Datasets:

liyongsea

/

un_linebreak_small

like 0

unlike in the past, its value now extended far beyond the developed world. And third, that people really

the developed world. And third, that people really wanted to know what was happening at the United

wanted to know what was happening at the United Nations, and would tune in if the Organization could

Nations, and would tune in if the Organization could find ways to allow them to do so. The figures also

find ways to allow them to do so. The figures also indicated the Department’s pre-Summit

indicated the Department’s pre-Summit communications strategy had been effective.

communications strategy had been effective. 24. After the conclusion of the Summit, the United

24. After the conclusion of the Summit, the United Nations information centres, which had been so well

Nations information centres, which had been so well briefed and so engaged in the pre-Summit process, had

briefed and so engaged in the pre-Summit process, had been able quickly to transmit a summary of the

been able quickly to transmit a summary of the Outcome, often in local languages, and explain to the

Outcome, often in local languages, and explain to the local media the finer points of the agreements that had

local media the finer points of the agreements that had been reached.

been reached. 25. The level of interest in the Summit, along with

25. The level of interest in the Summit, along with other indicators, suggested that public support for the

other indicators, suggested that public support for the United Nations was slowly improving from the slump

United Nations was slowly improving from the slump that had followed the disagreement in the Security

that had followed the disagreement in the Security Council over Iraq. The surveys conducted in the

Council over Iraq. The surveys conducted in the aftermath of that dispute had shown confidence in the

aftermath of that dispute had shown confidence in the Organization to be at an all-time low, even in countries

Organization to be at an all-time low, even in countries where support for the United Nations had traditionally

where support for the United Nations had traditionally been very high. A new poll conducted by the German

been very high. A new poll conducted by the German Marshall Fund in June 2005 among adults in the United

Marshall Fund in June 2005 among adults in the United States and Europe indicated that strong majorities in

States and Europe indicated that strong majorities in both places held a “very favourable” or “mostly

both places held a “very favourable” or “mostly favourable” opinion of the United Nations. Three

favourable” opinion of the United Nations. Three quarters of Europeans and a majority of Americans

quarters of Europeans and a majority of Americans considered the United Nations better able to manage

considered the United Nations better able to manage many of the world’s most pressing problems than any

many of the world’s most pressing problems than any single country.

single country. 26. The results of that survey were particularly

26. The results of that survey were particularly striking when it was considered that, in some parts of

striking when it was considered that, in some parts of the world, the media continued to pay little attention to

the world, the media continued to pay little attention to global and humanitarian issues. As part of its efforts to

global and humanitarian issues. As part of its efforts to counter that trend, in 2004 the Department had

counter that trend, in 2004 the Department had launched a new initiative called “Ten Stories the World

launched a new initiative called “Ten Stories the World Should Hear More About”, which was specifically

Should Hear More About”, which was specifically designed to bring into focus important stories that had

designed to bring into focus important stories that had somehow escaped the attention of news organizations.

somehow escaped the attention of news organizations. That initiative, now in its second year, had helped to

That initiative, now in its second year, had helped to draw the attention of journalists to stories like the

draw the attention of journalists to stories like the crisis in Northern Uganda, or the continuing violence

crisis in Northern Uganda, or the continuing violence worldwide against women. The Department had also

worldwide against women. The Department had also made those neglected stories priorities for its own

made those neglected stories priorities for its own video and radio programming, and it was now

video and radio programming, and it was now providing footage on them, from the field, to television

providing footage on them, from the field, to television and radio broadcasters around the world, further

and radio broadcasters around the world, further raising the profile of the issues.

raising the profile of the issues. 27. In a speech in May 2005, the Secretary-General

27. In a speech in May 2005, the Secretary-General had called the United Nations a work in progress. If a

had called the United Nations a work in progress. If a healthy and strong Organization was to be passed on to

healthy and strong Organization was to be passed on to future generations, he had said, it was important to

future generations, he had said, it was important to ensure that the United Nations moved with the times.

ensure that the United Nations moved with the times. With the decisions of the 2005 World Summit, a new

With the decisions of the 2005 World Summit, a new phase of United Nations renewal was now under way,

phase of United Nations renewal was now under way, and with help and support from Member States, the

and with help and support from Member States, the Department of Public Information — the public voice

Department of Public Information — the public voice of the United Nations — would continue to evolve and

of the United Nations — would continue to evolve and to play an important part in that process.

to play an important part in that process. 28. The Chairman said that the Committee would

28. The Chairman said that the Committee would now hold an interactive dialogue on the agenda item

now hold an interactive dialogue on the agenda item and then proceed to the general debate. He invited

and then proceed to the general debate. He invited members to put questions to the Under-Secretary-General.

members to put questions to the Under-Secretary-General. 29. Mr. Suárez Salvia (Argentina) said that the

29. Mr. Suárez Salvia (Argentina) said that the organizing facilities for the press at the Summit must

organizing facilities for the press at the Summit must have been a major challenge for the Department, and

have been a major challenge for the Department, and he congratulated the Under-Secretary-General on the

he congratulated the Under-Secretary-General on the results. On the basis of that experience, he asked

results. On the basis of that experience, he asked whether DPI might consider the possibility of greater

whether DPI might consider the possibility of greater involvement of the Press Attachés of the Permanent

involvement of the Press Attachés of the Permanent Missions during the run-up to the sixty-first session of

Missions during the run-up to the sixty-first session of the General Assembly.

the General Assembly. 30. While the organization of the Summit had

30. While the organization of the Summit had undeniably been generally good, there had been room

undeniably been generally good, there had been room for improvement in the handling of the press

for improvement in the handling of the press accompanying each world leader during the few hours

accompanying each world leader during the few hours that they had been present in the United Nations

that they had been present in the United Nations building. Greater flexibility was needed in providing

building. Greater flexibility was needed in providing access for the official accredited press and media. One

access for the official accredited press and media. One possibility might be to issue them with a special pass

possibility might be to issue them with a special pass for the General Assembly Hall.

for the General Assembly Hall. 31. Mr. Tharoor (Under-Secretary-General for

31. Mr. Tharoor (Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information) said that he

Communications and Public Information) said that he was intrigued by the idea of associating the Press

was intrigued by the idea of associating the Press Attachés of the Permanent Missions with the

Attachés of the Permanent Missions with the Department’s work before the following year’s session.

Department’s work before the following year’s session. The modalities of exactly how that might work would

The modalities of exactly how that might work would have to be explored. One essential first step would be

have to be explored. One essential first step would be to make an inventory of how many Missions would be

to make an inventory of how many Missions would be in a position to have a dedicated Press Attaché who

in a position to have a dedicated Press Attaché who could work with the Department in the lead-up to the

could work with the Department in the lead-up to the General Assembly session. With regard to the idea of

General Assembly session. With regard to the idea of special passes, he said that, too, would need to be

special passes, he said that, too, would need to be looked into, in particular as the idea entailed some

looked into, in particular as the idea entailed some security considerations. He would have the News and

security considerations. He would have the News and Media Division examine the two ideas further.

Media Division examine the two ideas further. 32. Ms. Yan Jiarong (China) expressed satisfaction

32. Ms. Yan Jiarong (China) expressed satisfaction with all of the arrangements made, and the information

with all of the arrangements made, and the information given, by DPI prior to and during the World Summit.

given, by DPI prior to and during the World Summit. She supported the suggestion of the representative of