    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1995, Book II)]
    [October 22, 1995]
    [Page 1659]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page 1659]]

    Remarks at a United Nations Luncheon in New York City
    October 22, 1995

        Mr. Secretary-General, first, on behalf of all of us here present,
    let me thank you for your hospitality. But far more important, I thank
    you for your leadership, your energy, your resolve, and the vision of
    the United Nations and the world for the next 50 years that you have
    just painted for us. To be sure, the United Nations will face greater
    demands, but the potential for doing greater good is there as well. And
    we believe that your leadership has played a very important role in
    bringing us to this point.
        This morning, I was able to speak about many of the specific
    activities of the United Nations and some that I hope we will undertake
    in the future. At this luncheon, I would just like to thank you for
    something that has been done by the United Nations in the last couple of
    years that I believe has been also very important, and that is the
    effort that you have made through the international conferences
    sponsored by the U.N. to change the way we think and to deepen our
    understanding. From Rio to Vienna to Copenhagen to Cairo to Beijing, you
    have brought the peoples of the world together to help us to learn about
    one another and to change the way we think about the present and the way
    we imagine the future. And that, in the end, may be the most important
    legacy of the last few years.
        Finally, let me say to you, Mr. Secretary-General, and to all of you
    here present, it has been a profound honor for the United States to host
    the U.N. for these last 50 years. We know that from time to time,
    because of the differences between our nations, during the cold war and
    in other ways, it has not always been easy for other countries to have
    the United States as the host. But we have always tried to provide here
    at the U.N., notwithstanding the differences among countries from time
    to time, a haven where all the members can come, have their say, and be
    weighed in the court of public opinion.
        I would say to you that we here in the United States still treasure
    the opportunity that was given to us 50 years ago to be the host of the
    United Nations. We have benefited from it in ways that even our own
    citizens are often unaware. And we hope that the next 50 years will be
    an even richer, more profoundly successful endeavor by all of us because
    of what we have learned by working together in this last half century.
        I'd like to conclude by offering a toast to the Secretary-General
    and to the United Nations.

    Note: The President spoke at approximately 1:39 p.m. in the North Lounge
    at the United Nations Headquarters.