[AUTHENTICITY CERTIFIED: Text version below transcribed directly from audio.]
Mr. President, Secretary-General, Members of the
General Assembly:
I believe I was last here in 1957.
Since then, I have traveled widely and met many leaders, ambassadors, and
statesmen from around the world. I address you today as Queen of 16 United
Nations Member States and as Head of the Commonwealth of 54 countries.
I have also witnessed great change, much of it for the better, particularly in
science and technology, and in social attitudes. Remarkably, many of these
sweeping advances have come about not because of governments, committee
resolutions, or central directives -- although all these have played a part -- but
instead because millions of people around the world have wanted them.
For the United Nations, these subtle yet significant changes in people's
approach to leadership and power might have foreshadowed failure and demise.
Instead, the United Nation[s] has grown and prospered by responding and adapting
to those shifts.
But also, many important things have not changed. The aims and values which
inspired the
United Nations Charter endure: to promote international peace,
security and justice; to relieve and remove the blight of hunger, poverty and
disease; and to protect the rights and liberties of every citizen.
The achievements of the United Nations are remarkable. When I was first here,
there were just three United Nations operations overseas. Now, over 120,000 men
and women are deployed in 26 missions across the world. You have helped to
reduce conflict; you have offered humanitarian assistance to millions of people
affected by natural disasters and other emergencies; and you have been deeply
committed to tackling the effects of poverty in many parts of the world.
But so much remains to be done. Former Secretary-General
Dag Hammarskjold once
said that "constant attention by a good nurse may be just as important as a
major operation by a surgeon." Good nurses get better with practice; sadly the
supply of patients never ceases.
This September, leaders will meet to agree how to achieve the
Millennium
Development Goals when each nation will have its own distinctive contribution to
make. New challenges have also emerged which have tested this organization as
much as its Member States. One such is the struggle against terrorism. Another
challenge is climate change, where careful account must be taken of the risks
faced by smaller, more vulnerable nations, many of them from the Commonwealth.
Mr. President,
I started by talking about leadership. I have much admiration for those who have
the talent to lead, particularly in public service and in diplomatic life, and
I congratulate you, your colleagues, and your predecessors on your many
achievements.
It has perhaps always been the case that the waging of peace is the hardest form
of leadership of all. I know of no single formula for success, but over the
years I have observed that some attributes of leadership are universal, and are
often about finding ways of encouraging people to combine their efforts, their
talents, their insights, their enthusiasm and their inspiration, to work
together.
Since I addressed you last, the Commonwealth, too, has grown vigorously to
become a group of nations representing nearly two billion people. It gives its
whole-hearted support to the significant contributions to the peace and
stability of the world made by the United Nations and its Agencies. Last
November, when I opened the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Trinidad
and Tobago, I told the delegates that the Commonwealth had the opportunity to
lead. Today I offer you the same message.
For over six decades the United Nation[s] has helped to shape the international
response to global dangers. The challenge now is to continue to show this clear
and convening leadership, while not losing sight of your ongoing work to secure
the security, prosperity, and dignity of our fellow human beings.
When people in 53 years from now look back on us, they will doubtless
view many of our practices as old-fashioned. But it is my hope that, when judged
by future generations, our sincerity, our willingness to take a lead, and our
determination to do the right thing, will stand the test of time.
In my lifetime, the United Nation[s] has -- has moved from being a high-minded aspiration
to being a real force for common good. That of itself has been a signal
achievement. But we are not gathered here to reminisce. In tomorrow’s world, we
must all work together as hard as ever if we are truly to be United Nations.
Page Updated: 12/27/21
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