Secretary-General Hails la Francophonie for Promoting Diversity, ‘Overriding Value

 

of Humanism’, in Message to Mark Organization’s Fortieth Anniversary

 

Following is the text of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s video message for the fortieth anniversary of la Francophonie, aired in New York today, 26 March:

It gives me great pleasure to offer you my congratulations on the fortieth anniversary of la Francophonie.

Over the past 40 years, your organization has contributed directly to our common goal of building a better world.  It has promoted diversity, contacts between different people, and the overriding value of humanism.

Recently, we have taken concrete steps to work together on human rights and conflict prevention, on peaceful transitions in Africa and in our efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.  Our organizations are founded on the principle that we are stronger together, in all our diversity, than we are individually.

I believe the world is increasingly recognizing the truth of this message.  Let us continue to promote our common values of peace, development and human rights for the next 40 years and beyond.

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For information media • not an official record