DIRECTOR-GENERAL AND FIRST LADY OF AZERBAIJAN INAUGURATE AZERBAIJAN ROOM AT THE PALAIS DES NATIONS

Sergei Ordzhonikidze, the Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva, today inaugurated the Azerbaijan Room at the Palais des Nations, together with the First Lady of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ms. Mehriban Aliyeva.

The Director-General thanked the Government and people of the Azerbaijan for the room and for the commitment to the United Nations that the gift embodied. He highlighted that the donation represented a very practical contribution to the work of the United Nations, already serving the Organization’s Member States. Referring to the examples of Azerbaijan’s rich cultural heritage on display, the Director-General noted that the room illustrated how appreciation of one’s own cultural background could be a strong foundation for respect for other traditions.

The Republic of Azerbaijan has donated the design, refurbishment and redecoration of conference room A-206, now the Azerbaijan Room, in the context of the ongoing efforts to renovate conference rooms to enable their continued use. The main building of the Palais des Nations has been in operation since 1936, and the latest building was completed in 1973. Close to 9,000 meetings are hosted at the Palais des Nations annually. Continuous maintenance and renovation are essential to be able to provide safe facilities and adequate services to its many thousands of users.