United Nations Day – 61 YearsLong live our planet, and its peoples Long live the United Nations! [Archives:2006/996/Last Page]
“For the tenth and last time as Secretary-General, I offer friends and colleagues around the world my best wishes on United Nations Day. I have spent almost my whole professional life working for the United Nations – so this day, and the values that it stands for, will always be special for me.”
UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan
The anniversary of the entry into force of the United Nations Charter on 24 October 1945 has been celebrated as United Nations Day since 1948. It has traditionally been marked throughout the world by meetings, discussions and exhibits on the achievements and goals of the Organization.
In his press statement, Kofi Annan talked about the positive steps the UN has achieved during his term over the past 10 years. He also narrated the challenges facing the UN in the future. His final advice was: “At this time of all times, we cannot afford to be divided. I know that you, the peoples of the world, understand this. Thank you for all the support and encouragement you have given me, throughout these 10 difficult but exciting years. Please urge your leaders to work with my successor, and make the United Nations ever stronger and more effective.”
UN celebrations around the world:
Yemen
To mark the 61st anniversary of United Nations Day, the Charitable Society for Social Welfare (CSSW), in cooperation with UNDP, organized an event in Sana'a to celebrate the day with U.N. agency representatives in Yemen. Approximately 20 young girls from various Yemeni regions gathered Saturday in Sana'a to sing, welcome and appreciate U.N. efforts in Yemen, calling for more support to fight poverty, illiteracy and disease.
Head Quarters USA
A concert by the National Symphony Orchestra of Greece has marked this year's celebration of United Nations Day on Oct 25, in the General Assembly Hall. The concert was sponsored by the Government of Greece and the Alexander S. Onassis Public Benefit Foundation. The 62-member National Symphony Orchestra presented the poetry of Odysseus Elytis (Nobel Literature Laureate, 1979), Georges Seferis (Nobel Literature Laureate, 1963) and C. P. Cavafy, set to music by composers Manos Hadjidakis, Mikis Theodorakis, Spyros Samaras, Dimitris Laghios and Dimitris Papadimitriou. In addition to the concert, an exhibition entitled “In Praise of the Olive”, emphasizing the mythology and history of the olive in the Mediterranean region and in Greek culture, was on display until 25 October 2006 in the North East Gallery of the General Assembly Visitors' Lobby. The exhibit explored the subject of the olive tree and its fruit at length, covering its role in daily life, habits, customs, social and economic relations, as well as its contribution as an inspiration in various forms of art and as an international symbol of peace.
China
On the occasion of the 61st Anniversary of the United Nations and the UN Day, a World Peace Flag painted by the children from 51 countries was presented today to the United Nations in China, with the support of the China Association for Promoting Children's Culture and Art.
Around 800 children of different origins, religions and backgrounds got together on 21 October in Beijing to paint their vision and best wishes of peace on a giant flag to disseminate their messages to the world. This World Peace Flag was then exhibited on the Great Wall before it arrived at the UN Compound in Beijing.
The 100-square-meter flag will then be sent to the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan at the UN headquarters in New York.
Greece:
Greek poetry and music featured at the UN Day annual concert that took place Wednesday evening at the UN General Assembly auditorium to mark the 61st anniversary of the founding of the United Nations, which was organised by Greece for the first time.
The concert, entitled “Greece: Poetry and Music””
