Saint Paul -- Governor Tim Pawlenty today announced the appointment of former U.S. Senator David Durenberger as honorary chair of United Nations Day, which is October 24, 2003.

Durenberger served as the Senior United States Senator for Minnesota from 1978 to 1995, including service as Chairman of the Select Committee on Intelligence. Senator Durenberger currently serves as Chairman of the National Institute of Health Policy (NIHP), a program at the University of St. Thomas. Earlier this year, Governor Pawlenty also appointed Senator Durenberger to lead the Minnesota Citizen's Forum on Health Care Costs.

United Nations Day marks the anniversary of the date when the United Nations Charter went into effect. Public officials, educators, students and civic groups across the country use the occasion to hold activities to build public awareness and support for international cooperation through an even more effective United Nations. The theme of this year's United Nations Day is "Global Communities: Building a Bridge to Literacy." United Nations Day celebrations are sponsored throughout the country by the United Nations Association of the United States of America (UNA-USA).