Young people's support key to UN's success, Annan tells students in The Hague

Addressing students assembled for a "Model United Nations" conference in the Netherlands today, Secretary-General Kofi Annan said the contribution of young people is crucial to the world body's success.

"The United Nations depends on the support of individuals throughout the world - in particular young people like you, who will take over during this century," the Secretary-General told students at The Hague. "We probably have a future SG here today, and when she assumes office, she will, I suspect, consider this General Assembly session an inspirational moment."

Mr. Annan painted a stark picture of the challenges facing the world body as it works to promote "freedom from fear, freedom from want and the protection of the environment." Poverty, AIDS and environmental degradation persisted, while innocent people continued to suffer in conflict-ravaged areas, he said.

Governments, which had adopted the UN's Millennium Declaration in 2000, were primarily responsible for addressing these problems, he noted. "But governments can't do it alone - they will need to work in partnership with civil society, NGOs [non-governmental organization], [the] private sector and young people like you," he added.

Mr. Annan is scheduled to return to New York on Monday, when he will address the World Economic Forum, being held in Manhattan's Waldorf Astoria Hotel.