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International International

of the World Health Organization, and many “reset” summit of Serguei Lavrov-Hillary “Switzerland, carefully preserving its
others. It were they who also made Geneva Clinton. Finally, in June 2021, Geneva hosted
International and strengthened it. the Biden-Putin summit. Geneva is also a neutrality, created this possibility, maybe
venue for highly sensitive political talks – the today the only possibility in the world.”
Geneva and the Permanent Representatives Syria talks, Yemen talks, Libya talks, Cyprus
– they too made Geneva International: they talks and there might be need for other
empowered it by their Credentials negotiations in future, as the world we are
There were many international personalities living now,, is fragile and changing. Geneva the city of Geneva). Who were they? Those
throughout history of multilateralism who will provide the best and the most neutral in a way are “unsung heroes”. The fact that
also “made Geneva” and gave it the true image platform for such negotiations for peace, or Geneva today is called world capital of peace
of the world capital for peace, but books are dialogues aimed at strengthening peace. and diplomacy – it is also they who made and
not yet written about them. While “Ceux who are making it possible (making it become
qui font Genève” combines personalities as And who knows, maybe even one day the reality).
acknowledged and recognized locally, and UN HQ will come to Geneva. Geneva
separate books are written about the above UN International, as strong as it is today, can We hope that such a historical, encyclopaedic
“The city also was the venue for the personalities individually, there is no single make it possible. All facilities are here. And a study of a politically neutral nature (book)
comprehensive study about the Permanent beautiful Assembly Hall might be delighted to would be of interest to all Permanent Missions
most important and highly sensitive Missions. And not only about outstanding accommodate the high gatherings, for whom and diplomatic community, to all international
political summits.” or shining personalities, but about those who travelling to Geneva might be much more organizations, to the City of Geneva and to
were the first here to present Credentials. By convenient (after what we have been seeing academia (schools of diplomacy, universities).
their service here they already seeded the lately, associated with pandemic). But it can Please give us your feedback at editor.
grains, they already cemented the stones in be also more convenient diplomatically, too. divainternational@gmail.com
the foundation of Geneva International, and Switzerland, carefully preserving its neutrality,
UNOG here in Geneva, who was awarded by thanks to them and their presence here today, created this possibility, maybe today the only
the City of Geneva by the Médaille Genève we read that Geneva is the world capital of possibility in the world. Incidentally, there
reconnaissante for his role in communicating peace, dialogue and diplomacy. was already a precedent – a General Assembly
the importance of the work done in Geneva. session was held in Geneva (in 1988, but that If our project supported, we plan to start
By his innovative undertakings such as the Geneva as the world capital of peace and one was a special session, purely for political works by the end of the current year (to
Perception Change Project and throughout dialogue - yesterday, today and in the years reasons). But there might be more to come mark the Year of Peace and Trust, because
his tenue as the DG, he continued to change to come recognizing the role of Geneva (and giving to presenting Credentials to somebody means
the perception of UNOG and to successfully The city also was the venue for the most Geneva even more stronger “credentials” as also to express trust, as well as to give
promote International Geneva. His role important and highly sensitive political the world capital where peace can be achieved trust, to entrust). The works will continue
was also recognized by the Fondation pour summits, which made history and changed the and/or negotiated in a dialogue between the over 2022, and we will be contacting you
Genève. Of course, there were many others, world. In 1955, Geneva hosted the “quartet” nations). for consultations and/or to check the
including one of the most popular, UN – “The Big Four” (President Eisenhower of the information that we will collect by our own
Secretary-General Kofi Annan. A Nobel US, Prime Minister Eden of the UK, Premier However, such thinking – of Geneva means. If during our research on the above
Prize winner, he added to the growing image Bulganin of the USSR, and Prime Minister International as world capital of peace and topic, you would like to provide us with
of Geneva International and Geneva as the Faure of France). They were accompanied by diplomacy - would have never been even the additional information about your
capital of peace by establishing his Kofi the foreign ministers of these four powers: possible, if not those who were the first to Permanent Representatives in Geneva,
Annan Foundation here in Geneva. It is Dulles, Macmillan, Molotov, and Pinay. Also cement its role then, in 1919 for the League, and who in your view, brought the highest
also important to mention here the heads of in attendance was Nikita Khrushchev of the especially, those for UNOG. Thus, we would contribution to the image of Geneva
other UN Agencies who marked the history Soviet Union. This summit took place at the like to produce a study/book about them. This International and as capital of Peace,
of Geneva International or contributed to it Palais des Nations. study/book will be a tribute to all those the Dialogue and Diplomacy, will be welcome
– from Sergio Vieira de Mello, Human Rights first Ambassadors to the League and the first to send us the biographies and the stories
High Commissioner, who tragically perished Later, Geneva hosted summits of US President Permanent Representatives to the UNOG about the contribution to the International
in a terrorist attack in Iraq, to the current Carter and Syrian President Al-Assad (1977), (from 1919 through 1945 and util today) who Geneva, and all those will be published as
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, during and in 1985, Geneva hosted the famous presented their Credentials in Geneva. Some a separate chapter to this book, indicating
his tenure in Geneva at the helm of the High Reagan-Gorbachev summit. In 1990 there are world-known, but some are not, but their “as seen by the countries”. This study/book
Commission on Refugees, or Gro Harlem was the summit of George H.W. Bush and contribution is not less significant. They were could be our modest collective contribution
Brundtland, one of the most significant as Haffez Al-Assad, and in 1994 and in 2000, two the first who – by presenting their Credentials to the UNOG for the upcoming 80
th
UN Envoy for climate change and sustainable summits of President Clinton and President in Geneva - cemented the edifice of Geneva anniversary of the Organization.
development and the former Director-General Al-Assad. In 2009 Geneva hosted the famous International (i.e. they gave Credentials to

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