SECRETARY-GENERAL APPOINTS LATVIA’S PRESIDENT AS ‘IN LARGER FREEDOM’ ENVOY

The Secretary-General is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Vaira Vike-Freiberga, President of Latvia, as his Envoy for the summit to take place in New York in September 2005.

This completes the Secretary-General’s team of five envoys who have agreed to use their good offices to help him promote the comprehensive agenda outlined in his report “In larger freedom:  towards development, security and human rights for all”.  He has placed before world leaders an agenda for action in order to move our world decisively towards important goals:  halving poverty in the next 10 years; reducing the threat of war, terrorism and deadly weapons; and advancing human dignity in every land.  He has also called for the most far-reaching reforms of the United Nations in its 60-year history.

President Vike-Freiberga joins the other Envoys -- Their Excellencies Dermot Ahern, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ireland; Ali Alatas, former Foreign Minister of Indonesia; Joaquin Chissano, former President of Mozambique; and Ernesto Zedillo, former President of Mexico.

As Latvia’s Head of State, President Vike-Freiberga has actively supported the need for United Nations reform.  Elected to a second term in office in 2003, she has successfully guided her nation through a period of active reforms leading to full membership in the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

The Secretary-General wishes to express his profound gratitude to Her Excellency for having agreed to take on this challenging assignment and invest her time, energy and political wisdom in assisting him in his efforts.

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