UN General Assembly
2008

Allow me to begin by warmly congratulating His Excellency Mr. Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann upon his election to the presidency of the General Assembly at its sixty- 17 08-52265 third session. His election honours his long-lasting personal commitment to the preservation of peace and security and, particularly, his constant efforts to encourage reconciliation in Central America. I also wish to thank Mr. Srgjan Kerim for his excellent service as President of the General Assembly at its previous session. I would also like to thank the Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, for his generous and ongoing efforts to help reform our Organization, in particular those aiming to improve its working methods and its interaction with its Member States. Twenty years ago, the fall of the Berlin Wall marked the end of a cold war era that had been characterized by ideological divisions, arms races and a weak multilateral system with inefficient mechanisms. With the end of that era came great hope and aspirations from the world’s peoples, leading some to believe in the beginning of a new world order — a