UNITED NATIONS

GENERAL ASSEMBLY
News and Highlights from the President

President met with Foreign Minister Ferrero-Waldner; attended a joint press conference; attended luncheon hosted by Minister Ferrero-Waldner; made a courtesy call on Prime Minister Schussel; made a courtesy call on President Klestil; delivered a lecture; met with OSCE Secretary General and Representatives of OSCE Troika countries; had dinner with Members of OSCE
24 June 2002

Today, Dr. Han met with Foreign Minister Ferrero-Walder. They discussed current agenda of United Nations. Dr. Han explained the result of ICT Task Force and requested cooperation.

Dr. Han attended a joint press conference.

Then, Dr. Han attended a luncheon hosted by Minister Ferrero-Waldner. Dr. Han made a courtesy call on Prime Minister Schussel. Dr. Han made a courtesy call on President Klestil. They discussed important United Nations issues.

Dr. Han delivered a lecture about Agenda for the New Era. Dr. Han discussed the new challenges the United Nations was facing in this rapidly changing world and how the world body was redefining and reforming itself to meet these challenges. In his retrospect, the three months after September 11 were the most extraordinary and busiest session in the history of the General Assembly. The Assembly had to reorganize all of its work program. The General Assembly devoted whole week of its debate to measures to combat terrorism. Other issues that had dominated the work of General Assembly during his term included Afghanistan, the Middle East, dialogue among civilizations, development of Africa, financing for development, ageing, children, ICT, the environment, and reform issues in the UN system. The most recent and most alarming negative consequence of globalization was international terrorism. The international process following the event September 11 served to reinforce the growing role. There were two vital aspects. First, the United Nations had confirmed and strengthened it unique capacity for consensus building and collective action among nations, Second, in the United Nations system in addition to the Security Council, the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council and many other institutions were now working together to accommodate security concerns from their own perspectives as well as playing their part in promotion of international peace and security. The most recent and important efforts to better adapt the UN to new international conditions were underway in the ongoing deliberations on reform of the Security Council and revitalization of the General Assembly. Dr. Han said that finding the way to upgrade and strengthen these two organs of the United Nations were critical tasks bearing far-reaching implications for future of the Organization. Dr. Han shared his opportunity to see the most successful UN peacekeeping operation, UNAMSIL in Sierra Leone. Also Dr. Han had an occasion to observe East Timor, where he welcomed that country to the family of independent nations on behalf of the General Assembly.  Dr. Han pointed out that we must care not to be complacent either about the UN's achievements in the past or its role in the future.
In concluding his lecture, Dr. Han said "How efficiently the world body can adapt itself to new environment very much depends on the degree of commitments and support the Member States provide." He believed it was by no means a coincidence that in 2001, the year marked by the worst act of terrorism in modern times, the United Nations and its Secretary-General were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

Dr. Han met with OSCE Secretary General and Representatives of OSCE Troika countries.

Later in the evening, Dr. Han had dinner with Members of the OSCE. At a dinner hosted by the OSCE, Dr. Han said that the accelerating globalization and revolutionary advances in communication and information technology had brought about dramatic changes in the way people and nations lived. As countries had experienced a deepening interdependence through globalization, they had come to increasingly recognize the need for closer coordination and cooperation.  According to Dr. Han, the OSCE played an essential role in maintaining the peace and security of Europe. Since its creation, the organization had forged a stable security environment in Europe by promoting "comprehensive security".

The United Nations: Agenda for the New Era UNOV Speech

Speech at a Dinner hosted by the OSCE
 

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