in the Horn of Africa, ecological disasters such as Fukushima, political developments like the Arab Spring and terrorist attacks such as the assault on the United Nations building in Abuja last August require concerted action by the United Nations and its Member States. Ten years after 9/11, joint action in the fight against terrorism continues to remain central on the multilateral agenda. In the past nine months, we have witnessed momentous changes in the Arab world that nobody expected when we met one year ago. Pressure for change is driven by the wish of women and men to choose their own fate and to improve their chances for a better life. These are legitimate demands. An overwhelming number of young people were at the forefront of this enormous