Time requires of all of us to act in unity with resolve and to assume the responsibility for the future of the United Nations. - Leonid Kuchma

The history of mankind testifies that peace and development, democratization and the humanization of the world community are integral components of the general global process.

In the past two years, the world has seen how true that is and has come to see this approach as the right one. Let us remember the old truism that prevention is better than cure. This is how we can finally triumph over the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

Peace and stability are impossible without development, as they cannot exist in societies whose nature provides for violence and disrespect for fundamental human rights. It therefore follows that democracy which is declared but not supported by development is doomed to failure. The inability to ensure the development of a society in all its dimensions inevitably provokes disillusionment in the ideals of democracy and ruins social stability.