[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 31, Number 43 (Monday, October 30, 1995)]
[Pages 1913-1914]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
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

[[Page 1914]]

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 1:15 p.m. at the United 
Nations Headquarters. A tape was not available for verification of the 
content of these remarks.