H.E. The President returns from the U.N. Regional Hearing in Geneva

"Nearly a billion people are functionally illiterate and will enter the 21^st Century unable to read a book. While there is sufficient food to feed the world, 830 million people are severely undernourished. We live in a world where food rots while people starve. How will the United Nations look to these people - These are the challenges of the United Nations in the 21^st Century", stated H.E. Prof. Guido de Marco during his closing address of the Regional Hearing held at the United Nations in Geneva. He recalled the principle that eradicating poverty is not an act of charity, but an investment in the future. Other issues highlighted by the President was the emerging concern of how the United Nations was to deal with massive infringements of human rights and the context within which the justification for the use of force arose. Such were issues which the United Nations had to deal with in the coming century.

In reflecting on the discussions conducted by the different panels and participants, H.E. Prof. Guido de Marco stated his belief that Parliamentarians had a role to play within the United Nations. Whereas Governments, through the General Assembly retained the decision-making power and responsibility thereto, the role of Parliamentarians could be brought closer into the folds of the Organisation. Civil society and an appropriate forum for its participation in the work of the United Nations would be another method of involving people in the work of the Organisation in the coming years. In concluding his statement, Prof. de Marco recalled how the notion of trusteeship should evolve from one dealing with trusteeship of territories to one dealing with trusteeship of peoples.

Earlier in the day, H.E. the President as Chairman of the Regional hearing, together with the Director-General of the UN Office in Geneva and the Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Europe, addressed a Press Conference for journalists. He was also guest of honour at a luncheon hosted by Vladmir Petrovsky at which a number of high ranking officials including the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Director General of the International Labour Organisation and the Head of the UNDP, were present.

The President arrived back to Malta this afternoon.