United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan on Tuesday said that although globalisation and growth had continued apace, they have not led to all-round benefits for humankind.
"Globalisation is not a tide that lifts all boats. Even among those who the statistics tell us are benefiting many feel deeply insecure and strongly resent the apparent complacency of those more fortunate than themselves," Annan said, while addressing the 192-member UN General Assembly.
The secretary general, whose term ends this year, said that when first addressed this assembly in 1997, he realized that humanity had to face three great challenges, including ensuring that everyone gained from globalisation, and the replacement of the post-Cold War world with a genuine new world order of peace and freedom. But he said that while some progress has been made in the last 10 years, challenges still remain.
Talking about economic growth, Annan said that some developing countries, notably in Asia, have played a major role in this growth, releasing millions of people from perpetual poverty. However, he said the Asian miracle is yet to be replicated in other parts of the world and that even in the most dynamic Asian countries the benefits were far from equally distributed.
Annan, who also emphasized the need to resolve the Arab-Israeli conflict, said that as long as the Palestinians live under occupation, exposed to daily frustration and humiliation, and as long as Israelis are being blown up in buses and in dance halls passions everywhere would remain inflamed. He said that until the Security Council is able to end this conflict, respect for the United Nations would continue to decline in stature.
"In short, the events of the last 10 years have not resolved but sharpened the three great challenges I spoke of -- an unjust world economy, world disorder and widespread contempt for human rights and the rule of law," he said.
Annan's last address to the UNGA ended on a positive note, with the secretary general saying that he remained convinced that the only answer to this world's problems was a truly United Nations.
"Together we have pushed some big rocks to the top of the mountain, even if others have slipped from our grip and rolled back. But this mountain, with its bracing winds and global views is the best place on earth to be," he said.
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