DPI Office together with Office of UN Resident Coordinator
sponsored organization of the Regional Debate Tournament to
celebrate UN 60th Anniversary at the Kazakh-British Technical
University on 20 November 2005. The debates
were based on the recently released publication "60 Ways UN
makes a difference". The Debate Tournament gathered students
from over 20 higher education institutions and universities
of Kazakhstan and Asian countries of CIS. The Tournament comprised
Kazakh, English and Russian leagues.
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UNO Kazakhstan
UNIC Lome
UNIC Lome organized a week long celebration to commemorate
the UN's 60 th anniversary. To kick off the week, UNIC Lome
held an official launching ceremony on Monday 17 October
2005 in the conference room of the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs. The ceremony was chaired by the Minister
of Foreign Affairs and African Integration, Mr. Zarifou Ayéva.
In addition to the ceremony, UNIC Lome organized a march entitled
“Hope and solidarity around a ball” promoting the idea of
football as a global unifying principal. French football champion,
Christian Karembeu along with over 500 people participated
in the march.
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UNIC Lome
UNO Kazakhstan
On 20 October, 2005 UNO Alma-Ata
held an official ceremony in the concert hall of the Republic
of Kazakhstan's Presidential Center of Culture to commemorate
the UN's 60 th anniversary. Mr. K. Tokaev, the Minister for
Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan, and the UN Resident Coordinator
gave speeches addressing the solemn occasion. Furthermore,
a representative of the National Bank of Kazakhstan made an
announcement officially launching the UN 60 Jubilee coin.
The ceremony was followed by a musical concert performed by
the young musicians of the Kazakh National Academy of Music.
These musicians were accompanied by the State Chamber Orchestra
“ Academy of Soloists ,” a world renowned orchestra that has
preformed in Carnegie Hall (USA). The highlight of the concert
however, was a solo performance by violinist Aiman Musakhodjaeva.
Among attendees were members of the parliament, ministers
and vice ministers, representatives of the Presidential administration,
heads of foreign diplomatic missions, representatives of international
organizations, members of the media, NGOs, the general public,
and other UN partners and UN staff.
To commemorate the 60th anniversary of the United Nations, UNIC Ouagadougou held an observance ceremony, which included flag raising. A special “UN at 60” exhibit, which was open to the public, supplemented the festivities. UNIC Ouagadougou organized a soccer contest where different teams composed of government officials, diplomatic corps, press, and UNCT competed against each other. Also, an academic competition testing the youth's knowledge of the UN was organized.
DPI Yerevan in cooperation with the Armenian Philatelist Union organized a stamp exhibition in the UN Armenia Office displaying different United Nations themes. The event was held in honour of the UN's 60th anniversary. Stamps on display were borrowed from the personal collections of philatelist Jean Gulbenkyan and UN staff. Within the stamp exhibition was a special collection of stamps painted by Yuri Gevorkyan, an Armenian artist.
In commemoration of UN Day 2005, UNIC Moscow organized a concert and photo exhibit entitled "UN at 60 - A Time for Renewal." Mr. Alexandre Yakovenko, Deputy Foreign Minister, opened the event by delivering a message written by President Putin. Mr. Vladimir Chukov, a renowned Russian polar explorer, handed over the UN flag to the President of the UN Association in Russia . The flag carried symbolism as it had been flown during a solemn ceremony in a distant Arctic region during the "Polar Ring" expedition, an expedition devoted to the UN's 60 th Anniversary. Young musicians from the Rastropovich-Vishnevskaya Foundation played in the concert.
In France, RUNIC of Western Europe together with the National Committee of French Demonstrations, which included Ministries, French Association for the United Nations, NGOs’ committee, Committee 21, and others, developed a global Programme for the Celebration of the 60th Anniversary of the United Nations. The Programme includes numerous seminars, a concert and an exhibition.
In April-May 2005 "The Polar Ring" Expedition to the Karskoye Sea coast was organized with the support of the UN Office in Russia and the UNIC Moscow in order to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the United Nations.
Mr. Vladimir Chukov, a renowned Russian polar explorer, President of the Expedition Center "Arctic," lead the expedition.
UNIC Dhaka organized a celebration of the 60th anniversary of the United Nations together with UNRC on 2 July. The event included a 25-minute play, "Unlearn Intolerance," which was performed in front of an audience of 150 school and college teachers from different parts of Bangladesh. The play focused on the human rights violations due to intolerant attitudes. It also projected a vision of diversity as a unifying force, rather than a threat.
To commemorate the 60th anniversary of the UN, a new book, "The United Nations: An African Perspective", was launched on Friday July 4, 2005, at the Institute for International Relations (IRIC), Yaounde . The 4-part publication examines the contributions of Africa to the evolution of the UN, the role of the UN in establishing and cementing peace as well as development and cooperation on the whole continent, and, finally, an analysis of the UN Reforms from an African perspective.
RUNIC Brussels organized a commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the UN Charter, in Bonn on 26 June. The event was co-organized with the City of Bonn, the German UNA and the “Circle of friends of the UN in Bonn ”. The key-note address was delivered by Prof. Rita Suessmuth, formerly the President of the German Parliament as well as a Member of the UN Global Commission on International Migration.
