UN General Assembly
1997

number of areas. By taking on responsibility within its own geographical area, the OSCE contributes to the United Nations ability to deal with crises elsewhere. As Chairman-in-Office of the OSCE, my Foreign Minister has given high priority to strengthening the relationship between the OSCE and the United Nations. We have frequent contact with the Secretary-General and have encouraged closer relations between the secretariats. Let me conclude. It is time for reform, as the Secretary-General so wisely said, and I should like in this connection to make three points. My first point is that the reform programme put forward by the Secretary-General deserves our full support. If adopted, it will leave this Organization in much better shape. For the sake of our common future this is needed. Let us decide and let us follow up. My second point is this: we need the United Nations, and the United Nations needs us. We must ensure the necessary funding for the world Organization and its development agencies. We must do this to make the