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January 7, 2005
ICC Celebrates Stibravy’s 25 Years at the UN
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It’s official: William J. Stibravy has been named the business community’s “Energizer Bunny” at the United Nations!
Well, maybe not officially…but if anyone merits the title, it is the tireless and seemingly ageless Mr. Stibravy. In December, the longtime U.S. foreign service officer, who ostensibly “retired” in 1979, celebrated 25 years as the International Chamber of Commerce’s representative to the United Nations.
“ICC national committees around the world join with the international secretariat in Paris in congratulating Bill,” said ICC Secretary General Maria Livanos Cattaui. “We thank him for his dedication, and for the very high professional standards he has maintained throughout that long period.”
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Now: Wiliiam J. Stibravy, at right, escorts two Secretaries General – the UN’s Kofi Annan and ICC’s Maria Livanos Cattaui
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Since Bill, whose office is housed in USCIB’s New York headquarters, joined ICC in December 1979, USCIB members and staff have come to rely on his extensive insider’s knowledge of UN activities and his ability to open doors with UN staff and member governments. (ICC was granted observer status at the UN in 1946.) Whether engaging senior UN and government officials on matters of high policy, or simply making a routine ICC intercession in an obscure (to some) UN sub-commission, he has carried the business community’s banner with aplomb.
Looking back over his time as ICC's man at the UN, Bill says the most gratifying development was undoubtedly UN Secretary General Kofi Annan’s then-stunning statement at the 1997 World Economic Forum that there was "now universal understanding that market forces are essential for sustained development." No UN secretary general before him had held up capitalism as being universally embraced.
The following year, Mr. Annan further buttressed this view by calling the creation of wealth by the private sector and the promotion of human security by the UN "mutually reinforcing goals," an act that led to an historic joint UN-ICC statement: "There is great potential for the goals of the UN – building peace and development – and the goals of business – creating wealth and prosperity – to be mutually supportive." This public recognition of an underlying symbiotic relationship marked the beginning of a new period of cooperation between the UN and the business community.
As one might expect, Bill Stibravy has a store of anecdotes illustrating the lighter side of the U.S. Foreign Service.
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Then: Bill Stibravy with President Lyndon Johnson
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In 1951, Bill had to fly to Santiago, Chile as part of a small U.S. delegation to a UN conference. Since the leg from Miami to Santiago in those days was a full night's trip, the delegation had reserved sleeper berths on the Pan Am Stratocruiser (those were the days!). Just before the plane left the gate, UN Secretary General Trygve Lie came rushing on board and was shown to a seat in the forward part of the cabin next to the head of the U.S. delegation.
After dinner, the berths were prepared, and Bill was looking forward to stretching out after a long day, when the head of the delegation came down the aisle. "Bill" he said "the secretary general tells me that he decided to go down to the conference at the last moment, but could not get a berth. I told him I was sure that, as the youngest member of our delegation, you would be happy to offer yours."
Bill spent the night sitting up, reading a book.
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In 1956, Bill was a member of the U.S. delegation to the UN General Assembly headed by Secretary of State John Foster Dulles. He was asked to brief Secretary Dulles personally on a controversial agenda item – a call by developing countries for the establishment of a special UN fund for economic development, vigorously opposed by the U.S.
Bill duly turned up at the Waldorf-Astoria, where Secretary Dulles was staying, was admitted to his suite, and waived to a chair while the secretary was studying some papers. When Secretary Dulles looked up, he said: "Now, young man, tell me all about this socialist scheme!"
“Time flies by when you're having fun, and we've all certainly had loads of pleasure working with and learning from Bill over the years,” said Peter M. Robinson, USCIB’s senior vice president and chief operating officer, one of the very few staff members who can claim a longer affiliation with the world business organization than Mr. Stibravy.
“Consummate diplomat, expert on the UN, good friend. Hats off to you, Bill!”
ICC website
UN website
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