REMARKS MADE BY DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF UNOG AT EXHIBIT "PEACE OF MIND" COMMEMORATING DAG HAMMARSKJÖLD

Following are remarks made this afternoon by Mr. Sergei Ordzhonikidze United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva, at the opening of an exhibit "Peace of Mind" at the Palais des Nations to commemorate a ceremony Dag Hammarskjöld, the 2nd Secretary-General of the United Nations.

"It is a privilege to welcome you to the Palais des Nations for the opening of this exhibition to commemorate Dag Hammarskjöld, the 2nd Secretary-General of the United Nations. An outstanding individual and a skilled diplomat, Hammarskjöld helped shape not only the role of the Secretary-General but the United Nations, as we know it today. He introduced core concepts and mechanisms, such as peacekeeping and preventive diplomacy, that are as relevant and as necessary today, as when Hammarskjöld pioneered them. He raised the profile of the Organization and presented a vision of a world in peace and prosperity, in full enjoyment of human rights, that continues to inspire people across the world.

As you know, the 100th anniversary of the birth of Dag Hammarskjöld coincides with the 60th anniversary of the signing of the United Nations Charter. I believe that, as we mark the first 60 years of our Organization and as we prepare for the 2005 World Summit taking place in September, Hammarskjöld’s foresight, his diplomatic skills, his remarkable personal qualities, his strong commitment to the values and principles of the United Nations and his unwavering belief in the value of collective action can offer valuable guidance.

Hammarskjöld once remarked that: “the pursuit of peace and progress cannot end in a few years in either victory or defeat. The pursuit of peace and progress – with its trial and errors, its successes and its setbacks – can never be relaxed and never abandoned.” He recognized that realizing peace and development is a process that requires sustained commitment, concerted efforts and a long-term perspective – it is a process that must take account of the lessons learnt while never losing sight of the goal ahead.

Above all, Hammarskjöld considered that achieving peace and progress is a responsibility shared by all peoples. The world we live in – with all its accomplishments and disappointments – reflects ourselves, as the title of this exhibition also suggests. The commitment of each individual counts if we want change. Hammarskjöld extended this thinking to the United Nations itself, as he – very famously – encouraged people to consider the Organization a drawing they had made themselves and not an abstract construction. Global action can only be effective when based on the determination of each individual person.

The threats and challenges of the 21st century cut across all dividing lines. Addressing them calls for collective action. The 2005 World Summit in September represents a historic opportunity for responding to these threats and challenges and for strengthening the United Nations, as our pre-eminent collective instrument, to confront them effectively and efficiently. It is an occasion for shaping a United Nations that reflects our joint aspirations and is equipped to implement our common vision of a world in peace and progress – a world in larger freedom.

Dag Hammarskjöld’s ideas – his unique blend of idealism and realism, his creativity and commitment – can serve as instructive examples, as we map the road ahead. Only if we have peace in mind, can we have peace on the ground."