International Day of Peace: Pianists for Peace concert

Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Dear friends:

A warm welcome to tonight’s concert “Pianists for Peace” and a special thank you to the Permanent Mission of Venezuela for its patronage of this event.

Since 1981, the International Day of Peace is observed each year on this day. The theme of this year’s commemoration is “Partnerships for Peace – Dignity for All” which aims to highlight the importance of all segments of society working together to strive for peace.

We will witness a celebration of partnership tonight! Five pianists will be playing renowned melodies that call for peace: Alexander Ghindin, from the Russian Federation, Stanislas Khristenko from Ukraine, Yaron Kohlberg from Israel, Bishara Haroni from Palestine and Francois-Xavier Poizat from Switzerland will join hands on the pianos playing Rachmaninoff, Gluck, Wagner, Liszt, Smetana and Verdi.

More than 30 years ago the International Day of Peace was introduced with the vision to have just one day when fighting stops, one day when no-one has to die from violent conflict.

Seventy years ago the United Nations were established with the vison to achieve a world of peace every day. We are not quite there yet. Today we see mounting numbers of conflict causing people to flee from their homelands and seeking new homes elsewhere.

Today’s event sends a powerful signal from international Geneva, the city that stands for peace, rights and well-being. Let us call on everyone today to put their arms down and play music together that transcends cultural, political and religious cleavages and emphasizes joint happiness.

With peace one day we can immunize children and deliver food and medicine to war-torn, otherwise inaccessible areas.

With peace every day, mothers and fathers can live together and see their children grow up in good health, study and become themselves ambassadors of peace, rights and well-being.

Let tonight be a night of peace, rights, and also of well-being as we rejoice in timeless melodies that will culminate in Beethoven’s Ode to Joy with Schiller’s words celebrating brotherhood and unity of all mankind.

I wish you a very enjoyable evening!