m. at the United Nations Building.