Ladies and Gentlemen:

Today is a special day. We are here to formally open the United Nations University Building as the "UN House" in Japan. And we are very honoured that the Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, has agreed to help us in this.

The UNU is most fortunate to have such a beautiful building for its headquarters and let me start by saying: thank you. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TMG) generously provided the land and the Ministry of Education of Japan covered the costs of constructing the building, which was completed in 1992. These contributions represent a substantial commitment to the United Nations in general and United Nations University in particular.

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Why are we opening this UN House in Japan? For three reasons.

1. First, because we have an increasing number of the main UN Agencies housed here.
2. Second, because we are working together much more closely than ever before. Together we have even made the house look different.
3. Third, because the Secretary-General asked us to. In his reform proposals he stressed the need for bringing the UN together, if possible in every country, in "UN Houses".

I do not have to mention the organizations working together, here, in this UN House in Tokyo. You will soon be able to read their names.

As the Secretary-General already knows from his visit here in November 1999, we are not stopping here and already have concrete plans to reconfigure the first and second floors of this building. We would like to host permanent and special exhibitions showcasing the work and values of the United Nations and to make the UN House more open to the public. Detailed plans have been welcomed and supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Education. We hope soon to get the necessary approval and support to implement these plans.

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On behalf of the UNU and my colleagues from the other agencies in the UN House, I would like to say how very grateful we are for the continuing support which the people, government and businesses in Japan continue to give to the United Nations University, and for their strong commitment to the work of the United Nations as a whole. None of our work would have been possible without their generosity. Together, Japan and the United Nations can help make "a better life in a safer world" a reality for all people.

I would now like to ask the Secretary-General to first pull the curtain in front of the English sign and then in front of the Japanese sign. I would then invite him to say a few words.

United Nations University
Headquarters
53-70, Jingumae 5-chome
Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-8925, Japan
Tel. (03) 3499-2811 Fax (03) 3499-2828
E-mail mbox@hq.unu