Annan hails Japan’s commitment to UN, marking its 50th anniversary as a member

Japan’s commitment to the UN has been demonstrated across a range of areas, from providing funding to advocating for multilateralism, Secretary-General Kofi Annan has said, marking the country’s 50th anniversary as a member of the world body.

“Japan’s wide-ranging support for UN activities has substantially improved the Organization’s ability to address chronic challenges of social and economic development. Its contributions in humanitarian relief are legendary, along with its longstanding efforts to promote global nuclear disarmament, its valiant efforts against global warming, and its strong and growing support for UN peacekeeping efforts,” Mr. Annan said in a message on the milestone delivered by Under-Secretary-General for Disarmament Affairs Nobuaki Tanaka in Tokyo on Monday.

He said this support is about more than just funding. “Japan is recognized worldwide as a leading champion of multilateralism, democracy, as well as of conflict prevention and human rights.”

Voicing his expectation that Japan will continue to play a major role in the future work of the UN, Mr. Annan observed: “A State does not need to possess nuclear weapons to achieve greatness in this world.”