30 September 2004 Dear Friends, I am delighted to convey my best wishes to the many friends and supporters of the United Nations who have gathered tonight. It is a special honour to join in paying tribute to this year's honorees ~ Oprah Winfrey, Joan Ganz Cooney and Peter G. Peterson -- all of whom have, in their own way, contributed so much to the lives of human beings around the world. Oprah Winfrey's talent and empathy have not only brought joy and solace to millions of viewers and readers. Her generosity and constructive commitment to education, women's empowerment and health — including the global fight against HIV/AIDS - have given many people the chance of a better future. Joan Ganz Cooney has literally transformed the way educational media can be used to translate the open-mindedness and optimism of children into a vision of global peace. After all, no one can reach children with a message of tolerance and understanding more effectively than our incomparable friends on Sesame Street. And few can match the wisdom and vision that Peter G. Peterson has brought to bear on a lifetime's work in politics and policy, public service, business and writing. From fiscal policy to the future of philanthropy to the ageing of our planet's population, Pete has advanced and enriched our understanding immeasurably. Oprah, Joan and Pete, please accept my warmest congratulations on the awards you are receiving tonight. They are richly deserved. And, as ever, special thanks to UNA-USA and all its members for supporting so steadfastly the work and ideals of the United Nations. I wish you all a wonderful evening. r' 6 '••''-' \ Kofi A. Annan 07/19/2004 17:38 FAX UNA-USA BCUH 1002/003 GLOBAL UNITED NATIONS ASSOCIATION LEADERSHIP f: of the United States of Am eric a -^'0 AWARD • AND THK BUSINESS COUNCIL KDK Till: LlNiTi-L) —NATION S 'UNITEir D DINNER July 19, 2004 Hmmrttry < IVsxkm (JiTaUl II. Ho Mr. Edward Mortimer PivMilcTii [iimny C!nrlc-r Communications and IVskltm (jforKt H.W. Bush Head of Speechwriting I'rcsick'iu William J. Clinton Office of the Secretary-General Room S-3850A Clnbal Leadership Award Ilananes IIKUI flaiv/ CfHiJii-y ;mii TVu-r G. United Nations New York, N.Y, 10017 Global Humanitarian Action Honoree Oprah Winfrey Dear Mr. Mortimer Honoivef Gi/esf I am writing to request a letter from the Secretary-General for the program For our 46lh annual Global U.N. Sei'jiciiiry-Crt'iieial Koll A. Aim:itl Leadership Award dinner to be held on September 30th at the Waldorf= Astoria Hotel. Chair* Vjfjoi' I-J Cjiliwi, '//« Hfttnl (Jarftmttion The United Nations Association of the United States of America (UNA-USA) and the Business KobiTC A. IijL-t '!'/.':• VSfthDixny Company Council for the UN (BCUN) will have as the theme for our 2004 dinner "Initiatives in Education." We H.R.H. rriiiL-ws Firyd of Jordin will honor Joan Ganz Cooney and Peter G- Peterson, a couple of remarkable achievement, with Kcnncrh D. Lewi.!, Bank of America tfie Global Leadership Award. We salute Joan for her leadership in creating innovative television P.ivid Rockefeller programming - including Sesame Street -that has helped guide and educate generations of young Jiilm C. Will! flu-ail people worldwide. We honor Pete for the vital role he played as the long-term chairman of the Council on Foreign Relations, helping educate council members and other;; on major foreign policy f)lJlrtrr f .ianfn.il Iff Robin C'handler Duke issues. As well we recognize Pete's visionary leadership in the business c immunity - as founder Maurice R. Crccnbcrg and chairman of The Blackstone Group and, formerly, as chairman of the F ederal Reserve Bank of Ken Miller New York. Carroll Pcnric Thomas R. Pkkmnj We will present the Global Humanitarian Action Award to Oprah Winfrey, We are proud to salute C'ouiTiicy Rn^ I lol.ir Oprah for her leadership in building schools and training teachers in southern Africa and funding the NX/llliSlYl J. education of young women who have been orphaned by HIV/AIDS. UNA-USA Rajar Kumar Gupri Attached is a copy of the program letter from last year. For printing purposss we will need the letter Josh S. Wcscon by 15 September, UNA-USA President I would also like to mention that as always one of the highlights of the evening is the Secretary- Willhllll H. 1.IH-1.S General's remarks. These, as you might recall are usually at the close of the before dinner portion of the program, and generally run 3-5 minutes or however long it is decided a: your end you wish them UNA-USA VtetCJiai Kmh (j. HincrR-kl to be. Ai-iluir- Kmi John C Whicehmd Thank you for your kind assistance. UNA-USA Sincej t)ifei:tor o n H, BCUN £xecHtive Director P. Underwood Kathleen B- Hearst Executive Director of Development KOI Second Avenue Nrw York. NY 1001 7--i7<«; Ti:l.: 2\ )..'.)()'/ 13% Kix; 2 1 2-972-3385 07/19/2004 17:38 FAX UNA-USA BCUN 11003/003 THE **eBETARY-««l«BA.L 26 September 2003 Dear Friends, It gives me great pleasure to send my greetings to everyone who has gathered for this annual dinner. 1 am especially delighted to join in paying tribute to the evening's distinguished honourees. Both are good Mends of the United Nations, and arc playing leading roles in global efforts to stem and reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS. Henry McKinnell has understood the need for corporations such as Pfizer to commit themselves to good corporate citizenship and the Global Compact, and to work closely and creatively with governments, civil society and the United Nations family, for example by adopting AIDS policies in the workplace. Dr. Alex Godwin Coutinbo's AIDS Support Organization has displayed remarkable dynamism and helped Uganda become a model of effective action on AIDS, giving hope to countries just noiv coming to grips with the crisis. Their contributions are especially timely, since die latest report card on AIDS offers a (mixed picture: while there have been important gains in commitment and funding, (here is still too little meaningful action to meet the goals set out in the "Declaratiott of Commitment" adopted two years ago by the United Nations General Assembly. We will continue looking to them both to help keep AIDS a( the top of the political and practical agenda, nationally and globally. My late friend and colleague Sergio Vieira de Mello richly deserves the posthumous recognition you are bestowing on him. People throughout the world — from Cambodia to the Congo, from Mozambique to East Timor, and of course, today in Iraq — will remember him as one of the world's great humanitarian heroes, a tireless servant of peace -who was there to help them in their hour of greatest need, to relieve human suffering and to champion human rights. I (e and those with him in Baghdad were taken from us, and fiom the people they were working to assist, by a savage and senseless act. We at the United Nations will never forget bis brtlUance, his energy, his devotion to his staff and his loyalty to (lie ideals of the Charter. These arc difficult limes for the United Nations and our quest for collective answers to ccmtnon problems and challenges. As we move ahead in our global mission of peace and development, the Organization will continue to dt*w strength from the support of ihc United Nations Association of the United States of America and the Business Council for the United Nations. Thank you for cverytliing you do to help the United Nations achieve its goals, In that spirit of partnership, please accept my best wishes for a memorable evening, Youre sincerely,.