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65.

STATEMENT
BY MR. VLADIMIR PETROVSKY
UNDER-SECRETARY GENERAL
DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS OFFICE AT GENEVA
FOR THE OPENING OF THE EXHIBIT
"LE PALAIS WILSON AU PALAIS DES NATIONS"

19 January-26 March 1999

Mr. Ambassador,
Members of the Swiss Rotary Club,
Chief Librarian,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

I t is a pleasure for me to be here today to officially open this exhib-
it on the history of the Palais Wilson, a symbol of Geneva's
international character. I would first and foremost like to thank
the UNOG library staff for the effort they have made to research and display
the historical documentation you see here. In particular, I would like to thank
Pierre Pelou and Béatrice Ory for their outstanding effort to make this exhibit
possible. I would also like to reiterate the appreciation of the United Nations
Organization to the Swiss Government for having provided the Palais Wilson
as the new home of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.
This generosity is representative of the Swiss Government's continuing com-
mitment to the goals of peace, security and international humanitarianism.

The Palais Wilson has had a very dynamic history. The building has not
only reflected the realities of the times, but most recently, has shown to be an
extraordinary anchor to the past and the roots of the international community’s
resolve to see peace reign throughout the world. Inaugurated in 1875, the hotel
National, known today as the Palais Wilson, comprised 180 rooms and 90

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