‘UNITED NATIONS HOUSE’ IN QUITO EPITOME OF UN FAMILY IN ACTION, SAYS SECRETARY-GENERAL AT INAUGURATION CEREMONY

‘UNITED NATIONS HOUSE’ IN QUITO EPITOME OF UN FAMILY IN ACTION,

SAYS SECRETARY-GENERAL AT INAUGURATION CEREMONY

Following are Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s remarks at the inauguration of the United Nations House in Quito, Ecuador, 10 November:

I am delighted to be with you on this happy occasion.  A United Nations House is the epitome of the United Nations family in action -- an illustration of our efforts to work better together and to improve our performance, especially at the country level.

It is a symbol of the bonds between our Organization and the country we work in.

And it provides a meeting place of ideas and initiatives for the advancement of the people we are here to serve.

Ecuador faces considerable challenges in the work for development, and its people look to you as an indispensable partner in that work.

Whether you are working to help improve governance, alleviate poverty, build better lives for children or protect the environment, it is vital that your efforts reinforce each other, that you avoid rivalry or duplication, and that you pool your resources and harmonize your programming to achieve the greatest possible impact.

That is the only way we will help Ecuador reach its objectives, and help the wider world to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.

I know that as a country team, you are already setting a wonderful standard for the meaning of teamwork.

May this house continue to provide a model of collaboration and efficiency as we work together to build a peaceful and prosperous future for the people of Ecuador.

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