United Nations:
“The UN has a broad array of tools at their disposal but their effectiveness is a function of coordination of their agencies, between their agencies and other international financial institutions, and between their agencies and Member States. All agencies must coordinate to utilize their unique strength of network for the benefits of the citizens of the world, especially in areas of security, poverty reduction, disaster relief, and the spread of pandemics.”

Human rights:
“Human rights and democracy are inextricably part of one another. To promote one is to promote the other. But the prerequisite to human rights and democracy lies first and foremost with human dignity where the human race is free from fear and free from want. Without human dignity, human security is hard to achieve. To live with human dignity, a citizen needs to have the basic needs and necessities of clean water to quench his thirst, food to feed his hunger, medicine to cure his illness, clothing to cover himself, and a shelter to cover his head. Meeting the requirements of these basic needs will lead to more freedom for our people.”

Self-Help and partnership:
“We must create effective mechanisms for both the North-South and South-South partnership. As much as financing for development is required, a free and fair multilateral trade system is indispensable to enable the countries in the South to stand on their own feet and to achieve development through self-help. An effective self-help, based on people-centred approach, depends also on a partnership between the government, the people, the civic society and the private and business sector.”

“Countries of the South can form partnership between themselves, starting from partnership in the neighbourhood, partnership in the sub-region, partnership in the region, and partnership between different sub-regions and between regions. These partnerships, when linked with the UN system with a more effective mechanism, can bring real change and real action to the sustainable development process.”

UN Reform:
“ In our efforts to reform this great Organization, accountability should be our motto. And we should be careful that this means the right thing in the right context. The accountability of the UN as an institution is a matter of strategic partnership, effective management and shared objectives. The accountability of its institutional management is one of honesty and integrity. And the accountability of the UN’s activities and initiatives to citizens is a matter of political courage, requiring transparency and opportunities for dialogue and democratic choice.”

“The United Nations and its various agencies can also be incubators for new ideas, clearing houses for sharing experience, resources for national and local experimentation for the benefit of the world. Only with the sustained commitment and engagement of Member States can the UN serve these great purposes.”

“We believe that the UN reform is an agenda for shared vision and thus shared responsibilities. It requires commitment of all Member States. It is a test of the leadership of our time for the future of our children. It shall be an inheritance this generation shall leave to the world and the next generations.”

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