UNITED
NATIONS  GENERAL
ASSEMBLY
STATEMENT
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE FIFTY EIGHT SESSION
OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY
FOR THE RINGING OF THE PEACE
BELL CEREMONY
19 SEPTEMBER 2003
For
twenty-one years we have marked the International Day of
Peace and have sounded a message of hope by the ringing
of this Peace Bell. The International Peace Day reminds
us that we are one human family and that, for our continued
survival, we must renew our commitment to work together
for peace in the world.
I wish,
therefore, that the message we ring out on the Peace Bell
today could be a message of hope to all the people of the
world that we have brought an end to conflict and war, poverty
and deprivation, and deadly disease. I wish that the message
could be that there is economic justice, respect for democracy,
human rights and the rule of law. I wish that the message
could be that we have eliminated violence and terrorism,
and that our legacy to the children of this world is a world
community that ensures their well-being and the well-being
of all the world's people.
The
reality is, however, that many serious challenges face our
United Nations and our world, including events that shatter
our peace and heighten our insecurity. One such event that
is permanently engraved in our minds is the terrorist attack
on the United Nations Headquarters in Baghdad and the loss
of life and injury that resulted.
We should,
however, let nothing cloud our message of hope. We must
remain undaunted in our search for lasting peace. In doing
so, each and every one of us must resolve to help to make
it a reality. Therefore, as we join hands today with many
around the world to observe the International Day of Peace,
let us do so in recognition that peace is an imperative
for the progress of people and of nations. And as we do
so, let us reaffirm our faith in the letter and spirit of
the United Nations Charter, which commits us to "practice
tolerance and live in peace with one another".
So,
on this special day, let us ring the Peace Bell as our affirmation
that peace can be a reality. It is up to us to make it so.
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