UN General Assembly
2004

Organization will wither as the nations of the world bypass it in favour of ... mechanisms that are more relevant to their needs” (A/55/PV.20, p. 25). Of course, this warning was before 11 September 2001, before coalition action in Afghanistan and Iraq and before the terrorist bombings in Bali, Jakarta, Madrid, Istanbul and many other locations. If the need for reform was pressing then, it is critical now. The High- level Panel provides the best prospect for repositioning the United Nations system to meet contemporary challenges. This is an opportunity we cannot waste if the United Nations — our Organization — is to retain a substantial role in maintaining international peace and security in the twenty-first century.