Page 378 - 100 Reflections that Crafted Geneva International_V-Petrovsky_private special edition

100 Reflections that Crafted Geneva International

to strengthening its traditional position as a center for conference diplomacy
and operational activities, Geneva has acquired new functions as a repository of
political technology in a variety of fields.

International norms of behavior, which are set and promoted by UN Con-
ferences and Agencies in Geneva, facilitate national law-making by providing
accurate legal standards and generally accepted human values. The political
know-how of Geneva makes it attractive for high level visits, one of the primary
aims of which are working meetings with Heads of UN Agencies and Programs.
In 1998, 15 Heads of State, 2 Vice-Presidents, 11 Prime Ministers and 73 Min-
isters visited Geneva. This year, UN headquarters has already been visited by
the Presidents of China, Nigeria, Moldova, Kazakhstan and Armenia and the
Vice-Presidents of Colombia and Burundi.

That is one of the main reasons why I consider that if in the Cold War
Geneva was well-known for its spirit, the trademark of present-day Geneva is
its knowledge - which is the soft-power of the new, emerging international
system.

As a multifaceted UN office Geneva Headquarters is well positioned for
cooperation with regional organizations The tripartite process of consultation
between UNOG the Council of Europe and the OSCE initiated in Geneva in
1993, now includes nine UN entities, as well as the ICRC and IOM, and the
scope of consultations has been broadened to include humanitarian and long-
term social and economic considerations both in conflict and post conflict
areas. A dialogue is also taking place between UNOG and other regional bodies
such as the Organization of the Islamic Conference, the Organization of
African Unity, the League of Arab States, the Commonwealth of Independent
States and the Organizations of Black Sea and Baltic Sea Cooperation.

UNOG has been able to benefit from the largest representation of NGOs,
international parliamentarian and local authority structures here in Geneva and
to initiate a dialogue between all these varied actors on the international scene.

As the third millennium draws nearer, we in the United Nations are sure
that through the collective efforts and mutual enrichment of the experiences of
all countries that we will be able to confront the extremely complex situations
that characterize the present stage of globalization marked by information
technology. In this context, there is growing recognition that not only are
economic might and military strength needed to secure the national interest

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