[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1997, Book II)]
[September 22, 1997]
[Pages 1214-1215]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Remarks at a Luncheon Hosted by United Nations Secretary-General
Kofi Annan in New York City
September 22, 1997

    President Udovenko, members of the U.N. Secretariat, my fellow 
leaders. First let me thank the Secretary-General for his remarks. As 
some of you may know, after work today I will have the pleasure of 
attending the opening of the Metropolitan Opera. And I thought I would 
get into the spirit by singing the praises of our host today. [Laughter]
    Mr. Secretary-General, it would be hard to find someone more 
appropriate to lead this great organization at this time. Your work and 
your life have taken you from your native Ghana to Egypt, Ethiopia, 
Switzerland, and to Minnesota where you first learned about America. For 
over three decades, you have given every waking hour to the United 
Nations. Better than anyone, you know how this organization works, from 
its highest office down to the grassroots.
    Most importantly, you have earned your reputation as a peacemaker. 
From Africa to Iraq to Bosnia, your remarkable efforts to turn people 
from conflict to cooperation have saved thousands of lives.
    You have seen revolution, war, and starvation, and you have always 
risen to fight the suffering they bring. You have witnessed the collapse 
of the old colonial empires, the end of the cold war, the beginning of 
this new era of great possibility. I hope future historians will look 
back and say this was a time when the high principles that led to the 
founding of the United Nations at last were realized--not simply by 
avoiding bloodshed and war but also by bringing freedom

[[Page 1215]]

and opportunity to men and women on every continent, from every 
background.
    Today, through your strong leadership and quiet diplomacy, you are 
serving also as a different kind of peacemaker, bridging the gaps 
between the sometimes unruly members of the United Nations--a group that 
even on occasion, I must admit, includes the United States.
    We have applauded your efforts to reform the United Nations, and we 
have particularly appreciated your efforts to explain those reforms to 
the American people. Deep down, our people care deeply about the U.N., 
and with you at the helm, we are moving ahead to a new era of 
partnership.
    Finally, let me note that article one of the charter calls the 
United Nations a center for harmonizing. I would like to ask all of you 
to join me in a toast to Kofi Annan, Secretary-General of the United 
Nations. May we always act in concert to achieve the harmony the 
founders dreamed of, the harmony he has worked so hard to realize.

Note: The President spoke at 2 p.m. in the North Delegates Lounge at the 
United Nations.