The President’s message reads, in particular:
“Over the last decades the United Nations has made an immense contribution to ensuring stability and security in our world, promoting economic and social development and defending human rights and freedoms. It has become a unique forum for direct and open dialogue on the most important issues in international life. The basic principles and missions proclaimed by the United Nations in 1945 are still relevant and needed in today’s world and the programmes implemented under the UN’s aegis work in the interests and for the benefit of all of humanity.
Our country traditionally views the United Nations as the universal organisation of greatest influence and undisputed legitimacy. At the same time, we are certain that much remains to be done in the new century to strengthen the UN’s central and coordinating role and develop within its framework mechanisms that will enable the international community to react adequately to the challenges and threats that arise. These include the fight against terrorism and extremism, settling local conflicts, eradicating poverty and hunger and overcoming economic crises. Russia is always ready to support and initiate measures and decisions that take into account the views of all members of the international community and that have its support.
The United Nations is celebrating its sixtieth anniversary under the slogan “A Time of Change”. I am sure that through the joint efforts of the international community we will succeed in creating the right conditions for the United Nations to be able to adapt to the changing circumstances of today’s world and to raise the effectiveness of its work in all the key areas.”