Page 485 - 100 Reflections that Crafted Geneva International_V-Petrovsky_private special edition

STATEMENT
BY MR. VLADIMIR PETROVSKY
UNDER-SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS
DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS OFFICE AT GENEVA
ON THE OCCASION OF THE 2001 UNOG STAFF DAY

Palais des Nations, 23 November 2001

Ladies and Gentlemen,
Dear Colleagues,

I am really glad to see you all assembled here for our 2001 Staff

Day, which culminates tonight with the Staff Gala. It is indeed a
good occasion for all of us to gather here and to reflect on the
year's work and the challenges that lie ahead of the United Nations, and
ourselves.

First and foremost, I would like to say that this year is really a remarkable
one because we have won the Nobel Peace Prize. It is a great source of pride
and inspiration to all of us. The Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded the
United Nations and its Secretary-General tor their work for a better-organized
and more peaceful world. Our efforts have been recognized. Indeed, the
Organization today is at the forefront of endeavours to achieve peace and
security in the world, and of the international mobilization aimed at meeting
the global economic, social and environmental challenges.

As the Secretary-General has stressed, the Nobel Peace Prize will
encourage us to tackle our goals with even greater determination. He urged the
entire United Nations family to "stay true to our mission, and to work harder
than ever to alleviate suffering in every part of the world. As the world
confronts a new challenge, old ones remain. The United Nations is more
central than ever in creating a better and safer world for all."

The UN staff in Geneva appreciates the efforts of the Secretary-General to
make our Organization a real centre of agreed actions of all Member States and
the particular importance he attaches to the work of Geneva-based UN
agencies and programmes. The Secretary-General takes part in all the major
events in Geneva. His address to the staff on the occasion of the Nobel Peace

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