I am very pleased that this year's DPI/NGO Conference, Global Solidarity: The Way to Peace and International Cooperation, focuses on issues central to this pivotal period for the United Nations. The Millennium year has given us many opportunities to strengthen the partnerships required to carry out the work of the Organization, now and in the years ahead. In April, I presented my Millennium Report to the General Assembly, entitled "We the Peoples: The Role of the United Nations in the 21st Century", which outlined my vision for the future of the Organization. As many noted, the title suggests a central role for civil society in our future. Indeed, I believe that is the direction in which we must move.

In May, the Millennium Forum of civil society took place over five days at UN Headquarters. The resulting Declaration and Plan of Action confirmed the common vision that we share, particularly with the community of non-governmental organizations (NGOs), over 3,000 of which work closely with us at Headquarters and with the entire UN family. I hope that Member States will carefully review the Forum's many constructive recommendations during the Millennium Assembly which opens in September.

As part of this Millennium process, the 53rd Annual DPI/NGO Conference serves as a bridge between other major NGO gatherings of the past two years, and the Millennium Summit of Heads of State and Government. In the programme that follows you can see that the Conference will further the lively and often heated debate about the appropriate role that civil society organizations-as well as the private sector-can play in the decision-making process at the international level.

On behalf of the United Nations I made it clear in recent years that we wish to embrace new partnerships with civil society and the private sector. These are challenging proposals for Member States and NGOs alike, and many legitimate concerns have been raised as to the integration of these new partners into our work. We are now moving beyond mere promises of partnership, and are entering the much rockier terrain of implementation. But there is no doubt at all in my mind that civil society can make a tremendous difference to the success of our work.

This year's DPI/NGO Conference will undoubtedly move us forward in this ongoing process of consultation and understanding and I wish you all success in your deliberations.

Accreditation
Form 2006

22-23 Feb. 2006 Annual DPI/NGO Orientation
Programme