Let us, above all, be clear that, without a convincing program of debt relief to start the new millennium, our objective of halving world poverty by 2015 will be only a pipe dream.
The problem is this. The spread of markets outpaces the ability of societies and their political systems to adjust to them, let alone to guide the course they take.
Today, no walls can separate humanitarian or human rights crises in one part of the world from national security crises in another. What begins with the failure to uphold the dignity of one life all too often ends with a calamity for entire nations.
You have made people listen. You have made people care, and you have taught us that whether we are poor or prosperous, we have only one world to share. You have taught young people that they do have the power to change the world.
Democracy is, in essence, a form of non-violent conflict management. If war is the worst enemy of development, healthy and balanced development is the best form of conflict prevention.
Ameen Rihani, one of the earliest Arab Americans, devoted his life to bringing the East and the West together. We are not of the East or the West, he wrote. No boundaries exist in our breast: We are free.
I often quote an African proverb that says: “The world is not ours, the earth is not ours, It’s a treasure we hold in trust for future generations.” And I often hope we will be worthy of that trust.
The number one goal in resolving a conflict is to make sure both sides maintain their self-esteem. You don’t hit a man on the head when you’ve got your fingers between his teeth.
The United Nations is proud to have the Adopt-A-Minefield Campaign as a partner.
Globalization is a fact of life. But I believe we have underestimated its fragility.
It is not in the United Nations that the Millennium Development Goals will be achieved. They have to be achieved in each of its Member States, by the joint efforts of their governments and people.
Justice has taken its course and the authority and legitimacy of the legal process must be respected.
A world government can intervene militarily in the internal affairs of any nation when it disapproves of their activities.
Iraq has a new opportunity to comply with all these relevant resolutions of the Security Council.
Extreme poverty anywhere is a threat to human security everywhere.
From this vision of the role of the United Nations in the next century flow three key priorities for the future: eradicating poverty, preventing conflict and promoting democracy.
To live is to choose.
Both parties accept this vision. But we can reach it only if we move rapidly and in parallel on all fronts. The so-called ‘sequential’ approach has failed.
Nelson Mandela stands as an inspiration to us all.
I have always believed that on important issues, the leaders must lead. Where the leaders fail to lead, and people are really concerned about it, the people will take the lead and make the leaders follow.