Director Kaoru Nemoto contrasted post–Cold War euphoria over the UN with today’s harsher environment, quoting Margaret Thatcher’s remark that the UN is “a mirror of the will of its Member States” to stress that its effectiveness depends on governments’ will. Noting that no country can solve security or climate change alone, she called for strengthening the UN as the arena where national and international interests intersect, and urged leveraging Japan’s 70th anniversary of UN membership to build momentum for multilateralism and the Diet resolution referenced in the meeting.
Reporter: Koki Imon
For more details of this meeting, please see here..
Full Statement (English Translation)
“I serve as Director of the United Nations Information Centre.
I joined UNHCR in the 1990s under High Commissioner Sadako Ogata, when expectations for the UN surged at the end of the Cold War—I still recall that euphoria. Compared to those days, today’s international situation has become far more severe.
At the UN’s 40th anniversary in 1985, Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher said: ‘The United Nations is a mirror of the will of its Member States. If you don’t like the UN, there is no point in cursing the mirror; first we must correct our own posture.’ This perfectly symbolizes today’s UN.
Whether this universal forum thrives or falters depends on the will of governments. In a globalized world, no single country can resolve security or climate challenges alone. The UN is therefore the diplomatic stage to seek the intersection of national and international interests; strengthening the UN strengthens national interest.
Next year marks the 70th anniversary of Japan’s UN membership. Japan has upheld human security—‘freedom from want’ and ‘freedom from fear’—as a pillar of its cooperation. I hope this milestone will heighten momentum for multilateralism. As Secretary-General Kaieda mentioned, I also hope efforts will continue toward the Diet resolution. Thank you very much.”
