The United Nations (UN) is the only universal, comprehensive international organization. Through the activities of its various organs such as the General Assembly and the Security Council, the UN is aiming to maintain peace and security, to develop friendly relations among nations and to achieve international cooperation with regard to economic, social, cultural and humanitarian issues as well as human rights. Today's international community faces many challenges which individual countries and regions find difficult to deal with by themselves, such as structural changes resulting from rapid globalization, terrorism, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, poverty, and infectious diseases. This has led to the UN assuming an increasingly important role. Japan regards international cooperation as one of the main pillars of its diplomatic policy and therefore has been conducting active diplomacy through the UN as well as making contributions to this organization both in terms of its finance and personnel.

   The year 2006 marked the 50 th anniversary of Japan's admission to the UN. In May, Secretary-General Kofi Annan visited Japan to exchange views with political leaders and senior officials. He also delivered a speech at the University of Tokyo. In December, a formal commemorative ceremony was held to celebrate the 50 th anniversary of Japan's admission to the UN, along with many other ceremonial events on this occasion. (See the column entitled, “The Fiftieth Anniversary of Japan's Admission to the United Nations.”)

   Japan served as a non-permanent member of the Security Council for two years from January 2005. This was the ninth time that Japan was elected to this post, which is a record shared only by Brazil. During its tenure, Japan made significant contributions to deliberations in the Council on the maintenance of international peace and security, including North Korea, Afghanistan, Timor-Leste, Iran's nuclear program and Lebanon. In particular, Japan firmly led the discussions in the Security Council towards the adoption of its two resolutions in response to the launch of ballistic missiles by North Korea in July 2006 and its announcement of a nuclear test in October that year. Furthermore, during its Presidency of the Security Council in October 2006, Japan, together with the other Security Council members, recommended to the General Assembly that Mr. Ban Ki-Moon, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Republic of Korea, be appointed as the next Secretary-General. He was eventually elected as the first UN Secretary-General from Asia in 35 years. These various contributions amply demonstrate that Japan is a country that deserves to play a larger role in the Security Council for the maintenance of international peace and security.