“Marko Hatlak & FUNtango” concert hosted by the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Slovenia

Excellencies,
Dear colleagues,
Ladies and gentlemen,

The Director-General very much regrets that he cannot be here today and sends his best regards. He has asked me to deliver the following remarks on his behalf:

“It is a great pleasure to welcome you all to this evening’s concert to mark the end of Ambassador Šuc’s presidency of the Human Rights Council.

As the Universal Declaration of Human Rights reaches its 70th anniversary, this year has been an opportunity for the Council to build on its work and legacy, strengthening the promotion and protection of human rights around the globe and addressing situations of human rights violations.

Presiding over the Council is an important task, which Ambassador Šuc has carried out with determination and leadership since the beginning of this year.

I have had the privilege of working with Ambassador Šuc for many years now and have always very much valued his diplomatic skill, his steadfast commitment to multilateralism and international cooperation, and his passion for Human Rights.

Thank you, Ambassador Šuc, for your tremendous efforts to lead the Human Rights Council in what was a very challenging - even turbulent - year. You have time and again shown leadership, upheld the cause of human rights and demonstrated the central role of the Human Rights Council as well as the importance of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in our common efforts to contribute to a better world.

Thank you and your team for the excellent cooperation over the past year, Ambassador Šuc. I look forward to continuing to work together for a more efficient and impactful United Nations.

Let me also thank the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Slovenia for bringing music to the Palais des Nations on this cold winter evening. Music is a great unifier across cultures, and I think it is fitting to see out the year and Ambassador Šuc’s presidency by sharing a slice of Slovenian culture and music with us. I am particularly interested in the way Marko Hatlak performs various musical genres from around the world and uses music and story-telling to create a bond with the audience.

This is appropriate for the Council, and indeed for this room, as a reminder of what unites us, and how we can celebrate each other’s cultures and histories. I am sorry that I cannot be there to enjoy the performance with you in person, and I am sure that you have a wonderful evening ahead of you.

Enjoy!

Thank you.”

These were the words of the Director-General. Thank you.