Page 392 - 100 Reflections that Crafted Geneva International_V-Petrovsky_private special edition

100 Reflections that Crafted Geneva International

Geneva provided the opportunity in recent times for meetings held in Bonn,
Buenos Aires, Dakar and Rome.

The major output of these conference's norm-setting activities are the
international conventions and treaties, which serve as a kind of international
driver's license in all parts of the world. Take disarmament, for example, for
which two treaties (the Convention on the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons
and the Comprehensive Nuclear test Ban Treaty), have been produced - only
in the last decade. The CD is now in search of a new program of work. I have
only mentioned disarmament, but the trademark “made in Geneva” can be
found on many other treaties which are worked within the specialized agencies
and programs.

This year, Geneva will host the Special Session of the Assembly on the
Implementation of the Outcome of the World Summit on Social Development
to be held from 26 to 30 June. Additionally, a number of prominent NGO
meetings will make a substantial contribution to the Millennium Assembly of
the UN. Another event in the coming year in the field of disarmament, will be
the International Conference on the Illicit Traffic of Arms.

In the operational field, which is particularly strong in Geneva, activities
are now consolidated in five major areas: the promotion of human rights and
humanitarian assistance; economic, trade and development; science and tech-
nology; disarmament negotiation; and research and training.

The consolidation of these activities does not preclude their expansion and
Geneva-based UN Programmes are also now widely involved in the process of
disaster relief and environmental activities. This June, in conjunction with the
UN University, I am convening a meeting of all UN institutions supporting
research and analysis networks. The goal of the meeting would be to increase
synergies and complementarity of activities within the UN system. It is note-
worthy that this action coincides with the initiative of the Geneva authorities to
consolidate and streamline academic institutions based in Geneva and working
in the field of international relations, diplomacy, sustainable development and
environmental protection.

New offices of international organizations are also being established in
Geneva. I wish to mention the opening of a branch of the World Bank which
has strengthened the role of Geneva in the field of trade and development

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