GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT PAYS TRIBUTE TO STAFF ON THE OCCASION OF STAFF DAY

17 September 1999

Press Release
GA/SM/97

GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT PAYS TRIBUTE TO STAFF ON THE OCCASION OF STAFF DAY

19990917

Staff "the Lifeblood of the United Nations", President Says

Following is the address of General Assembly President Theo-Ben Gurirab to the Secretariat, today, Staff Day:

I am pleased to join you in celebrating the last United Nations Staff Day of the 20th Century. Allow me to pay tribute to all of you gathered here today, and through you, to all the other staff members of this Organization, especially those at the forefront of our shared struggle for a peaceful and better world, namely the staff in the field, be they on peacekeeping missions or at other United Nations outposts throughout the world. Indeed, you are the lifeblood of the United Nations.

As a citizen of a country, Namibia, which has enjoyed enormous support from the United Nations and its staff, I am personally aware of the vast contributions made by dedicated United Nations personnel. The United Nations has intimately associated itself with Namibia's struggle for independence. Many of you were part of this history through your participation in the activities of the United Nations Council for Namibia, the United Nations Institute for Namibia, the United Nations Special Committee Against Apartheid and during Namibia's transition to independence, as members of the United Nations Transitional Assistance Group. In Namibia and elsewhere, so many of you put your lives in harm's way, and several hundreds of your colleagues paid the ultimate price. I wish to pay deserved homage to those who lost their lives in the line of duty.

The United Nations is a multicultural, multinational and multifaceted Organization. Its staff represents a microcosm of the peoples of the world. As such, the principle of equitable geographical representation and gender balance must be respected, particularly the appointment of staff to senior level positions. More senior staff from developing countries should be appointed to these senior positions. We derive hope for the future from the United Nations -- our family of nations -- and its staff.

- 2- Press Release GA/SM/97 17 September 1999

Having said all this, as President of the General Assembly, I want you to know that I am acutely aware of the challenges facing United Nations personnel. These challenges include, but are not limited, to issues as important as career development, staff mobility, the safety and security of humanitarian staff and protection of United Nations personnel, as well as human resources management in general. At the same time, I recognize that measures are being taken to address these concerns, as evidenced from the various reports of the Secretary-General to the General Assembly on personnel-related questions.

On the threshold of the next century, the United Nations is faced with momentous tasks, including issues such as its reform, globalization, gender equality, sustainable development and protection of the environment, regional conflicts and the resulting refugee crises, HIV/AIDS pandemic and the plight of children. Addressing these issues requires foresight and dedication on the part of Member States. It also requires a cadre of motivated staff, responding to the Charter requirements of efficiency, competence and integrity.

The future of the Organization hinges on the mutually reinforcing relationship between foresight and dedication on the part of Member States on the one hand, and enhanced competence, efficiency and integrity of United Nations personnel on the other.

With these few remarks, I wish you all an enjoyable United Nations Millennium Staff Day.

I thank you!

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