THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

TOAST AT DINNER HOSTED BY PROFESSOR BOEL FLODGREN, VICE- CHANCELLOR OF LUND UNIVERSITY

Lund, 27 May 1999 Madam Vice Chancellor, Members of the Faculty, Ladies and Gentlemen, The last few days have reminded me of why Sweden remains such a successful example among nations.

I have seen a people conscious of their place in the world, who foresee many of the challenges which lay before them, and who are prepared to reaffirm their commitment to those in this world who have not shared in that same kind of success.

This self-assured dedication did not emerge overnight; it is the product of centuries of experience, of making mistakes and learning from them, of an outlook which has nearly always extended beyond your borders.

This does not mean that the Sweden we see today is perfect B it is not, you would know that better than IB but what it does mean is that Sweden has come far enough to be a valuable example to nations struggling to find their way. Of course what works for Sweden may not work for every other nation, but all others would do well to emulate Sweden's commitment to the ideals of the United Nations Charter, human rights and international justice.

As the oldest seat of learning in the Nordic region, the University of Lund has been central to Sweden's development. For one thousand years Lund has been a depository of Nordic history and thought, while bringing in the best ideas from the rest of humanity.

From the time of the Cathedral School Lund has played an indispensable role as an institution where people can learn and grow their understanding of the world.

In that spirit, I would like to propose a toast; to our host, for her excellent stewardship of this institution; to the University of Lund, for its continued academic excellence; and to the United Nations. Tack allesamman, och. Skal.