“And they recognized that, by agreeing to exercise sovereignty together, they could gain a hold over problems that would defeat any one of them acting separately.

“If those lessons were clear in 1945, should they not be much more so today, in the age of globalization?

“On almost no item on our agenda does anyone seriously contend that each nation can fend for itself. Even the most powerful countries know that they need to work with others, in multilateral institutions, to achieve their aims."

The Secretary-General continued: “That applies even more to the prevention of terrorism. Individual States may defend themselves, by striking back at terrorist groups and at the countries that harbour or support them. But only concerted vigilance and cooperation among all States, with constant, systematic exchange of information, offers any real hope of denying the terrorists their opportunities.

“On all these matters, for any one State - large or small - choosing to follow or reject the multilateral path must not be a simple matter of political convenience. It has consequences far beyond the immediate context.

“When countries work together in multilateral institutions –developing, respecting, and when necessary enforcing international law - they also develop mutual trust, and more effective cooperation on other issues.

“The more a country makes use of multilateral institutions –- thereby respecting shared values, and accepting the obligations and restraints inherent in those values –- the more others will trust and respect it, and the stronger its chance to exercise true leadership.

“And among multilateral institutions, this universal organization has a special place.