27 July 2015
Excellencies,
Distinguished Delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Today, we pay tribute to Ambassador Roble Olhaye of Djibouti, whose passing last week deeply saddened the United Nations community.
Having been appointed in 1988, Ambassador Olhaye was the longest-serving Permanent Representative to the United Nations. In his 27 years of service, Ambassador Olhaye built an enduring legacy, both here in New York and also in Washington, D.C., where he served as Ambassador of his country to the United States. He was also Djibouti’s non-resident Ambassador to Canada.
Here at the United Nations, Ambassador Olhaye served in a wide range of capacities, including representing his country in the Security Council in 1994. He served as President of the Council in February 1994 as well as Chairman of the Sanctions Committee established by Security Council Resolution 814 on Haiti. He later served as Chairman of the Second Committee in 1999.
Prior to coming to New York, Ambassador Olhaye served as Djibouti’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Environment Programme and UN-Habitat in Nairobi, Kenya.
He was also Honorary Consul of Djibouti to Kenya from 1980-1985, during which time, diplomatic relations between the two countries were established.
After more than two and half decades of international service, Ambassador Olhaye’s presence became an indelible part of daily life here at the United Nations. I know I speak for many of us when I say he will be greatly missed.
I convey my sincere condolences to the bereaved family, including his wife and children, as well as the Government and people of Djibouti.
May his soul rest in eternal peace.
