UNITED NATIONS NATIONS UNIEl

POSTAL ADDRESS - ADRESSE POSTALE : UNITED NATIONS, N.Y. 10017

CABLE ADDRESS - ADRESSE TELEGRAPHIQUE : UNATIONS NEWYORK

EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL CABINET DU SECRETAIRE GENERAL

1 August 2006

Dear Mr. McGuire,

On behalf of the Secretary-General, I would like to thank you for your letter of 17 July 2006, inviting him to take part in the debate of the 152nd session of the Literary & Historical Society of University College on 11 November 2006, at which the Society has also proposed to present him with an honorary fellowship.

The Secretary-General thanks you for this kind invitation and for the honour the Society would like to bestow upon him. I must inform you, however, that the Secretary-General has decided not to accept any further awards until the end of his term in office and that, owing to the many commitments on his calendar during the session of the General Assembly, he will not be able to attend the debate of the Society in November.

I thank you for your support of the Secretary-General's work.

Yours sincerely,

Alicia Barcena Chef de Cabinet

Mr. Ross McGuire Auditor Literary & Historical Society University College Dublin JUL 2 5 2006

EXECUTIVE OmCE OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL The College Debating Union 152nd Session, Auditor: Ross McGuire The Literary & Historical Society <."•", Box 33, Student Centre, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, . '* Fax: +353-1-716-3101 www.literarvaridhistorical.com

17th July 2006 Dear Mr Annan,

May I invite you to_attend the 152nd Sessipn of the .Literary & Historical Society,of University College Dublin. The society_has decided to_.pffer. you .an Jionorary JFeJlowship, the highest award which the society can bestow on an individual. Recent recipients of the award include Rev. Jesse Jackson, FW DeKlerk, Noam Chomsky, John Hume and Roger Moore. It is awarded to individuals who have excelled in a given field of human endeavour; these criteria may apply to you more closely than to any other public figure of the twentieth century, and we would be delighted and honoured if you would consider attending for the benefit of the students and the society itself. The L&H was founded in 1855 by Cardinal John Henry Newman, and remains to this day at the forefront of student discussion and debate in UCD as the most distinguished and largest student society in the country, with over 20,000 members. In recent years the society has been addressed by such diverse figures as Nobel laureates John Nash and as well as Germaine Greer, John Howard, Gov. Bill Owens, Margaret Arwood, Robin Cook, George Galloway and Mary Robinson amongst others. We have also been addressed by every (Prime Minister) and President in the history of the Irish state. It would be a great pleasure for us if we could add your name to this distinguished list.

On Wednesday Noyember 11* we will host a debate on the escalating conflict in the Middle EastTancf we would be delighted if you were willing to share your thoughts with us on'that "Hate. The Fellowship would be presented to you "as a feature of the evening. Should this date prove unsuitable we would be more than happy to convene a separate meeting of the society in your honour at a date more suitable to you. As one of the most influential world leaders in history we feel that the impact of your visit on the college and the students would be undeniable, and we hope that you can find time to attend what should be a very significant evening for all involved. While you are doubtless inundated with requests of a similar nature, I feel confident that a invitation. Above all, I can promise you a most enjoyable and memorable visit to the college.

Many thanks in advance for your kind consideration of our invitation. I have enclosed a brief history of the society and should you have any questions whatsoever please do not hesitate to contact me personally. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Yours sincerely,

Ross McGuire, Auditor, 152nd Session, Literary & Historical Society, University College Dublin Tel -083 33 16640 Email - . Dl. Hugh Brady Vice Presidents: Professor Patrick N. Meenan Dr. Conor Cruise O'Brien SC RN Cooke SC Dr. Garret FitzGerald -ofessor Anthony W. Clare Desmond J. Green Richie Ryan The Literary & Historical Society: A General Introduction

Founded by Cardinal John Henry Newman in 1855, the Literary & Historical Society is older than University College Dublin itself. Indeed it is the College's oldest, most prestigious and most active society and most of the other societies that exist in UCD today can trace their roots back to the L&H, including the Students' Union and many of the prominent faculty societies.

As the college's debating union, The L&H has traditionally gathered for weekly debates on topics of general interest. From the controversy of debating Home Rule for Ireland in the Society's early years to the college's ban on the debating of the Communist Manifesto in 1949 the Society has never failed to be to the vanguard in addressing the most relevant issues of the day. Throughout it's long history the L&H has been addressed by every President and Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) since the foundation of the State as well as by such figures as Patrick Pearse, W.B. Yeats, Flann O'Brien and . Both Joyce and O'Brien ran unsuccessfully for the position of Auditor of the Society during their student days at U CD. Joyce losing out 10 , later the first Chief Justice of the In3li State.

More recently the Society has been addressed by Australian Prime Minister John Howard, Rev Jesse Jackson, Governors Frank Keating of Oklahoma and Bill Owens of Colorado, Nobel Prize winners F.W. DeKlerk, Dr John Hume, Seamus Heaney and John Nash, Oscar winners Neil Jordan and Brenda Pricker, Bob Geldof, Sir Roger Moore, Robin Cook MP and Former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson to name but a few.

The Society boasts just over 20,000 ordinary members. Our debates and guest lectures regularly attract capacity crowds of 600 students. Many L&H members who have braved such crowds have gone on to prominence in Irish life. Six of our eleven Taoiseach since independence have been active L&H members while at UCD. Other modern examples include Mr Justice Adrian Hardiman, (the youngest judge to be called to the Supreme Court Bench,) SC, (perhaps the finest practicing lawyer our State has produced) and Gerry Stembridge, (comedian and screenplay writer,) all of whom are former Auditors. Writer Maeve Binchy, Former Taoiseach and now Chancellor of the University Dr Garret FitzGerald and EU Commissioner were all prominent L&H members during their time in UCD.

(The Literary & Historical Society is a non-profit making organisation)

Referees (The following is a list of distinguished referees who will be happy to attest to our status)

Dr Garret FitzGerald Dr Maurice Manning Former Taoiseach President of the Irish Commission on Human Rights Chancellor of the National University of Ireland Former Leader of the Irish Senate Vice-President of the L&H Former Senior Treasurer of the L&H Phone:+3 5 3 1 4962600 Phone:+353 1 7167777

Mr Brian Ward Professor John Kelly Protocol Division, Department of Foreign Affairs Former Registrar of UCD Phone: +353 1 478 0822 Former Senior Treasurer of the L&H Fax:+353 1 478 1484 Phone:+353 1 716 1826

Mr Peter Doyle Mr Briefne O'Reilly Director of the European Commission Embassy of Ireland Representation in Ireland 2234 Massachusetts Avenue Phone: +353 1 634 1111 Washington, DC 20001 Phone: 202 462-3939 Dr. Hugh Brady President of University College Dublin President of the L&H Phone:+353 17167777