Page 54 - 100 Reflections that Crafted Geneva International_V-Petrovsky_private special edition

100 Reflections that Crafted Geneva International

the increased international role of Geneva, and asked me to convey his best
wishes to you, Mr. President, and Foreign Minister, Mr. Flavio Cotti.

As we approach the new millennium, the world in transition is entering
into a "Pax Multilateral" or "Pax U.N." which is distinct from different kinds of
"Pax Unilateral", not only by the acceptance of collective action but also by the
high degree of humanitarian concern with regard to all the continents of our
planet.

It is important to remember that the ideals of multilateralism and
humanism were born and began to be implemented in Switzerland and Geneva
in particular, already in the XIXth century. The ideas of Minister Henri Babel,
of Henri Dunant and the Red Cross were the first signs of multilateralism and
humanism to be put into action.

This year is a starting point for intensifying the common endeavour to
meet the new challenges. The UN is actually entering its 50th Anniversary, the
climax of which is in 1995. Fifty years ago, on 19 October 1943 in the middle of
the War, the Allies, in the Moscow Declaration, proclaimed the necessity of
creating, in the post-war era, an international organization of security.

Today, the UN deals with security in all its aspects. Peacemaking and
peace-keeping efforts, in particular, are much in the limelight. However, they
still constitute only 30per cent of the UN activities.

The other 70 per cent is devoted to sustainable development, economic
and social activities, the largest part of those activities being undertaken by the
UN Office in Geneva within the United Nations system.

One can say, Mr. President, that the new role of UNOG is already evolving
in four basic directions:

It is expanding as a centre for conference diplomacy and an international
forum for consultations, cooperation and dialogue between nations in Europe,
the Mediterranean, Africa and Euro-Asia.

UNOG currently not only provides services for the Conference on the
Former Yugoslavia but it also it stands ready for the talks on Georgia and
Tajikistan and remains open for the Security Council.

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