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A letter to the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan
Ljubljana, 01/18/2005 | press release
"At a time when the dimensions of the natural disaster that affected numerous countries around the Indian Ocean have not yet been fully measured, and when millions of our fellow humans are mourning their dead, I am writing this letter in order to thank you for the rapid and effective humanitarian action of the world organisation and for your personal efforts in mitigating the consequences of the disaster.
The destruction caused by the unpredictable forces of nature has shown in its full light the importance of the rapid, well organised and carefully considered response of the UN, its administration and all members of the UN to the threats, dangers and challenges facing humankind.
The activities of the international community in alleviating the humanitarian and material damage in the affected region will be a long-term and highly demanding task for all of us. Successful fulfilment of this task will reinforce the confidence of all people of good will, those in need of help and all of humanity in the world organisation. It would be right if the tragedy we have witnessed served to stimulate the more successful fulfilment of the Millennium Development Goals we adopted at the UN summit and recorded in the Millennium Declaration and in Agenda 21. Indeed more than ever before, it is clear that the formulation of these documents and the fulfilment of the goals set are no longer a question simply of the standing and credibility of the world organisation. Neither is it a question any more simply of a disaster that hit Southeast Asia. It is also a question of Bangladesh, of Darfur and other parts of the world, where people are struggling for mere survival and expect rapid international assistance and genuine solidarity.
I am convinced that both for the world organisation and for responsible world leaders and international financial and other institutions, the moment has arrived when we must affirm openly before the anxious and positively motivated world public our desire to see that the great promises in our documents are followed by effective action.
At this time, when the greatest humanitarian action in the history of humankind has been set in motion, the opportunity has also arisen for the world organisation, operating within the framework of its activities, to promote the resolving of old disputes and grudges in the affected region. I sincerely believe that in doing so the UN would meet with understanding from the parties to these disputes, who could be offered the possibility of a new beginning.
The disaster that struck numerous countries, which we know are shaken by internal inter-ethnic and other disputes, has without doubt brought people closer together and strengthened their willingness to listen to those that have the knowledge, capacity and mandate to mediate in the peaceful settlement of disputes. Of all those that can offer help – for example in seeking a peaceful solution to the long-term conflict in Sri Lanka – the UN stands in first place. I would therefore also wish in this letter to encourage the activities of the world organisation towards seeking a solution acceptable for all, which would relieve that country of its internal conflicts."
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