In Message, Secretary-General Says Boston Now ‘Recovering, Advancing and

 

Inspiring the World’ Just Two Weeks after Terrible Bombings

Following is the text of Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s video message to the UNA-USA of Greater Boston’s annual Consuls Ball in Boston, 26 April:

Mr. Richard S. Golob, President of the UNA-USA of Greater Boston,

Distinguished members of the Consular Corps,

Esteemed leaders from the professional, academic and business communities,

Ladies and gentlemen,

I am pleased to send greetings to all participants at Greater Boston’s annual Consuls Ball.

You come together less than two weeks since the terrible bombings at the Boston Marathon.  I immediately condemned the crime and sent condolences to the victims.

I spoke as the Secretary-General of the United Nations — an organization that staunchly opposes all forms of terrorism.  No cause or grievance can justify terrorist acts.

But, I also spoke as a former citizen of Boston.  I lived here when I attended the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.  It was one of the happiest times in my life.  From what I saw then, I am not surprised that now, Boston is recovering, advancing and inspiring the world.

The United Nations has no greater friend in this great city than the UNA-USA.  You are actively engaged in global issues and helping to raise a new generation of global citizens.  I thank you for your invaluable support.

This is a time of great turmoil in our world — but also great promise.  The global financial crisis, the growing impacts of climate change, the quest for energy and food security, global threats from nuclear, chemical and other weapons of mass destruction and the troubling conflicts in Syria, Mali and other hotspots pose enormous challenges.  The United Nations is bringing the international community together to find solutions to our global problems.

We are an organization of Governments — but we could never succeed without the involvement of people.  I thank you for your great support — and I count on you to continue helping the United Nations to achieve peace and progress in our world.

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For information media • not an official record