Page 325 - 100 Reflections that Crafted Geneva International_V-Petrovsky_private special edition

Bringing the Concept to Life

necessary virtues given the crucial role which you play. The Correspondents’
Association is an integral and key element to the functioning of the UN Office
at Geneva, and it is therefore our great pleasure to support improved working
conditions which will serve to facilitate your task.

Geneva is a repository of political, economic, social and humanitarian
know-how and this knowledge is its power. The Press contribute substantially
to this in the most fundamental of ways. We are extremely happy with the
partnership that we enjoy here at the UN with the Press Corps and how it has
helped to facilitate understanding of our most urgent tasks at hand. In the
recent words of our Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, which echo the same
sentiments: “I am happy to say that compared to most institutions, the United
Nations Press Corps and the United Nations itself operate in an atmosphere of
remarkable trust and transparency. Correspondents covering the world body
have a commendable grasp of what it is that we do.”

Indeed, without the international media in Geneva, “Geneva-
International” would remain hidden from the public eye. It is only due to
the efforts of the international press corps of the Palais des Nations that the
contrary is true. In other words, it is due to you, ladies and gentlemen of the
Press, that Geneva remains “International-Geneva”.

Thank you for your commitment and hard work and look forward to our
joint endeavors in the future.

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