Celebrating UN Day, Secretary-General Thanks Teams across Middle East Standing Up for Peace, Mission of Tonga for Sponsoring Concert Promoting Climate Action

Following are UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ remarks at the United Nations Day Concert, in New York today:

I am delighted to join you tonight to celebrate UN Day — the seventy-eighth anniversary of the entry into force of the Charter in 1945.

I have just returned from the Middle East, where the values of the United Nations Charter have been sorely tested in the last days and weeks.  I have never been prouder of my colleagues.  Our teams across the region are standing up for peace and doing everything in their power to save lives and ease human suffering, under the most difficult and dangerous circumstances.

Peace is the foundation of all the work of the United Nations.  And music is the perfect way to bring people together for peace.  Music is a universal language that bridges divides, reflecting the diversity and unique contributions of cultures around the world.

So, it is entirely fitting that we are celebrating UN Day with this wonderful musical performance, together in the General Assembly Hall.  While we enjoy this moment of music, culture and creativity, let us reaffirm our shared commitment to a cause that is becoming more urgent by the day:  climate action.

This unprecedented challenge transcends borders and affects us all.  Greenhouse gas emissions are at a historic high and rising, and efforts to reduce them are simply not enough.  The most vulnerable communities are bearing the brunt of extreme storms and droughts, changing weather patterns, and increased food insecurity.

I thank the Permanent Mission of Tonga for sponsoring this evening’s concert with the theme:  “The Frontlines of Climate Action”.  I would also like to take this opportunity to commend the extraordinary resilience and strength demonstrated by the people of Tonga after last year’s volcanic eruption and devastating tsunami.  The United Nations community stands with Tonga in solidarity, offering our support on the path to recovery and renewal.

Tonight, let the music remind us of our shared humanity and interconnectedness.  Let us all carry the spirit of this evening beyond these walls.  Together, let us redouble and accelerate our efforts towards a safer, greener, more sustainable and more peaceful world.  Again, I extend my deepest gratitude to the Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of Tonga and our supporting partners, and to the talented performers.  Thank you, and happy UN Day!