MEMORY OF LOST COLLEAGUES WILL SPUR US ON, DIRECTOR-GENERAL SAYS AT INAUGURATION OF GARDEN IN MEMORY OF VICTIMS OF BAGHDAD BOMBING

MEMORY OF LOST COLLEAGUES WILL SPUR US ON, DIRECTOR-GENERAL SAYS AT INAUGURATION

OF GARDEN IN MEMORY OF VICTIMS OF BAGHDAD BOMBING

(Reissued as received.)

GENEVA, 16 September (UN Information Service) -- Sergei Ordzhonikidze, the Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva, today participated in the inauguration of the Jardin impressioniste de Moillebeau in Geneva, organized by the City of Geneva.  The garden was named “Jardin de la Paix”, “Garden of Peace”, in memory of the victims of the attack on the United Nations office in Baghdad on 19 August 2003.

Addressing participants in the ceremony, the Director-General highlighted that it was appropriate that the victims were honoured in the Garden of Peace in the City of Peace as they gave their lives in the service of peace, dedicated to the welfare of their fellow human beings.  He emphasized that the garden would be a place where visitors could be inspired by the courage, fortitude and passion of the victims.  “The tragic loss of our colleagues will not discourage us or diminish our belief in the values and vision of the United Nations”, he said.  “Their memory will spur us on.”

Mr. Ordzhonikidze thanked the Geneva authorities for the initiative as a symbol of the close relationship between the United Nations family in Geneva and the Host City and Country.

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