UNITED
NATIONS  GENERAL
ASSEMBLY
SPEECH
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE
FIFTY EIGHT SESSION
OF THE UNITED NATIONS
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
ANNUAL INTERFAITH SERVICE
TO THE COMMITMENT TO THE WORK OF THE UNITED NATIONS
11 SEPTEMBER 2003
Ladies
and Gentlemen:
I am
honoured to be part of this Interfaith Service of Commitment
to the work of the United Nations.
In these
difficult and challenging times, the United Nations is a
beacon of hope for better health, better education, the
promotion of development, the alleviation of poverty and
the maintenance of international peace and security, for
people the world over.
As President
of the Fifty-eighth Session of the United Nations General
Assembly, I am inspired that people of the many faiths gathered
here today recognise the centrality of the United Nations
in human endeavour. Together, we pray, each in their own
way, for the success of the work of the organisation, and
publicly pledge our commitment and support. And as we pray,
we remember with deep appreciation, those who have lost
their lives in the service of the United Nations and humanity,
most recently in Iraq. They have made their contribution
to efforts to shape a better world.
We are
also encouraged, in this Interfaith Service, to reflect
on important initiatives to address pressing global problems.
During this, the International Year of Freshwater, we have
been asked to focus on a most precious resource, water,
taken for granted in some countries, and scarcely available
in many others, particularly in the developing world. It
is our hope that during this Year, the situation will improve
for many of those affected.
I wish
to commend The Interfaith Center for bringing peoples and
religions together, yet again, in a manner consistent with
the principles and purposes of the United Nations Charter,
to reaffirm their support for the Organisation. I especially
wish to thank the Center for welcoming me to this very special
gathering.
Thank
you.
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