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international International

“You should never go back. an essay on him because they were writing
about him and some other philosophers of
You should always go forward. this period. They needed my support because
Forward for me is to strengthen there were a lot of materials in English and not
enough in Russian. At that time, I was about
what we already have here. Geneva 18 years old, and I really fell under his spell.
is a centre of international He was a person of high moral principles, who
also gave his daughters a very good education.
conferences, a centre which He was a real Renaissance figure, and for me
provides support for multilateral he was a real statesman and a politician.

negotiations and meetings.” And the final question… Imagine the situation:
the pandemic is over. It is “the day after”.
How do you imagine yourself in your post of “Notre ambition est
Director-General of the United Nations Office d’apporter une
As you may be aware, I started my career at Geneva? Will you pick up where we left off,
as a journalist, and I have written a book aiming to accomplish the same aspirations approche différente à
on the history of Europe. So, I have quite that were interrupted or disrupted by the tout ce que nous
a number of hobbies as a result of my pandemic, or do you see a major refocusing,
travels and my curiosity to learn about or perhaps something in between? Have you entreprenons, d’innover
people and how they live around the world. already entertained thoughts along these pour contribuer à
lines?
What kind of paintings do you like? You should never go back. You should always dessiner la Genève
My favourite painters are the French go forward. Forward for me is to strengthen de demain.”
impressionists. This does have an explanation: what we already have here. Geneva is a centre
in Russia, we have absolutely fabulous of international conferences, a centre which
collections of French impressionists. At provides support for multilateral negotiations
the time when they were not well regarded and meetings. We also have to look forward and
in France, several Russian collectors were use new conference tools to build inclusiveness
overwhelmed by these paintings and started in multilateral organisations and to do more Interview avec
buying them. That’s why we, in Russia, have a to achieve the sustainable development goals, Abdallah Chatila
fantastic collection of impressionists. When I work for peace and security, and for human
was a young girl going to the museums, I fell rights. I really hope that, once we overcome m3 GROUPE
in love with these painters: Monet, Manet… the pandemic, we can do it in solidarity.
That will give us a certain assurance. If we
Speaking about Russian painters, my favourite really show solidarity, we can face any global
painter is one who belongs to the beginning challenge, wherever it is. There are quite a
of the 20th century, but he is different in style. number of challenges – let us not forget about « La Genève internationale fait partie initiatives qu’il a lancées pour contribuer à
His name is Nikolai Roerich. He was also a the climate crisis. We are not speaking as much intégrante de l’héritage historique et de consolider et développer le rayonnement de
philosopher, and a person who worked for about the climate crisis these days because we l’ADN de Genève » cette dernière.
universal values. After the Revolution, he are talking more about the pandemic, but the
was trapped in Finland and lived and died in climate crisis is there; and we should use our Né au Liban et établi à Genève depuis 1988, Abdallah Chatila, m3 GROUPE est
India. His paintings are amazing, as well as his experience of finding global solutions during Abdallah Chatila est devenu en l’espace de devenu aujourd’hui un important acteur
philosophical and political heritage, including the pandemic to really address other global quelques années un entrepreneur, mécène et économique du canton. Pourriez-vous
the “Roerich pact”. challenges, including the climate one. •• chef d’entreprise incontournable du canton. revenir sur la genèse de votre entreprise et
Fondateur et Président de m3 GROUPE, ce sur l’état d’esprit qui l’habite ?
And now back to politics. Who, throughout véritable enfant de Genève emploie aujourd’hui Pour être solide et pérenne, toute activité
history, is the most inspiring figure for you in plus de 1000 collaboratrices et collaborateurs. humaine doit se nourrir d’une vision.
the realm of politics? À l’occasion de cette interview, il revient sur Aujourd’hui, mon travail c’est ma passion, et
It is Thomas More. I read his books when I was les activités de son groupe, son rôle actif de mon ambition est de contribuer à faire rayonner
a very young girl, and then later when I was philanthrope, l’importance qu’il accorde à Genève, ville que je chéris depuis toujours. La
still quite young. My parents asked me to write la Genève internationale et les différentes philosophie de m3 GROUPE repose sur ce

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