Addis Ababa — In order to be adequately equipped to meet the regional and global challenges of the 21st century, the United Nations should be reformed, strengthened and refocused, participants at the African Regional Hearing on the Millennium Assembly have concluded.

Challenges cited included globalisation and its negative effects, and a review of the norms of global governance -- including of the UN itself.

The call for a revitalised world body brought to a close two days of intensive discussions, brokered by the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the Office of the Co-ordinator of the Millennium Assembly at UN headquarters in New York.

The two-day Hearing was convened as an open forum to share views and elaborate proposals on the United Nations that Africans want to see in the next Millennium. It was the second in a series of five regional hearings being organised as part of the consultative process leading to a Millennium Summit of Heads of State and Government, to take place in New York in September 2000.

In the concluding segment of the Hearing, the need for a more democratic Organisation was reiterated by the participants, who included African member States, academia, the private sector, the media, and non-governmental organisations.

Key recommendations that emerged in the final session included:

· The need to reform the UN Security Council to reflect as wide a geographical distribution as possible; · The need for the UN to address the problem of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction; · The need to develop a system for financing global programmes through corporate taxation which would empower the UN and at the same time ensure its impartiality; · The need for human rights issues, political as well as economic and social, to constitute the global agenda in the next millennium; · The need to strengthen the ECA, Organisation of African Unity (OAU) and African Development Bank (ADB) so as to enhance their ability to represent African interests in international forums; and · The need for the UN to rise to the challenge of governance and to support a culture of tolerance and diversity.

Earlier panels (see separate summaries) had focused on: Co-operation for Economic and Social Development in Africa; Approaching Humanitarian and Human Rights issues within a Global Context; and Addressing the Challenges of Development, Peace and Security in Africa.

In his closing remarks, UN Assistant Secretary General Mr. Miles Stoby, who is Co-ordinator of the Millennium Assembly process, stressed that Africa has enjoyed a long relationship with the UN, which had for the most part been very positive. The UN had helped decolonise Africa, end apartheid and bring about peaceful transitions such as in Namibia and the Western Sahara.

Echoing a constant theme throughout the Hearing, Mr. Stoby said: "A marginalised UN means a marginalised Africa". Conversely, a marginalised Africa could only contribute to the ultimate marginalisation of the UN. It was therefore in the interest of both Africa and the UN to see the world body strengthened.

In reflecting on the debate, Mr. Stoby said that while there had been a tremendous appreciation of the technical aspect of the UN's work in Africa, the areas of concern had clearly been in peace and security, as well as in the Organisation's ability to address issues of global concern.

The Assistant Secretary-General stressed that, contrary to a view expressed from the floor that the UN reforms had been undertaken to "placate the West", the process had been designed to bring about a trimmer, fitter and more effective Organisation that could better serve the needs of its member States, particularly the smaller states. Mr. Stoby served as Deputy Co-ordinator of the Secretary-General's reform team.

On the UN's perceived role in the Rwanda genocide, Mr. Stoby said the Secretary General, Mr. Kofi Annan, was very much aware of the concerns raised, and had recently established a Panel to look into the matter, chaired by former Swedish Prime Minister Ingvar Karlsson.

In terms of follow up, Mr. Stoby urged governmental participants to take some of the issues raised in Addis Ababa to the forthcoming Summit of Heads of State and Government of the OAU, to take place early next month in Algiers. He also encouraged civil society participants to sustain their interest in the Millennium Assembly process and to look towards the NGO-organised Millennium Forum scheduled to take place in New York in May 2000.

Concluding the proceedings, UN Under-Secretary-General and ECA Executive Secretary Mr. K.Y. Amoako thanked participants and noted that the high level of attendance was a validation of the importance that member States and other constituencies placed on the Commission's convening power and its role as a forum for sharing ideas. Some 130 participants officially registered for the Hearing. An estimated 350 attended the opening ceremony Thursday, including members of the sizeable Addis Ababa diplomatic corps.

On the role of the major regional institutions in addressing Africa's challenges, Mr. Amoako stressed: "The times may be different and the styles may be different, but rest assured that we are taking on the challenge, day and night."

Unattributed views from the hearings will contribute towards a report to be prepared by UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, outlining a vision for the United Nations in the next millennium. These proposals will be presented to the Millennium Summit, which is expected to feature the largest number of world leaders ever assembled at a global conference.

For further information please contact Peter da Costa, Cabinet Office of the Executive Secretary, UN ECA, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Tel: +251-1-51-58-26 (direct) or 251-1-51-72-00 (main switchboard), Ext. 354866 Fax: +251-1-51-22-33 E-Mail: ecainfo@un.org