UN Resident Coordinator greeted the participants of the International Conference devoted to the UN’s 60th anniversary.

On November 3-4, 2005 UN Resident Coordinator Francis M. O’Donnell took part in the international conference “Sixty Years of the UN: Taking Stock of Achievements and Paths to Greater Effectiveness in the 21st Century” and delivered to the participants the message from the Secretary General Kofi Annan.

Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Borys Tarasyuk, Head of the Presidential Secretariat Oleg Rybachuk, Chairman of the Human Rights, National Minorities and Interethnic Relations Committee of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Hennadiy Udovenko, Ukrainian scientists and politicians, representatives of international and non-governmental organisations, representatives of diplomatic missions to Ukraine participated in this event, which was jointly organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Diplomatic Academy of Ukraine and the Institute of International Relations, with the support of the UN office in Ukraine.

The Secretary-General of the United Nations Kofi Annan sent the message to the participants of the conference stating the following: “I want to commend Ukraine for its historic role as a founder of the UN, its continuous engagement in the search for global consensus on the challenges the world faces, and its contribution to international peace through its active participation in many UN peacekeeping missions. On the occasion of your several commemorative activities to mark the 60th anniversary of our organisation, and in particular this conference in Kyiv, let me extend to you, your leaders, and your people, my heartfelt thanks and deep appreciation for Ukraine's commitment and support to the UN and its ongoing process of reform, so that we can continue to make this world a better place for all.”

President of Ukraine Victor Yuschenko sent the message to the participants of the conference, as well as Head of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Volodymyr Lytvyn, in which he emphasized importance of developing future comprehensive cooperation among United Nations and parliaments of the organisation’s countries-members. During the plenary sessions the participants addressed such issues as UN role, priorities and activities in dealing with problems of economic development, ensuring international security and fighting terrorism, and solving world social problems.