Page 166 - 100 Reflections that Crafted Geneva International_V-Petrovsky_private special edition

100 Reflections that Crafted Geneva International

as had seven Observer Missions, which include intergovernmental organiza-
tions. Many of these Missions have additional ambassadors and staff to cover
the work of the Conference on Disarmament and the World Trade Organiza-
tion. (The CD currently has 37 member States, each represented at the
ambassadorial level. As for the WTO, which succeeded the General Agreement
on Tariffs and Trade on 1 January 1995, there were 81 member States as of the
first of the year with some 50 additional States in the process of ratifying their
accession. As of 31 December 1994, 128 States had been Contracting Parties to
the General Agreement).

Of course, fostering relations with the authorities of Switzerland and
France, and the non-governmental communities also receives high priority.

* * *

Suffice it to say that here in Geneva - as with our colleagues working
throughout the world - we are actively participating in developing and imple-
menting programmes, projects and policies designed to make our world a
better place. Tremendous resourcefulness and determination are required to
overcome obstacles and meet today's challenges. Rather it is a process which
needs to take into account the realities of the world’s interdependence and its
diversity. The UN system has the experience, the personnel, and the forums,
which together make it uniquely qualified to promote peace, stability and well-
being. Governments struggling to achieve the goals of worldwide peace, devel-
opment and democracy should take fuller advantage of the Organization's
human resources.

The United Nations cannot substitute for the commitment of individual
States. Deeds must follow words if we are to achieve our goals. The very fact,
however, that the United Nations is able to undertake peace-keeping and
humanitarian operations speaks well of the Organization and its Member
States. It exemplifies the international community's continuing transition from
what we may call a “culture of confrontation” to a “culture of peace”. Politics
ought not to be viewed as a “zero-sum” game - we must create “win-win”
scenarios. We are becoming more tolerant and are learning to embrace the
accumulated knowledge of various cultures. We have moved beyond a desire
for peaceful coexistence to a need for active teamwork. The United Nations
system is in a unique position to hasten this transition and affect the desired
changes.

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