Page 480 - 100 Reflections that Crafted Geneva International_V-Petrovsky_private special edition

100 Reflections that Crafted Geneva International

As you have gathered here at the famous headquarters of the League of
Nations from where your organization takes not only its name, but
most importantly draws its inspiration, it is worth reflecting on the lessons
that can be distilled from the work of the League of Nations and its
successor, the United Nations. In the face of critics who today lament the
alleged passivity of international organizations in certain conflicts and policy
areas, it is important to consider the role and the practical deeds of these
organizations in a historical perspective as these surroundings invite us to do.

With its focus on collective security and humanitarian law, the League of
Nations provided a framework for agreed actions aimed at promoting the
peaceful resolution of disputes and a human dimension in the behaviour of
States. The League was instrumental in instituting broad-based,
inclusive governmental structures with effective guarantees for the protection
of cultural and ethnic characteristics in regions rife with deep-rooted ethnic
divisions and discrimination. The endurance of these agreements testify to
the value of the League's principles and the effectiveness of resolving
complex and historically entrenched political conflicts through a variety of
political, diplomatic, and especially legal methods. Today, regions such
as the Aaland Islands and Schleswig-Holstein serve as good examples for
finding solutions in different part of the world beset by ethnic conflict
and violence.

The United Nations, which was born in the hope of eradicating the
scourges of war and of bringing peace, stability and well-being to all the world's
peoples, has evolved significantly since 1945 and has adapted to meet the chal-
lenges brought by rapid advances in arms and communication technologies
and changing political circumstances. But the focus on the human dimension
and the commitment to protecting and promoting fundamental human
rights has never changed. It is therefore appropriate that the opening of your
General Assembly coincides with International Human Rights Day — the
celebra-tion of the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in
1948 — and the formal award of the Nobel Peace Prize to the
Secretary-General, Mr Kofi Annan, and the United Nations.

The firm belief in the inherent dignity and the inalienable rights of every
individual is the common denominator of all aspects of the work of the United
Nations, which is at the service of people and not only of states. As recognized
by the Norwegian Nobel Committee, the guarantee of effective human rights
policies is an integral part of the United Nations' traditional responsibility for
peace and security.

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