Europe

President Bach,

I am deeply honoured to receive this Olympic Cup Award on behalf of the United Nations.

I sincerely thank you for this powerful recognition of the talented, dedicated and selfless women and men of our Organization. They work around the world and they work around the clock for a better future of all the people. I accept this on their behalf with deep gratitude.

This is the second time that the United Nations has received this distinction. It is a sign that our partnership is growing even stronger.

Je suis très honoré de prendre part à la cérémonie d’aujourd’hui.

L’Organisation des Nations Unies est fière de travailler en partenariat avec vous en faveur d’un monde meilleur.

Here, at our Palais des Nations in Geneva, this flame represents the warm partnership between the United Nations and the International Olympic Movement.

This is the flame of passion that burns in the hearts of athletes and fans.

It is the eternal flame representing timeless values that can never be extinguished.

Es ist mir eine große Ehre, als erster internationaler Gast eine Ansprache in diesem Parlament halten zu dürfen. [I am deeply honoured to be the first international dignitary to address this Parliament.]

Ich danke Ihnen für Österreichs wichtigen Beitrag zur Arbeit der Vereinten Nationen und dafür, dass Sie ein so großzügiges Gastland sind! [I thank you for Austria’s significant contribution to the United Nations, and for being such a generous host country!]

In the vocabulary of the international community, Vienna and Austria is synonymous with global action.

Thank you Dr Lassina Zerbo, Executive Secretary of CTBTO, Your Excellency, Mr. Michael Spindelegger, former Vice Chancellor, Minister of Foreign Minister and Finance Minister of Austria, with whom I have worked very closely, thank you for your leadership and commitment, Your Excellency, Ms. Susan le Jeune D’Allegeershecque, Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom to the United Nations in Vienna and member of the CTBT Group of Eminent Persons. And I would like to also thank Sanam Shantyaei of France 24 and Julian Borger of the Guardian News & Media.

Meine Damen und Herren, guten Abend!

Ich freue mich sehr, in Wien wieder zu sein.

Sehr geehrter Herr Aussenminister, ich danke Ihnen für Ihr Leadership und Ihre Gastfreundlichkeit.

Danke schön.

[Ladies and Gentlemen, good evening. I am happy to be in Vienna again. Dear Mr. Foreign Minister I thank you for your leadership and your hospitality. Thank you.]

Thank you for your welcome.

I am honoured to meet with the members of the Dutch parliament today.

This is my sixth visit to the Netherlands as Secretary-General.

Every time I come I am heartened by the Dutch people’s commitment to inclusiveness, diversity, international cooperation and civil liberties.

The contribution of the Netherlands to the work of the United Nations touches on all aspects of the Organization’s work: peace and security, development, human rights and humanitarian assistance.

The Netherlands is a key partner of UN peacekeeping.

Thank you for welcoming me today.

It is an honour to accept the World Leader Cycle Award from the Economic Faculty association Rotterdam here at the Erasmus University Rotterdam.

I know that you are recognizing not only me, but also the Organization I am proud to serve and lead. Thank you for this expression of support for the United Nations and its staff.

Desiderius Erasmus of Rotterdam, also known as the wandering scholar, gave his name to your University and to Europe’s longest standing student exchange programme.

It is my great honour to open this celebration of the 70th anniversary of the International Court of Justice.

Over the past seven decades, the United Nations has grown in the size of its membership, and in the scope of its activities.

But everything we do is still defined by the opening pledge of our Charter to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war and establish conditions under which justice and respect for international law can be maintained.

I am pleased to be back in the Netherlands.

As you have seen earlier I had the great honour of being awarded the Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Netherlands Lion.

I thank Minister [Bert] Koenders, and the Government and people of the Netherlands, for this generous recognition of the importance of the work of the United Nations, and for their warm welcome and hospitality.

I look forward to seeing His Majesty King Willem Alexander in person this afternoon and tonight.

I am honoured to be here to celebrate this landmark occasion with you.

The inauguration of the permanent premises of the International Criminal Court is a milestone in global efforts to promote and uphold human rights and the rule of law.

The ties between the United Nations and the International Criminal Court give me great pride.

Fourteen years since my predecessor, Mr. Kofi Annan, and then-President Philippe Kirsch signed our Relationship Agreement, we continue to stand side by side.