[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 17] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page 22018] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]THE AMBASSADORS REVIEW OF THE COUNCIL OF AMERICAN AMBASSADORS ______ HON. CHRISTOPHER SHAYS of connecticut in the house of representatives Tuesday, November 14, 2006 Mr. SHAYS. Mr. Speaker, I wish to insert in the Congressional Record the following statement by Joseph Verner Reed, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations Remarks on United Nations Day's 61st Anniversary Celebration (Tuesday October 24, 2006) Today October 24, 2006 the United Nations celebrates its 61st birthday. born of war The United Nations was created in large part by the efforts of the United States. President Franklin D. Roosevelt's vision and dedication laid the framework. The President even coined its name. Former United States Secretary of State Cordell Hull won the Nobel Peace Prize, mainly for his efforts in building the institution. President Harry S Truman supported President Roosevelt's vision with equal devotion, and in 1945, the vision became a reality. The United Nations has succeeded most obviously in preventing the horror of a third world war, encouraging multinational dialogues and the development of international law, and providing a forum for governmental and non- governmental entities. It is active in peacekeeping, disarmament, economic development, environmental preservation, education and disease prevention. United Nations groups like UNICEF, the World Bank, the World Health Organization and the International Atomic Energy Agency have produced a long list of achievements, along with the inevitable stumble now and then. It is less commonly known that the United Nations also handles international labor standards, international aviation safety provisions, international mail flow issues and international copyright laws, all of which significantly benefit Americans. In the words of former United States Ambassador to the United Nations and former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, ``If you have ever traveled on an international airline or shipping line, or placed a phone call overseas, or received mail from outside the country, or been thankful for an accurate weather report--then you have been served directly or indirectly by one part or another of the United Nations system.'' more helpful to united states Many within America view the United Nations with great suspicion, primarily because they see a significant threat to U.S. sovereignty. They would do well to heed the words of former United States Senator Arthur Vandenberg, a Republican who supported the formation of the world body: ``Though we cooperate wholeheartedly with the United Nations for peace and security, we remain the captains of our own souls.'' The veto power of the United States in the Security Council alone ensures that the United Nations does not act arbitrarily to harm U.S. interests. And when looked at historically, the United Nations has served interests of the United States far more than it has harmed them. Among other examples, the United Nations supported the dispatch of forces to Korea in 1950 and the incursion into Kuwait to expel Iraqi forces in 1991. After September 11, 2001, it also moved swiftly to join the battle against terrorism, supporting the attack on Afghanistan and passing Resolution 1373, which ``required nations to interdict arms flows and financial transfers to suspected terrorist groups, report on terrorists' movements and update national legislation to fight them.'' When the United Nations speaks in a clear voice, it represents the greatest source of international legitimacy possible. When the Security Council passes a Resolution it is not only legally binding, but it is widely respected. To solve global challenges requires a close partnership between the United States and the United Nations. As President Dwight D. Eisenhower said, ``With all the defects . . . the United Nations still represents man's best organized hope to substitute the conference table for the battlefield.'' Indeed, to attack the United Nations is to criticize the conference table. The United Nations is only as effective as the countries around that table. If we hope to strengthen the World Organization's effectiveness, the United States must play a leading role in reform efforts. It is an honor and privilege to present the message of Secretary-General Kofi A. Annan to the People of Connecticut. ____________________