Mr. Speaker, with the passage of each year we come back to United Nations Day. The charter of the UN was adopted 56 years ago today, and begins as follows:
We the peoples of the United Nations,
determined to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war--
--to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights...in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small--
--to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom,
have resolved to combine our efforts to accomplish these aims.
We have to admit that the world today is far from achieving these objectives, especially since September 11, as the UN is all too often too weak and its role is diminished.
May today's events give parliamentarians of all countries the courage and determination to once again include the UN in decisions.