Canada’s 20th Prime Minister’s premiership was winding down as he took to the podium at the UN in New York City to address the General Assembly. It was a forum he knew well after his decades in politics, and in particular, ever since 1993 when he and his Liberals took office. Chrétien told the representatives of the world’s nations to continue to support the UN. “Multilateral cooperation remains indispensable,” he said with passion. “The UN remains at the heart of the multilateral system. New challenges demand new structures. And a historic opportunity has emerged. Let us seize it. And let us realize the powerful idea that created the UN. The idea that nations can unite to save their people from the scourge of war. Let future generations say of us that we did not fail that idea. That we realized the potential of this great body. Supported it. Renewed it. Re-energized it. To serve humanity better.”