Annan pledges measures to improve UN
Marking United Nations Day, Secretary-General Kofi Annan today pledged to issue new proposals for improving the world body so that it can adapt to emerging global challenges.
Marking United Nations Day, Secretary-General Kofi Annan today pledged to issue new proposals for improving the world body so that it can adapt to emerging global challenges.
“I believe we can build a better United Nations,” the Secretary-General said in his commemorative message. “That's why I will soon be putting before world leaders a package of measures to renew the Organization.”
Mr. Annan said these officials must “respond with vision and good will” in order to reach common ground at a meeting in October, 2005 marking the UN's sixtieth anniversary.
The proposals are being put forward in response to continuing violence, oppression, poverty, hunger, illiteracy and disease across the planet. “All people deserve to live free from fear and want,” the Secretary-General stressed. “They must have hope that tomorrow will be better than today.”
Governments must serve their people, he added, “and we all need an effective United Nations -- one that reflects the world we live in today, and can meet the challenges we will face tomorrow.”