Secretary-General, Calling Now a Time of Tremendous Tumult, Potential Promise,

 

Asks Faith Community to Guide United Nations Mission for Peace

 

Following are UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s remarks at the Church of the Holy Family, today in New York:

We meet just one day after a solemn anniversary.  Ten years ago yesterday, like many of you, I was in New York when this city was attacked.  At the time, I was Chief of Staff to the incoming President of the United Nations General Assembly, Dr. Han Seung-Soo.

On that morning, we were together at a prayer breakfast.  A Columbia University professor in his talk emphasized the importance of “reconciliation”.  Ironically, the terrorists were at the very moment attacking the World Trade Center — attacking the core values of the United Nations: peace, freedom, justice, reconciliation and human rights.

The General Assembly was not able to elect its President that day, leaving a leadership vacuum for the first time in the 56-year history of the United Nations.  By 12 September, the General Assembly elected its new President, Dr. Han Seung-Soo.  There were many questions and almost no answers.  But we were certain of one fact: the international community was united in solidarity with the victims and against the terrorists.

The city was shrouded in mourning.  The United Nations itself was surrounded by a fortress of police and military.  It was difficult to cross the street, let alone enter the building.  But the palpable fear only added urgency to our mission.  We knew we had to act.  That same day, the General Assembly met under extremely tight security.  It adopted a strong resolution condemning the terrorist attacks and asking the international community to unite to fight terrorism.  We all supported action against the perpetrators and any States helping them.

We stood shoulder to shoulder, as representatives of Governments from around the world, to denounce the merciless attackers who had destroyed so many lives and who were trying to destroy the sacred value of peace that the United Nations was created to uphold.  The members of the Security Council, meanwhile, rose to their feet when they voted to show their sombre but determined support for the resolution condemning the attacks.

Over the decade since 9/11, the power of religion and interfaith dialogue has helped the United Nations to counter extremism and hate.  Imams and rabbis, priests and nuns, bishops and believers have all been an enormous force for progress.  Our Alliance of Civilizations has brought together great thinkers from the world’s major religions to help counter hatred with dialogue and extremism with moderation.

In 2006, the United Nations adopted the first-ever Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy.  We have been working hard to implement this Strategy ever since.  We are pushing for States to adhere to a series of anti-terrorism treaties that the United Nations helped to draft.  And we are standing with the victims of terrorism and working to make sure that their voices are heard in the global debate.

Our friends in the faith community have been central to this campaign.  You have also helped in so many other areas where the United Nations is determined to advance the human condition: ending violence against women; promoting disarmament; fighting for justice and human rights; and advancing the cause of dignity and opportunity for all people.

I deeply appreciate your many contributions and, especially, the profound perspective you bring to our work.  I am grateful for your compassionate influence on so many people.  I thank you for your activism, your wisdom and your prayers.

This is a time of tremendous tumult but also potential promise.  Leaders from around the world are right now preparing to travel to New York to meet at the United Nations.  On the eve of this important General Assembly session, we count on you to inspire, to enlighten and to instil in all of us the sense of greater purpose that must guide our mission for peace.

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For information media • not an official record