ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT ADDRESSES ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL AT INAUGURATION OF RENOVATED CHAMBER

Press Release
GA/SM/96

ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT ADDRESSES ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL AT INAUGURATION OF RENOVATED CHAMBER

Following is the text of the statement by the President of the General Assembly, Theo-Ben Gurirab (Namibia), on the occasion of the inauguration of the newly renovated Economic and Social Council Chamber:

The founders of the United Nations were wise men of vision and devotion to peace, liberty, justice and fairness among the members of the human race. I’m here as a President of the General Assembly, at the invitation of the President of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), on this occasion to commend him for his leadership and also all the members of ECOSOC, the observers and friends of ECOSOC all over the world.

In my acceptance speech two days ago, I said that ECOSOC’s role is indispensable in war as it is also in reconstruction and nation- building. The founders of the United Nations had good reason, and they assigned specific functions to the respective six organs that were established in 1945. Among them, Trusteeship, which so hurriedly and successfully worked itself out of existence by having assisted decolonization and self-government, and provided inspiration of those that sought assistance from the United Nations in realizing their ideals for a better world. The founders established a logical hierarchy, and respective mandates of the respective principal organs of the United Nations, and therefore these arrangements should not be changed arbitrarily.

I cannot but underscore what you have said, Mr. President -- and I say this because I’m President of the General Assembly, but I would have said the same as Foreign Minister of Namibia – that the General Assembly is at the centre of the decision-making and activities of the United Nations. This does not in any way undermine or infringe upon the carefully constructed mandates of each one of the other principal organs.

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I’m glad to see that ECOSOC will, henceforth, be working in a pleasant atmosphere; that is what restructuring and transparency are all about. I would join you, Mr. President, in thanking not only the members of ECOSOC and observers, but also your own country, whose citizens have assisted you in bringing about this renovation of this important Chamber.

Lastly, I take cue from your statement that the General Assembly, ECOSOC, the Security Council, the Secretary-General and all the other institutions and agencies of the United Nations will continue to work together for a common cause. And you shall not find me wanting, when you need my assistance, to be ready for that common objective.

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