"The idea of a house of all nations, held together by a common bond and structure, helps us to visualize the very concept upon which the United Nations was built."
"we rededicate ourselves to the noble goals set by our founders and embraced and advanced by the people of Japan"
-- Secretary-General Kofi Annan, on opening the UNU Building as the "UN House" in Tokyo [Full Transcript]

"Together, Japan and the United Nations can help make 'a better life in a safer world' a reality for all people."
-- Hans van Ginkel, UNU Rector, on opening the UNU Building as the "UN House" in Tokyo [Transcript]

Kofi Annan in front of the new "UN House"

"The United Nations is the indispensable common house of the entire human family, through which we seek to realize our universal aspirations for peace, cooperation and development."
-- [United Nations Millennium Declaration] (Endorsed by the Heads of State and Government at the Millennium Summit)

"And I think as you walk around this exhibition, we tell the story of people who are less fortunate than we are. We should individually and collectively think of what we can do to help make their lives better"
-- Secretary-General Kofi Annan, on opening the exhibition [Full Transcript]

"We will try to developpractical recommendations to improve international responses to humanitarian crises and raise public awareness."
-- Hans van Ginkel, UNU Rector, on opening the exhibition [Full Transcript]

UNU staff chat with the Secretary-General