Sirleaf urges new operating structures for UN

September 20, 2006 - (RunningAfrica) Liberia's President, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf is urging member countries of the United nations not to operate on the structures designed sixty-one years ago when the organization was founded. She said, "times have changed, and with it, the world too has changed beyond our imagination when this organization was established. We are truly a global village, interconnected physically and electronically, increasingly bound by a shared commitment to confront and overcome the changes that threaten global peace, stability, and the well-being of our human family".

Africa's only woman president, in her address to the 61st session of the UN General Assembly in New York Tuesday, said the session must vigorously consider how to bring equity to the present international financial, trade and development structures; how to do more in creating the conditions that will improve the standard of living of mankind everywhere. She reminded world leaders to be sensitive to the needs and assure developing countries the dividends of globalization. President Sirleaf told the Assembly of her strong support for women and gender equality and look forward with interest to the report of a High-Level Panel on System-wide Coherence, appointed by the Secretary-General earlier this year.

She told the gathering of the 192 member countries that prior to her civil conflict, Liberia has always been in nthe vanguard of promoting good neighborliness, peace, security and stability "in our sub-region, our continent and our one world". Immediately following her speech to the General Assembly, President Sirleaf held a half-hour news conference in which she outline the four pillars on which her government intends to carry Liberia forward. She summarized reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts made so far and plans to move forward.

From: http://runningafrica.com/news-09202006Sirleaf-UN.html