UN General Assembly
1997

﻿Allow me, at the outset, to express to Mr. Udovenko, on behalf of my country’s delegation, our 21 warm congratulations on his election to the presidency of the General Assembly at this session. His election to that high post is a tribute of the international community to his friendly country and a reflection of the confidence of the Members of the United Nations in his ability to shoulder this heavy responsibility. By the same token, we express our great appreciation to his predecessor, Ambassador Razali Ismail, for the great efficiency with which he conducted the affairs and deliberations of the Assembly at its previous session. Furthermore, I wish on this occasion to express my country’s gratitude to Secretary-General Kofi Annan for the unrelenting efforts he has made since his assumption of his post to enhance the role, efficiency and effectiveness of the United Nations. Some people have thought that the end of the so-called cold war would be conducive to the creation of favourable conditions for equitable and healthy international relations based on mutual respect and fruitful and constructive