The World Federation of United Nations Associations welcomes the agreement among member states to avert a financial crisis at the United Nations. "This is not the time to reduce the capacity of the UN to perform its vital functions in New York, Geneva, and around the world. We applaud the efforts of member states to reach a consensus on the organization's budget for the remainder of 2006-7. We hope that all member states will now focus on putting forward their recommendations for reform and work together to forge agreement on the changes that are needed to enable the UN to become a more effective and efficient organization," Ambassador William Luers, President and CEO of UNA-USA said today.

United Nations Associations around the world have been working together through the World Federation to better understand the issues underlying the debate on UN management reform and to facilitate dialogue and greater transparency. "It is increasingly clear to us that there is widespread acceptance within the UN system and among member states that the management of the UN needs to be modernized and made more accountable. There is now a sufficiently strong basis of factual information and analysis to move forward on sound reform proposals," said Ms. Pera Wells, A/g Secretary-General of the World Federation of United Nations Associations.

Given the essential role of the UN in supporting the protection, development, and health  of many millions of people around the world, and in responding to the ever-growing number of 'problems without borders',  there needs to be a continuing commitment to the improvement of the UN's management practices, systems, rules and regulations. A great deal has already been accomplished, and we must build on this momentum to sustain far-reaching changes, to strengthen the UN's capacity to become the world's most culturally diverse, technologically sophisticated, and cost-effective place for people to work together toward the great goals of global peace and security, development, and human rights.