[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 30, Number 42 (Monday, October 24, 1994)]
[Pages 2094-2096]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Proclamation 6747--United Nations Day, 1994

October 20, 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

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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.
                                            William J. Clinton

[Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 2:40 p.m., October 24, 
1994]

Note: This proclamation was released by the Office of the Press 
Secretary on October 21, and

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it will be published in the Federal Register on October 26.