ADDRESS BY UNOG DIRECTOR-GENERAL AT THE OPENING OF THE SPECIAL SESSION OF THE WORLD HEALTH ASSEMBLY

Following is the statement made this morning by Sergei Ordzhonikidze, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva, at the opening of the Special Session of the World Health Assembly, at the Palais des Nations in Geneva:


"It is a distinct honour for me to welcome you to the Palais des Nations on the occasion of the opening of the Special Session of the World Health Assembly. We gather here today in the aftermath of a very sad event that took place in May of this year with the sudden and tragic loss of Dr. Lee Jong-wook, Director-General of the World Health Organization. Dr. Lee’s legacy lives on and our thoughts continue to be with his family, friends and former colleagues.

The Special Session of the World Health Assembly has gathered here today to choose a leader for a new chapter in the history of the Organization. The threats and challenges posed by violent conflicts, poverty, natural disasters, gender inequality, human rights violations, development problems, to mention just a few, are becoming increasingly complex and cut across boundaries. In an age of interdependent threats and challenges, HIV/AIDS, avian flu, tuberculosis, heart disease, counterfeit drugs, maternal mortality and other health threats are no less dangerous problems. We cannot address peace, development and human rights independently of one another, nor can we achieve long-lasting and tangible solutions to these challenges without healthy, strong populations around the world.

The growing demand for the involvement of the United Nations family of organizations testifies to their key role in addressing these and other problems, in advancing development and defending the dignity of every human being.

United Nations funds, programmes and specialized agencies are called upon to take on more tasks and in more regions of the world. It is more important than ever that we work together to renew and revitalize our common objectives to meet today’s challenges, to become more efficient and to have a greater positive impact on the lives of people around the world. We must be flexible, transparent and accountable in serving the priorities of Member States and the interests of the world’s peoples.

It is also important that we bring greater coherence to the work of the United Nations system. The United Nations system as a whole should intensify its reform efforts. Better coordination, joint planning and information sharing are critical to enabling the United Nations family to achieve common aims.

Upon the election of Mr. Ban Ki-Moon as Secretary-General, Mr. Kofi Annan reminded his successor of something that more than 50 years ago, the first Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. Trygve Lie said to his successor Mr. Dag Hammarskjöld, “You are about to take over the most impossible job on Earth”. While, perhaps, not as impossible, the post of Director-General of the World Health Organization is not an easy one either. It requires strength, courage, leadership and managerial skills to address the most pressing global health problems. It requires passion and compassion to meet the expectations of millions of people around the world and to deliver on promises and pledges already made. Last but not least, in an age where the contribution of all stakeholders is essential to tackling today’s threats and challenges, this position also requires a strong sense of consensus building. This will take on increasing importance as the future incumbent moves to provide leadership in shaping the global public health landscape.

In view of the threats and challenges to peace, development and human rights, as well as to global health, people throughout the world, look to the United Nations family of organizations to confront these challenges. Every day, in all our efforts, we strive to honour this confidence placed in the United Nations funds, programmes or agencies.

Today, you have before you the high responsibility of appointing the Director-General of the World Health Organization. I am convinced that your deliberations shall come to a successful closure with the appointment of the best candidate for this important position.

I wish you much success in your work today."