SECRETARY-GENERAL UNDERSCORES IMPORTANCE OF MUSIC TO HUMANKIND,

AT CONCERT CELEBRATING UN DAY AND SWITZERLAND’S MEMBERSHIP

Following are Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s remarks at the United Nations Day Concert on 24 October, sponsored by the Government of Switzerland in celebration of the first anniversary of Switzerland’s membership in the Organization:

I am delighted to welcome all of you to the United Nations Headquarters.

Nietzsche said that without music, life would be a mistake.  Indeed, music is truly a rare gift.  It can capture a wide range of feelings, go to the essence of things and speak to the soul.  And it has the power to bind us together and strengthen our sense of community through shared emotions.

I can think of no better way to celebrate United Nations Day than in music.

Tonight, before we reach the familiar and well-loved strains of Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition, we have the great privilege of hearing the world première of William Blank’s Exodes, a work devoted to the experience of refugees.  Tens of millions of people in the world today are forced into exile from home -– one of the most terrible experiences human beings can suffer.  Their plight should leave no one indifferent.  We should therefore all be grateful to Mr. Blank for using his musical gift to help raise awareness of their sufferings and their courage.  And of course I personally am deeply honoured that he has chosen to associate me with Maestro Pinchas Steinberg, the orchestra’s chief conductor and artistic director, in the dedication of this work.  Needless to say, I am eager to hear what it sounds like -– as I’m sure you all are.

We are very thankful to the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, which has done us the honour of playing for us tonight. I also want to thank all those who are sponsoring this event, in commemoration of another event that has delighted us all: the entry of Switzerland to the United Nations a little more than a year ago. The sponsors are the City and Canton of Geneva, Pro Helvetia — the Swiss Arts Council, the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs and Swiss World Cargo.

I wish you a fine evening, which I know will be memorable.

Thank you for your attention.  Thank you very much.

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*     To reflect paragraphs translated from French.