SECRETARY-GENERAL SAYS BY IDENTIFYING COMMON INTERESTS AND UNITING THEM WITH SHARED VALUES, PEOPLE CAN MAKE DIFFERENCE FOR BETTER
Press Release
SG/SM/7047
OBV/104
SECRETARY-GENERAL SAYS BY IDENTIFYING COMMON INTERESTS AND UNITING THEM WITH SHARED VALUES, PEOPLE CAN MAKE DIFFERENCE FOR BETTER
19990625 Following is the message of Secretary-General Kofi Annan for the occasion of United Nations International Day of Cooperatives, which will be observed on 3 July:This fifth United Nations International Day for Cooperatives is an opportunity to recognize the impact and membership of the cooperative movement worldwide. In many countries, cooperatives play a leading role in the production and marketing of foodstuffs, electricity and consumer goods, as well as in financial, insurance and social services. In some countries, the cooperative movement has become the second largest employer, surpassed only by Government.
Cooperators are united by a sense of social responsibility and concern for the community in which they operate. Common to the whole cooperative movement are the values of self-help, self-responsibility, democracy, equality, equity and solidarity.
The World Summit for Social Development, the Beijing World Conference on Women and the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements recognized the potential and contribution of cooperatives in the attainment of social development goals. In the implementation and follow-up of the outcomes of these world conferences, cooperatives are playing an increasingly important part. They are key players in working to meet the goals of full and productive employment, poverty eradication, social integration and the advancement of women.
At the same time, cooperatives have had to adapt to external challenges in the political and economic environment, ranging from the impact of globalization, structural adjustment and economic liberalization to power decentralization, changing government policies and new trade groupings.
To contribute fully to the attainment of the goals of national development, cooperatives need to operate in an enabling legal environment. This year, the General Assembly will discuss a report on legislative and
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administrative initiatives taken by countries as well as United Nations guidelines aimed at creating a supportive environment for the development of cooperatives.
There are many lessons to be learnt from the history of the cooperative movement throughout the world. But surely, the most important of them all is this: by identifying common interests and uniting them with shared values, people can make a difference for the better, in their own lives and in the lives of those around them. On this last International Day for Cooperatives of the twentieth century, it is an invaluable lesson for all of us who strive to build better lives in the global community as a whole.
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