'A welcome realism.' (From the Secretary-General's report to the 50th General Assembly: Boutros Boutros-Ghali) (Transcript)

From the deep-rooted and far-reaching United Nations work for economic, social and humanitarian progress to the immediate and often urgent efforts to prevent, contain and resolve conflicts, what emerges from the pages of this report is an image of a multifaceted and ever-evolving organization-an organization responding flexibly to global change and to the changing needs of the international community.

There are signs that the massive educational effort under way at all levels of national and international society in this fiftieth anniversary year is helping to create a welcome realism about the role of the United Nations in world affairs today, as well as a renewed sense of commitment to fulfil the original promise set down in the Charter 50 years ago.

Major aspects of this landmark year are still to come, including the Special Commemorative Meeting of the General Assembly, to be held at Headquarters from 22 to 24 October 1995, and the commemoration in London in January 1996 of the first session of the General Assembly. Nonetheless, it is already evident that this anniversary has created a spirit and a momentum that go well beyond the commemoration and celebration expected at such a point in time. Virtually every dimension of the United Nations has been energized. New realities are being used as the basis for reassessment and redesign. Successes are being built upon. A new spirit of cooperation at every level and on virtually every issue is within the grasp of a wider contingent of committed people than ever before.

Carrying the spirit forward

It is vital, therefore, that the spirit of the fiftieth anniversary be carried forward in all these respects. Most fundamentally it will be important to continue the major efforts launched this year with the objective of enabling the United Nations as an institution to become more intellectually creative, more financially stable, more managerially effective and more responsive to all sectors of society.

The fiftieth year has also generated criticism of the Organization, and this is serving to make the United Nations healthier and stronger. Shortcomings of the Organization itself, inadequate mandates, insufficient financial and material resources, the failure of Member States to fulfil their obligations or take on new responsibilities - all have on occasion been catalysts for criticism. However, the ultimate source of today's criticism can be found in the impact of globalization on the Organization and...