Page 239 - 100 Reflections that Crafted Geneva International_V-Petrovsky_private special edition

43.

The League of Nations:
a Meaningful Foundation

WELCOMING SPEECH
BY MR. VLADIMIR PETROVSKY
UNITED NATIONS UNDER-SECRETARY-GENERAL
DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS OFFICE AT GENEVA
SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE CONFERENCE ON DISARMAMENT
TO THE EXHIBITION ENTITLED:
THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS, 1919-1946: ORGANIZATION AND
ACCOMPLISHMENTS THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL
ORGANIZATION FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF WORLD PEACE
TO BE HELD FROM 18 APRIL - 15 DECEMBER 1996

Palais des Nations, Thursday, 18 April 1996

President Ulmanis,
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
A
t 5:43 this evening, it will be exactly 50 years since the President of
the League of Nation's General Assembly solemnly announced, “I
declare the twenty-first and last session of the General Assembly of
the League of Nations closed.”

The following day, as had been agreed, the United Nations took
possession of the League's physical assets. But the legacy of the League of
Nations is much more than the Palais des Nations, surrounding property, and
office equipment and supplies: it is a quest and means for the peaceful
resolution of conflict and the desire to work together to build a better world.

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