[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: WILLIAM J. CLINTON (2000, Book II)]
[September 6, 2000]
[Pages 1762-1763]
[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 6, 2000

    Mr. Secretary-General, Mr. Security Council President; to the Presidents of Finland 
and Namibia, the Co-Presidents of this remarkable 
millennial summit. First, let me say again on behalf of the American 
people, we are deeply honored to host each and every one of you in this 
largest ever gathering of world leaders. For many of you, this has been 
a long and difficult journey, and I thank you for coming.
    Mr. Secretary-General, I think I speak for all here when I thank you 
for your hospitality, your leadership, your vision, and your 
inspiration. A year ago at this luncheon you looked ahead to the 
millennial summit and said the following: ``It must go beyond a series 
of statements. It must make decisions, setting the agenda for the United 
Nations in the new century.'' You have helped to set that agenda by 
publishing your millennium report and the report on U.N. peace 
operations.
    You have raised the hardest questions about the U.N.'s 
responsibilities in this new era and given some of the hard answers. And 
you have reminded us that the final answers must come from those with 
the authority and the resources to help the United Nations fulfill its 
mission.

[[Page 1763]]

In the final analysis, all of us in this room and those whom we 
represent must be up to the challenge if the U.N. is to succeed.
    This morning I had the opportunity to address the Assembly in terms 
of the challenge of making peace and of making the U.N. a more effective 
instrument of peace. Peace always needs champions who will stand for it 
because it will always have enemies who will stand against it.
    Cervantes once said, ``Every man is as heaven made him, and 
sometimes a great deal worse.'' [Laughter] Mr. Secretary- General, you 
are a man as heaven made you, and sometimes a great deal better. You 
have made the United Nations a trusted champion of the values it was 
founded to defend on the rough terrain of the real world. Some have 
called your hope and optimism, your lofty goals, idealistic. I say, good 
for you. Unless we first imagine the world we want to build, we cannot 
achieve it.
    And so, Mr. Secretary-General, we thank you for your idealism. We 
are glad you are here in this position at this important time in 
history. The world needs you.
    I ask all here to join me in a toast to the Secretary-General of our 
United Nations.

Note: The President spoke at 2:02 p.m. in the North Delegates Lounge at 
the United Nations. In his remarks, he referred to President Alpha Oumar 
Konare of Mali, president, U.N. Security Council; and U.N. Millennium 
Summit cochairs President Tarja Halonen of Finland and President Sam 
Nujoma of Namibia. A tape was not available for verification of the 
content of these remarks.