Format: Real

Duration: 9:38 mins.

Inter Press Service International Achievement Award
United Nations, New York, 29 October 1999

REMARKS BY AMBASSADOR S.R. INSANALLY
Permanent Representative of Guyana to the United Nations
Chairman of the Group of 77
(Edited transcript)

Let me say how delighted I am to be personally here tonight along with so many of you to witness the presentation of the very impressive International Achievement Award by IPS to our old friend and distinguished colleague Juan Somavia, now Director-General of the ILO. Lest I forget, let me immediately say how welcome and thoughtful the gesture is by the IPS to really recognize the efforts of individuals and institutions that labour in the service of the cause of development.

Let me assure you that we in the developing world really value IPS. In my Mission, especially it is required reading even before the New York Times or the UN documents, especially the section on the Grapevine, which provides much useful information about this organization we call the United Nations.

And let me hasten to say that I really think that you could not have had a more worthy recipient this year than Juan Somavia whose entire life it seems has been devoted to the cause of social-economic and social progress. I think many of you would have seen the article appearing recently in the New York Times. I think it was entitled “Making markets work for all”. In praising the election of Somavia, I think the writer made this comment: “Somavia looks much like an Amish farmer but he talks like a pragmatic political and social theorist”. Well, I always thought of you as the “friendly giant”, as Mr. Hogen has said.

But I agree with the assessment that indeed Juan Somavia deserves any and every accolade that we can pay to him. And while I was looking at his CV before coming here, I could not help but think that he has been preparing himself during his entire life for the post of Director-General of ILO. In fact, as the Under-Secretary-General has pointed out, he is in a way unique. His first feat was to serve in 1990 as the Chairman of the Third Committee, a very dynamic work, followed immediately thereafter by his accession to the presidency of the ECOSOC, where I must say that he did a remarkable job to revitalize that organ, to make it a meaningful agency for development in the constellation of UN agencies for development.

Naturally, after that the only way forward was the Social Summit, where I think his name will be in the annals of the UN because I think that was one of the most successful summits with the achievement of the basic ten social goals which he not only succeeded in carving, but he came back to New York right after to once more take over the presidency of ECOSOC and to proceed to try and implement those goals. I think we are happy to tell him that his successful standard bearing has been followed by your successor Ambassador Paulo Fulci of Italy who spares no moment of his life to carry the agenda of ECOSOC forward.

But even prior to coming here to New York, Juan´s life both as a Chilean national, both at home and even in his years of exile, he was always devoted to the cause of social development working either for governments or for the Andean Pact. Being a part of some grassroots movements around the world, so it was not surprising when the vote came for the ILO director-generalship that there was no contest.

Because I think he was fortunate to have not only the support of governments, but more important the constituency of labour. So I think you have come to that office with the benediction of the entire world. I think when I saw your publication that you have issued now, it is clear that we had every right to put our confidence in you because I think that publication demonstrates that you have a clear vision and a strategy for the future of ILO, especially at a time of globalization when we have liberalization of capital but not liberalization of labour. Labour is still confined and therefore when we talk about globalization and a new global human order, labour which is the capital of the masses, also has to find its proper place in the world agenda.

But enough said about your professional accomplishments. I really came here to talk about my friendship with you and your own personal characteristics of great humanity, a man of great humour, and wit. Many of our guests here would not know that the two of us belong to a very elite group in the United Nations. It´s so elite that nobody knows about it. But it is a group called “the old timers”, bringing together those of us who have been here longer at the United Nations. I have been here too long. Of course Juan was much smarter than I. He left for the ILO while I remain condemned here.

But the club is known otherwise as the Club of Sweet 16. This is not any indication of our hankering after our lost youth. But it was Juan´s formula because to select the number of the old timers, to make it select, Juan started from his date of arrival and we got the Group of 16 which is still going on. In fact we have a dinner on tonight which I think is in honour of Juan, and unlike other clubs we meet and this time with Juan, not to talk shop but really to swap anecdotes. And among his many talents is that of joke teller. And he and people like Monsignor and so on do make the old timers a very meaningful association within United Nations that gives special meaning to the work we do here.

So I would like again, I think to paraphrase the poet Robert Frost, I think he said “Those who labor for labor do not die of overwork”. I am not so sure what he meant by that, whether you do no work. But I don´t think that is it. I think Juan is dynamic and he is committed to what he does.

I detected something when I was reading his CV that he has some perks as the new head of ILO. I have reason to think that if you are to believe French propaganda that wine is good for long life, then Juan will be long at the ILO. I understand the Swiss government has given him total control of a vineyard. And if that is true, I think that Juan will be long in labour and very productive.

So, Juan with those few remarks, I really want to say how proud we are that you are this year´s beneficiary of the award that IPS has so kindly made an annual feature in our UN life. I think join many Secretaries-General and other distinguished people. So on my behalf and on behalf of the entire diplomatic community, let me offer you my warmest congratulations, felicitaciones, salud, labor y el tiempo para gozar.