Page 230 - 100 Reflections that Crafted Geneva International_V-Petrovsky_private special edition

41.

GENEVA AS A HUB FOR
INTERNATIONAL TRADE ACTIVITY

NOTES FOR THE CONFERENCE
"TRANSITION TO A MARKET ECONOMY IN THE
BANKING AND FINANCIAL SECTORS"

15
22 February 1996
1. As you know, Geneva is not only one of the world's largest centers of

financial and banking activities. It is also the world's leading center of
multilateral diplomacy. This city is home to the European Headquar-
ters of the United Nations, its five specialized agencies, and numerous other
organizations and programs. Contrary to a popular belief, the work of the Unit-
ed Nations is not limited to peace-keeping. According to the UN Charter, the
creation of "conditions of stability and well-being" in the world is a basic pre-
requisite for international peace and security. It is no coincidence, therefore,
that 60 per cent of the day-to-day operational activities of the United Nations
are in the social and economic fields, with a significant part of those activities
dealing with international finance issues.

2. Today's UN, freed from the shackles of ideological struggle, opens up
especially wide opportunities for its members to use its considerable potential.
There are five main areas of the UN work in the socio-economic sphere. Those
are:

15 The notes were written and delivered in Russian. This is the translation by the UN-
licensed translator in a personal capacity, exclusively for this book.

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