7th Global Forum on Reinventing Government

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portrait Trust between citizens, between member states, and in government itself is one of the most vital needs for peace and the prosperity of humankind. Our ability to work together to confront common threats and promote mutually beneficial objectives – such as the Millennium Development Goals – requires that we nurture this invaluable commodity.

Thus it is appropriate that the theme of this 7th Global Forum on Reinventing Government is “Building Trust in Government”. I know from my own experience in government that there is no easy path to this goal. Trust has to be earned over time, through consistent and cumulative efforts.

The Global Forum provides an ideal venue to consider measures to increase confidence in government actions. Transparent, accountable and effective governance is one of the surest ways to do so. Enhancing popular participation in the policymaking process is another. The discussions in Vienna are well placed to generate other innovative avenues to connect governments with the governed.

The United Nations has actively supported the Global Forum since 2002. This year, we are also proud to host it. I hope that all Member States will seek to make this their event by sharing perspectives, experiences and strategies. By working together, we can reinvent government in ways that matter to ordinary people everywhere, and thereby secure their trust.

portrait Keeping in mind Pericles and the Athenian Pollis, the idea of democracy is more than 2,500 years old. The age of democracy as a form of government, only started in the 19th and 20th centuries, though. A prerequisite for democracy is the modern idea of mankind, as developed by the Enlightenment and enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of the United Nations: an idea of mankind that is based on the principle of equality of all human beings. Only on this basis can the principle of democracy evolve successfully and persist durably.

Democracy must not remain an abstract principle. It needs to be filled with life, desired and protected. Democracy needs to be able to grow and unfold. This notion has to be deep-seated in everybody's awareness. Humankind needs to have trust in democracy, and everybody has to accept it the same way, whether belonging to the majority or the minority. This trust has to be gained by the institutions of democracy: the government, the parliament, the courts, the administration, etc.

To me, “Building trust in government” means strengthening trust in democratic institutions. This is always hard work. It includes strengthening the economic and social base of society. It includes efforts for peaceful development, efforts for openness and transparency, and thus also the preparedness to analyse undesirable developments openly and to remain pre-disposed toward adjustments.

The Global Forum on “Building Trust in Government” convened in Vienna by the United Nations is an excellent opportunity to discuss ways to strengthen trust in the institutions of democracy. This global exchange of ideas will contribute to reinforcing democracy and to making the 21st century a century of democracy and of rule of law. I wish the discussions on the topic “Building Trust in Government” the best possible success and remain convinced that Vienna and Austria will be good hosts for this important UN-Forum.

portrait Improvements in governance and public administration have become increasingly recognized by the international community as central pillars to the successful implementation of the UN development agenda, including the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Governments must have the capacity to effectively implement the policies they choose, whether the policies aim to promote development, provide security for their citizens or meet other domestic objectives. This capacity depends on the quality of public administration and governance and on the ability of governments to garner support.

The Global Forum on Reinventing Government aims to strengthen this capacity and to directly contribute to the MDGs. Over the past few years, the speed with which changes in one part of the world affect another has rapidly increased. Globalization, market liberalisation, information and communication technologies and democratization have impacted expectations, the role of the state and interactions between governments, the private sector and civil society. No longer can our communities act in isolation from the outside world, everyone is affected by the acts of others, even if indirectly.

One of the positive but challenging effects of these changes has been to increase the diversity of societies, their voices, ideas, values and opinions. A less homogenous society brings challenges for government, which must determine how to truly represent its constituents, incorporate their voices in policy planning, decision-making and implementation, manage the input contributed by citizens and find new means to build consensus among the people they govern, while reflecting the diversity of local populations.

In 2007, the United Nations will host the 7th Global Forum as a system wide activity, with support from governments and members of the Institutional Partners Group (IPG). Led by the Department of Economic and Social Affairs, UN agencies and programmes will collaborate with civil society organizations, top universities and think tanks as part of the IPG to pool their accumulated experience, expertise and knowledge for the benefit of senior offiials and international participants on different methods of building trust and strengthening the credibility of public policies and institutions.

portrait Austria values the opportunity to jointly with the United Nations host the 7th Global Forum on Reinventing Government at the UN headquarters in Vienna in June 2007.

This year's theme of the Global Forum, "Building Trust in Government" is very timely. Confidence of citizens in their governments is a basic requirement to ensure security and stability, to create economic opportunities and to provide essential services. In short it is a prerequisite for good governance. Building and preserving this trust requires sustained commitment and persistent efforts.

The Global Forum offers a good opportunity to examine the issue from different angles, be it accountability, transparency and access to information or be it participation and inclusion of all sectors and society in the political process. Observing the rule of law, respecting human rights, safeguarding social equality and enabling women's empowerment are in Austria's view also indispensable dimensions of good governance.

With this high ranking meeting, we aim to strengthen cooperation of governments, private sector and civil society, to exchange best practices, to foster innovation, and to improve the quality of governance at national, regional and local levels.

Austria is proud to host one of the headquarters of the United Nations in Vienna, being the only in the European Union. We commend the Vienna based international organizations on their important contributions to make the world a safer and better place to live in. The new conference facility, which is being added to the Vienna International Centre, is another tangible expression of our continued support for their important work.

I warmly welcome all participants to this Global Forum and wish them a successful and pleasant stay in Vienna.