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SG/SM/6746

SECRETARY-GENERAL, UNVEILING MEMORIAL TO COUNT FOLKE BERNADOTTE, SAYS HIS EXAMPLE 'TAUGHT US WHAT A PEACEMAKER IS'

13 October 1998


Press Release
SG/SM/6746


SECRETARY-GENERAL, UNVEILING MEMORIAL TO COUNT FOLKE BERNADOTTE, SAYS HIS EXAMPLE 'TAUGHT US WHAT A PEACEMAKER IS'

19981013

Following is the text of Secretary-General Kofi Annan's statement at the unveiling of the memorial to Count Folke Bernadotte, in New York today:

Folke Bernadotte was not only the first United Nations mediator. He was also the first United Nations envoy to die in the cause of peace. With his death, the United Nations learned at a tender age the lesson summed up by Benjamin Franklin: "The blessing promised to peacemakers relates to the next world, for in this world they seem to have a greater chance of being cursed."

Contrary to popular belief, the pursuit of peace will not win you any popularity contests. In many respects, it is not only one of the most dangerous pursuits -- it is also one of the loneliest in the world.

Count Bernadotte learned that lesson early on. During the Second World War, when he negotiated for the Red Cross to free prisoners from Nazi camps, he knew that his task was to "negotiate with the devil in order to free people from hell".

Since the death of Count Bernadotte, the history of peacemaking has borne out that lesson of loneliness in one man's fate after another -- from Dag Hammarskjöld to Alioune Blondin Beye, from Anwar Sadat to Yitzhak Rabin.

Count Bernadotte was never to see the fruits of his labour on behalf of the United Nations -- although his successor, Ralph Bunche, worked valiantly to continue his mediation and went on to win the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts. Half a century later, the Middle East has yet to achieve a durable peace. Yet Count Bernadotte's mission was far from in vain; for his example taught us what a peacemaker is. Someone who treats all human beings as equal, yet who believes that one person can make a difference. Someone who sustains love for humankind, yet who accepts that very few people will love him in return. Someone who can stare disaster in the face, yet who will not see defeat as an option. Someone who is surrounded by conflict, but who maintains inner peace enough to stand a chance of resolving it.

And so, as we look upon this memorial in the months and years to come, we -- the entire United Nations family -- will sense an abiding gratitude to Folke Bernadotte; for setting us a standard that will remain valid, for as long as there is conflict on the face of this Earth. * *** *

For information media. Not an official record.