Secretary General at Official Inauguration of UN City Copenhagen.

The United Nations and Denmark share a long history, dating back to the years following World War II. Denmark was one of the first members of the UN, and has, among other things, contributed to the Trusteeship Council chamber in New York. The chamber was decorated by Finn Juhl.

The first UN agency to work in Denmark was the World Health Organization (WHO), who set up a host country agreement with Denmark in 1956. Since then, 8 other agencies have set up offices in Denmark.

Denmark is also one of a handful of countries to meet the United Nations target of devoting at least 0.7 per cent of gross national income to official development assistance, a fact that was highlighted by Ban Ki-moon when he took part in the official opening of UN City:

“Indeed Denmark has met and often exceeded that target for an incredible 35 years!

That is since 1978 — the year when Anker Jorgensen led a grand coalition as Prime Minister, and when Jimmy Carter brokered Middle East Peace with the Camp David Accords. Just to give you some perspective, 1978 was also the year when the world music charts were topped by the Bee Gees with “Stayin’ Alive”, ABBA with “Take a Chance on Me”, and John Travolta and Olivia Newton John with “You’re the One that I Want.”

Now, after 35 years of Danish leadership helping children around the world not only “stay alive” but also thrive, I am proud to say that Denmark has always been a partner worth “taking a chance on”, and you are, most certainly, “the one that we want”!