Exhibition "What else does amber have in mind?"

Ambassador Jansons
Excellencies
Ladies and Gentlemen:

It is a great pleasure to welcome you all to the Palais des Nations for this exceptional exhibition showcasing the use of Latvian amber in jewelry and textiles. Today we will see a convergence of old and new, an exciting juxtaposition of traditional culture and modern innovation. My most sincere thanks go to the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Latvia for organizing this gem of an exhibition, and to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia and the Riga 2014 Foundation for their support. I would also like to extend my congratulations to the Republic of Latvia for their current Presidency of the Council of the European Union. I wish them all the best as they carry out their term and I look forward to further collaboration on our mutual priorities.

Amber is a unique precious stone. Its creation takes time, originating from tree resin, then shaped and changed over centuries. This is a very fitting parallel to draw with the work we do every day here at the United Nations. Ideas – like resin - get put forward, then shaped by many influences such as Member States and civil society partners, before being transformed into concrete proposals that have a direct and daily impact on each and every one of us.

This year, the United Nations is celebrating its 70th anniversary. Part of our commitment now is to take stock of the Organization’s progress and to review the way we work. We recognize that business as usual is no longer viable in our rapidly-changing world and that, in order to meet global challenges, transformation and innovation is necessary. At today’s exhibition, we are witnessing such transformation and innovation in the form of art. Amber has a strong historical meaning and has been intimately intertwined with Latvian culture for years. However, the recent work by Dr. Inga Lašenko from Riga Technical University has shown that this material can be manipulated into new forms with huge potential, not only artistically but also medically and industrially.

Discoveries like this are rife with opportunities. The same is true of our Organization’s transformation. We must acknowledge our strengths and our potential and see how we are able to draw on them to create something stronger and more effective than ever before.

As we enjoy the craftsmanship of the Latvian artists, let us reflect on this power of transformation. Like the use of amber in these contemporary jewelry pieces and textiles, we too can embrace modernity while maintaining tradition. We too can undergo a metamorphosis to adapt to the opportunities of the present and future.

Thank you and enjoy the exhibition.