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Iceland urges school curricula worldwide to highlight work of UN

Iceland urges school curricula worldwide to highlight work of UN

Geir H. Haarde, Prime Minister of Iceland
Iceland today called for the work of the United Nations to be included on the school curriculum in every Member State of the Organization, saying this offers an effective method of spreading the world body’s multilateral ideals to future leaders.

Addressing the General Assembly’s annual General Debate, Icelandic Prime Minister Geir Haarde said his country intends to make the UN’s work “an integral part of the curriculum at the primary and secondary levels of education in our country, in addition to the existing and more selective activities at higher levels.”

Mr. Haarde said Iceland strongly encouraged all Member States to do the same with their school curricula.

“This may prove to be an effective means of offering the multilateral ideal of the UN as a part of the world-view imparted to future leaders and citizens around the globe.”

He added that he was optimistic that the UN will be able to rise to the challenges posed by globalization and become more efficient at delivering results.

“The UN is a long way from being a perfect mechanism, but its role in the international system is indispensable. If we settle for a UN which sometimes appears to be an abstract objective in itself, we will never fully realize the potential of this universal gathering of nations.

“On the other hand, if we encourage a high-level of ambition and adaptability, I am convinced that the UN will live up to the ideals of its founders and be celebrated as a cornerstone of the international architecture on the centenary of the [UN] Charter in 2045.”