Page 37 - DIVA_2_2018

INTERNATIONAL

was an extraordinary person, to whom we owe our own tinued (and still continues, today even more than ever)
determination to preserve the dignity and the ideas of to embody the image of peace, giving assurance and the
the organisation, as well as its historical heritage. And if hope for peace to the people of the world.
you want to make a journey through the time and history
I recommend to you to read the book written by Marit What has changed at the Palais of today as compared to
Fosse and John Fox titled Sean Lester - The Guardian of a the times of Sean Lester? Definitely not its heart - the
Small Flickering Light. Salle des pas perdus, the Celestial Sphere at the Court of
Honours - its main arteries, fortunately, remain intact.
The talented pen of Marit Fosse (the Editor-in-Chief of The new building of 10 floors (building E) complement-
the magazine "Diva International" and an author of thou- ed the Palais in 1968, making the majestic Palace more
sands of articles) will allow you to dive into the atmos- modern, more spacious, and more visible from the City.
phere of that time and to make a journey with Sean Lester Nowadays there are also more statues in the Ariana Park.
through the abandoned Palace, during the last days of the Many of them symbolise peace. Recently another sphere
League of Nations. What was he re- was donated to the UNOG, adding to
ally thinking? Why, contrary to many the long list of symbols of peace that
of his colleagues, was he unable to "The lonely person govern at the Palace and in its sur-
abandon the Palace? While there in the Palace cannot roundings. But people, while admir-
were only few who still stayed in his ing all statutes in the Ariana park, still
"crew' he nevertheless remained an abandon his post go to look at the Celestial Sphere be-
exemplary "captain" and took due cause THIS IS THE ONE. And they
care of them until the very end. Was as a captain who is still go to the heart of the majestic Pal-
it because of his convictions? Be- never abandoning ace, the Salle des pas perdus, to touch
cause of the strength of his belief? Or the walls and breathe the history. It
was it because he was a person out of his ship." is because this is the place where the
the common. He said about himself HEART of peace beats.
that he was a man "without an ambi-
tion He had left school at the age of fourteen. He had no Soon the totally overwhelming SHP providing for con-
experience in foreign affairs (what might have been the struction of a new building (which seems to become a
secret of his strong determination, as professional poli- chef d'uvre of architectural solutions) will complement
ticians are usually much more sceptical!?). He spoke no the Palais. We all saw the project and were fascinated
languages other than English. Having become an Irish and impressed by its architectural fineness. It is indeed a
representative to the League of Nations in Geneva in breath-taking endeavour. Time will show whether it will
1929, and having served as the League's High Commis- reinforce the message of peace, or whether it will remain
sioner in the Free City of Danzig from 1934 to 1936, in simply a technical upgrade to the Palace. But as for the
31 August 1940 he was selected to serve as the Secretary- Palace, the historical one, the home of the League of Na-
General of the League of Nations. From that very day for tions since 1938, the home of the European Office of the
the next six years he fought to keep United Nations since its first days, the
the institution alive, and to maintain centre of the world peace and diplo-
the sparkle of the small flickering macy, it will definitely be affected by
light of the Palace, i.e. the symbol of the SHP. It is for a reason that this
peace the Palace signified in people's plan's name includes the word "herit-
minds. He simply believed that there age' The main purpose of it is to not
is tomorrow. only renovate the old and build the
The Guardian of a new structures, but also to preserve
It is to him that we all should be grate- Small Flickering Light and protect heritage, including the
ful for preserving, despite the war, heritage of history and high ideals.
not only the Palace itself, but also the We are thankful to Sean Lester for
image of peace that our Palace em- being a pioneer, for his perseverance,
bodied at that time. For it is thanks to for making his historic contribution
him that today our Palace continues to the Palace as a symbol of peace,
to embody the image of peace world- and for saving its legacy. He guarded
wide. Even when our Organization, it through the war as the small flick-
the United Nations, was established ering light believing that tomorrow
and chose New York to be its head- would come!
quarter, the Palais des Nations con-

INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMAT - DIVA
35