SECRETARY-GENERAL'S STATEMENT AT INAUGURATION OF UNITED NATIONS FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY EXHIBITION IN PORT-AU-PRINCE

Following is the translation of the French text of the statement made by Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali on Saturday, 14 October, at the inauguration of an exhibition in Port-au-Prince to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the United Nations:

This is my third visit to Haiti since the return of President Aristide. And I should like to say to you quite simply that each time I come to Haiti, it is with great emotion. I wanted to be at your side today in order to celebrate the triumph of the constitutional order over chaos and disarray. And I also wanted to be at your side today in order to express how much Haiti means to the United Nations in its desire that you might live -- that the people of Haiti might live -- in peace, in security and enjoy continuing progress. And the United Nations Mission in Haiti (UNMIH), which has now been deployed for more than six months, has contributed to that stability, to that security and to that progress. But it is you -- you, the people of Haiti -- who must undertake the principal objective of restoring and strengthening democracy in Haiti.

I should like to thank the National Committee for the fiftieth anniversary for this exhibition, this exhibition of paintings, and I have been very impressed by the first prize, the second prize and the third prize. I am not claiming that, if I had been one the judges, I would have made the same choice, but I must tell you, I must congratulate the panel of judges on its choice, since number one is in fact the one which impressed me most.

I should also like to thank all the specialized agencies, all the United Nations programmes, whether the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) or the World Food Programme (WFP), all these organizations, or whether they be all the non-governmental organizations, we all belong to the same family, to the great family which defends solidarity throughout the world.

The fact that here in Haiti you have "blue helmets" coming from Djibouti, coming from Canada, coming from different parts of the world, is extremely important. This goes to show the genuine solidarity that exists among all peoples, that exists among all countries, within the framework of the United Nations. As I was saying just now to the leaders of this operation, what counts most -- what is most difficult -- is this final stage, and I want to count on you, on the people of Haiti, on the leaders of this country, to ensure that this last stage is as successful as the earlier phases of the restoration of democracy in Haiti. And I should like to say to you, I should like to say to all Haitian men, women and children and above all to my colleagues, my friends, the professionals here, who have come from different parts of the world and who are working in different organizations, how much the United Nations owes you by way of gratitude. Both the Government and the people of Haiti, the specialized agencies, the "blue helmets", everyone proves that we all belong to the same family and that we are at your side.

"Kenbé fèm pa lagé, kenbé kenbé fèm pa lagé", that is how I should like to end this speech.

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