Csaba Kőrösi, President of the 77th session of the General Assembly
—-
Thematic Meeting on Multilingualism across the UN System
12 June 2023
(As prepared for delivery)
Excellencies,
Mesdames et Messieurs,
Queridos Colegas,
Sobh Bekheir to you all.
This means “good morning” in Farsi – the language of Rumi, the 13th century poet who once wrote: “Speak a new language so that the world will be a new world.”
Rumi’s influence has transcended borders and divides for seven centuries.
With that kind of track record, I’d say he knew a thing or two about multilingualism.
Using someone else’s language is often the key to unlocking breakthroughs.
It can signal a gesture, a friendly intention.
It helps us meet each other halfway.
It can light up our ideas – and spark a relationship.
Not all languages are spoken. Some are signed. Others are tactile.
But by valuing every language we increase our chances for overcoming doubts.
For building, or, in our times, rebuilding trust.
For making decisions that are meaningful for all.
This is why we meet today: to fathom how we can use multilingualism to broaden our engagement in ways that make a difference.
Le multilinguisme est l’un des principes fondateurs des Nations Unies.
De plus, il est l’une des conditions préalables à notre succès, alors que nous nous confrontons à une marée montante de défis mondiaux.
L’année passée, l’Assemblée Générale a adopté une résolution sur le multilinguisme.
Elle salue l’usage de langues officielles et non-officielles par le Département Global de Communications, dans sa sensibilisation auprès de publics cibles locaux.
Elle reconnait également les efforts du Secrétariat pour mettre en usage des langues non-officielles – telles que le Portugais, le Hindi, le Kiswahili, et le Perse – dans le cadre de notre mission pour ne laisser personne de côté.
(French translation: Multilingualism is a founding principle of the United Nations.
And it is one of the prerequisites for our success as we confront a tidal wave of global challenges.
Last year, the General Assembly adopted a resolution on multilingualism.
It welcomes the use of both official and non-official languages by the UN Department of Global Communications in its outreach to specific local target audiences.
It also recognizes the Secretariat’s efforts to use non-official languages – such as Portuguese, Hindi, Kiswahili and Persian – in our efforts to leave no one behind.)
As a multilingual person myself, I applaud these decisions.
In the General Assembly, I try to facilitate cooperation among various groups of states and stakeholders.
Моя миссия состоит в том, чтобы способствовать терпимости, принятию, взаимному уважению и истинному пониманию разнообразия взглядов.И КАЖДЫЙ ДЕНЬ Я ВИЖУ, КАК УМЕНИЕ ГОВОРИТЬ НА ДРУГОМ ЯЗЫКЕ МОЖЕТ БЛАГОПРИЯТСТВОВАТЬ взаимопониманию между сторонами.Часто достаточно одного слова на языке другой стороны, чтобы растопить лед.
(Russian translation: My mission is to foster tolerance, acceptance, mutual respect and genuine appreciation for a diversity of views.
And every day I can see how the ability to speak another language can sow the seeds of understanding between parties.
Frequently, a single word in the language of somebody else is enough to break the ice.)
The six thousand languages spoken around the world showcase the strength and richness of our societies.
They all support and enhance our meaningful existence.
We must conserve this ancient tapestry of expression.
This is especially true for languages on the brink of extinction, many of them used by Indigenous Peoples.
As Nobel laureate Octavio Paz so eloquently reminds us: “For every language that becomes extinct, an image of a man disappears.”
To this I would add: some of our humanity disappears, too.
We must do our level best to prevent this from happening.
كَيفَ يُمكِنُنا الدّفعُ نحوَ أهداف ومَقاصِد التَّعَدُدِيَةِ اللُّغَوِيَة؟
في المَقامِ الأوّل، يكونُ ذَلِكَ من خِلال تَعزيزُ التّنَوُع اللُّغَوي.
يَلي ذَلِكَ مَسأَلَةُ ضَمانِ تَوَفُّرِ التّعليم باللّغَةِ الأُم لِفِئَةِ الشّباب.
أخيراً وَليسَ آخِراً، أَهَمِيَة تَعَرُّف طالِبيّ العِلْمَ وانفِتاحِهم مُنذُ الصِغَر، على لُغاتٍ مُخْتَلِفَةٍ، وهُوَ الأَمْرُ الذي سَيُمَكِّنَهُم من تَقديرِ العالمِ من حَوْلِهِم بالشَّكْلِ الأَمثَل.
(Arabic translation: How can we serve the cause of multilingualism?
First, by promoting language diversity.
Second, by ensuring that young people have access to education in their mother tongue.
And third, by exposing young learners to languages that are different from their own, so they can truly appreciate the world around them.)
At the United Nations, we have to find ways to prioritize resources for multilingual practices.
To use – and respect the use of – as many languages as possible here in our organization.
And to always ask: what more can we be doing to reach beyond the walls?
The walls of convention, routine, resignation and – let’s be frank – laziness.
With that in mind, I am grateful to the organizers for initiating this important discussion today.
I am eager to listen to your ideas, your suggestions.
And I hope we will always remember the wisdom of Amy Chua: “Do you know what a foreign accent is? A sign of bravery.”
Thank you.
