Reclaiming the Future: The Millennium Summit.

Over three days in September, the world's leaders convened to seize "a unique and symbolically compelling moment to articulate and affirm an animating vision for the United Nations", in the phrase of the General Assembly resolution that decided upon the Millennium Summit. In this special section, we bring you individual perspectives from Summit participants on our world and the Declaration which they adopted at the conclusion of their deliberations. In his own remarks to the closing session, Secretary-General Kofi Annan observed that he was "struck by the remarkable convergence of views on the challenge that faces us. And by the urgency of your call to action". He went on to say:

You have said that your first priority is the eradication of extreme poverty. You have set specific targets related to that goal, and you have prescribed measures for achieving them. If the measures are really taken, we all know the targets can be reached. Many of you have said that you understand the potential benefits of globalization, but that your peoples have yet to feel them. You have acknowledged that part of the solution lies in the hands of sovereign States, which must give priority to the needs of their people, especially the poorest. And we all know that States alone cannot solve the problems of globalisation. They need to work in partnership with the private sector, and with civil society in its broadest sense.

But you have also called for a more equitable world economy, where all countries have a fair chance to compete, and where those who have more will do more for those who have less.

Speaker after speaker has stressed the urgent need to release poor countries from their burden of debt. You expressed interest in finding new approaches to this problem, including a system of arbitration or mediation which would balance the interests of creditors with those of sovereign debtors. I will give further thought to this idea, and suggest ways in which it could be done.

You have said that it is intolerable, as we enter a new century, that millions of innocent people, especially women and children, should still fall victim to brutal conflict. We all know that in this area the United Nations has fallen short of what the world expects. We must strengthen our capacity, and improve our performance, so that vulnerable communities feel able to count on us in their hour of need. That is why so many of you welcomed the report of the Panel on United Nations Peace Operations, and promised to act quickly on its recommendations.

You have reaffirmed the vital importance of international law, which is the common language of our global community. Over 80 of you, during this Summit, have taken action to adhere to international legal instruments that are central to the spirit of our Charter. Most of these actions concern protocols that seek to protect children from abuses that bring shame to all humankind. Your action is a welcome sign that humankind is coming together, at last, to put an end to them.

You have called for higher priority to be given to the special needs of Africa, where poverty and all its attendant ills seem most intractable. And you have said that we need more effective international institutions, starting with the United Nations system.

In your minds, clearly, the reform that we began together three years ago is not complete. I agree, and I look forward to working with you to take it further.

Almost every one of you has called for a comprehensive reform of the Security Council. That surely must give new impetus to the search for consensus on this thorny but unavoidable issue.

You are concerned, rightly, with the effectiveness of the Organization. You want action. Above all, you want results. You are right, and I look forward to working with you over the coming year to ensure that the United Nations of the twenty-first century can deliver real improvements in the life of the world's people.

You have sketched out clear directions for adapting this Organization to its role in the new century. But, ultimately, you are yourselves the United Nations.

It lies in your power, and therefore it is your responsibility, to reach the goals that you have defined. Only you can determine whether the United Nations rises to the challenge.

For my part, I hereby re-dedicate myself, as from today, to carrying out your mandate. I know that the whole staff of the United Nations does the same.

We are here as world leaders. And now is the time and today is the day for a new beginning to give renewed impetus to peace, cooperation, development, security and stability in the world.

Sam Nujoma, Co-President of the Millennium Summit

Let us feel the humility and a sense of history of this moment. Let us turn this into an event which will make a difference. Let us also use to the fullest the opportunity to meet together and bilaterally, and to reach a meeting of minds.

Tarja Halonen, Co-President of the Millennium Summit

In the past decade, more effort was rendered for the expansion of global markets than poverty reduction, human rights and environmental protection.

Burhanuddin Rabbani, President of Afghanistan

In the process of rapid globalization, I think that same fundamental "pillars" should be conceived, like the strengthening of the "ideology" of peace, freedom and human rights, as the "philosophy" of this century.

Rexhep Meidani, President of Albania

To proclaim the year 2001 the United Nations Year for the dialogue between civilizations is particularly well-timed. It occurs at a time when we wonder about the development levels and, furthermore, within the reductive context of globalization.

Abdelaziz Bouteflika, President of Algeria

In the second half of the twentieth century, Andorra was host to immigration which multiplied its population by more than eight times. And all of us who live there try to make tolerance and respect for diversity more than just a word. We must learn to welcome the diversity of humans and of nations.

Marc Forne Molne, Chief of Government of Andorra

In a global context, Africa is the poorest of all continents. Its development should be financed by a global assistance fund that will link economic reform to poverty eradication.

Joao Bernardo de Miranda, Minister for External Relations of Angola

We will insist that global policies and measures be devised with the effective participation of developing countries to meet their needs.

Lester B. Bird, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda

Such measures as emergency assistance, demobilization, mine-clearance and social reconciliation will be insufficient without the implementation of long-term development policies.

Fernando de Ia Rua, President of Argentina

The existing potential of the United Nations for the prevention of new conflicts is not fully utilized. The promotion of comprehensive mechanisms of early warning of potential conflicts has became a requirement. Wars do not erupt unexpectedly, they have their histories, their logic and are subject to prediction.

Robert S. Kocharian, President of Armenia

In Australia, it is said that all men and women, and by extension all nations, are entitled to a "fair go". But the concept of a "fair go" requires not merely passive observance of others' efforts, but active assistance in their endeavours.

John Howard, Prime Minister of Australia

One of the most significant achievements of the recent past has been the increasing democratization of global affairs.

Thomas Klestil, Federal President of Austria

External threats and internal problems, pressures and involvement in the struggle far spheres of influence, do not allow young and fragile democracies an opportunity to freely carry out the policy that would meet interests and expectations of their people.

Heydar Alirza ogly Aliyev, President of Azerbaijan

The concept of globalization was brought sharply into focus when small States such as the Bahamas attempted to take advantage of the benefits of globalization by developing financial services sectors, only to encounter recently serious challenges from developed countries.

Sir Orville Turnquest, Governor-General of the Bahamas

Our gathering should be an opportunity to identify the future priorities of the new century, and in particular the issues of maintaining international peace and security, the achievement of peaceful and amicable solutions to all regional and international conflicts.

Shaikh Mohammed Bin Mubarak Al-Khalifa, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Bahrain

If peace is a shared responsibility, so is development. We have taken innovative approaches towards poverty eradication, putting the people at the centre stage.

Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister of Bangladesh

Barbados has a perspective on multilateralism that is inherently positive. We know it as offering the opportunity far collaborative decision-making based on shared information and we believe in its precepts of mutual respect and mutual benefit.

Billie Miller, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Barbados

The intention to make the world a safer place was the main motive behind our decision to renounce the status of a nuclear State.

Alyaksandr Lukashenka, President of Belarus

The uncontrolled propagation of AIDS is reinforced by poverty, ignorance, dogmatism, social exclusion, non-recognition of the rights of women and the refusal of a number of people in charge to confront reality.

Guy Verhofstadt, Prime Minister of Belgium

Transnational and multilateral organizations control our lives; they are the agencies of what we may call real, existing world government. That government is powerful, it rules the entire world; but it is not democratic, it is not just and it is not accountable.

Said W. Musa, Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Finance of Belize

The United Nations should base its actions on collective responsibility and solidarity between Governments, civil society and the private sector. It is vital to increase such efforts...