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The first major step towards the
In addition, Mr Petrovsky’s great passion
“informal process of tri-partite was art, not for its own sake, but as a
consultations”, between the Conference way towards peace. This is why he made
on Security and Cooperation in Europe Geneva a venue of the Dialogue Among
(now the OSCE) and the Council of Civilizations. He deeply believed that
Europe, was taken on his initiative art is best suited for promoting peace
in 1993. It has since evolved into an through dialogue. Often appreciation
essential communication channel, and respect for another culture begins
bridging differences in institutional with appreciation of its art, so that
culture to mitigate the effect of conflict even if the arts are not the language of
on humanitarian concerns. The diplomacy, they pave the way for further
benefits of these informal consultations and deeper diplomatic achievements.
have attracted other regional and The diplomatic community in Geneva
international bodies such as the EU, acknowledges its debt to Mr Petrovsky
ICRC and IOM. The process therefore for his role in this. His work in
continues today as “Tripartite Plus”. creating the wide range of UNOG
Mr Petrovsky’s high level contacts cultural activities was an integral part
with the Organization of African of efforts to further cross-cultural
Unity (OAU), League of Arab States, understanding. This is crucial in times
Organization of Islamic Conference of world uncertainty, or in the global
(OIC), Commonwealth of Independent fight against terrorism.
States (CIS), and the International One notable achievement of Mr
Organization of La Francophonie, have Petrovsky was his initiative to literally
created vital links between UNOG and open the doors of the Palais des
these bodies. Nations to public, and he was the first
Director-General to do so. In 1998, he
He also launched and cemented successfully organized the first “Journée
partnerships with the business Portes Ouvertes”. Since then, the UN
community, which none of his Open Day became a good annual
predecessors had previously attempted. tradition at UNOG. He encouraged to
In 1998, he helped create the Business use this day to share the heritage of the
Humanitarian Forum, to increase Palais des Nations, to inform about the
mutual understanding and cooperation work of the UN, to foster dialogue with
between business and humanitarian other organizations, and to strengthen
organizations, especially in conflict ties with Geneva community. His last
regions. In this way Mr Petrovsky made “Open Day” organized jointly with
people aware of the complementarity of the Swiss and Geneva authorities in
markets and human security. October 2001, was the most remarkable.
It took place on the eve of Switzerland
Using his strong academic background, accession to the UN.
Mr Petrovsky also developed the This local popularity led to Mr Petrovsky
relationship between research and being praised by the Genevan journalist
policy. In 2000, he initiated the Research Serge Bimpage for his contribution not
and Policy Dialogue, a conference only to the political character of Geneva’s
he chaired jointly with the Rector of ‘right bank’ (the city’s international
the United Nations University. This sector) but also for his contributions
informal network of research and of a personal and human nature, which
training activities goes beyond UN «n’a rien de diplomatique. Rarement,
institutions and includes other Geneva- il refuse une invitation des Genevois.»
based organizations. All the above (p. 187). He is considered as a ‘great
achievements are a part of what we now Genevan’, and the opening photo in the
call Geneva International. latest book about Mr Petrovsky (which
w w w. d i va i n t e r n at i o n a l . c h