UN role and reform

I am pleased to join you to mark the reinstallation of this magnificent gift to the United Nations from Saudi Arabia.

I thank Ambassador Abdallah bin Yahya Al-Mouallimi and the staff of the Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia who coordinated this effort.

In 1983, as the Ambassador just said, Saudi Arabia presented the Kiswa to the United Nations on behalf of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques.

It was a privilege to receive this cover to the door of the Holy Kaaba, in Mecca.

Mayor de Blasio – it is a pleasure to welcome you once again to United Nations Headquarters.

Today we join hands with our great host city for a very special initiative: by hosting a pop-up registration site for New York City’s new municipal identification card.

It is called idNYC, it is free, and soon I will have my very own idNYC. After more than eight years of calling New York home, I will finally be able to say that I am a New Yorker!

Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson, Ms. Kathy Calvin, President and CEO of the UN Foundation, Ms. Laurie Norton Moffatt, Director and CEO of the Norman Rockwell Museum, Excellencies, Ladies and gentlemen,

Let me begin by thanking the Norman Rockwell Museum for its support.

I thank the United Nations Foundation for its generosity.

I thank the many United Nations officials for their enthusiasm in bringing this exhibition to our headquarters.

The Honorable Nancy Pelosi, Congresswoman and Democratic Leader of the United States House of Representatives; The Honorable Jerry Brown, Governor of California; The Honorable Edwin Lee, Mayor of San Francisco; Distinguished Ambassadors, Permanent Representatives, Consul Generals and members of the diplomatic and consular corps; Distinguished guests, including Malala Yousafzai; Ladies and Gentlemen,

Thank you for joining us to celebrate the founding of the United Nations -- the indispensable organization I am proud to serve.

I am delighted to welcome all of you here today. Welcome also to those joining our celebration over in Times Square, in India and across the world via webcast -- and to those watching live on Periscope.

I also welcome Mr. Tim Tompkins, President of the Times Square Alliance, and Yoga guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.

To all of you I say: Namaste!

This is the first year that we observe the International Day of Yoga, proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly.

This is a wonderful addition to the United Nations calendar.

I am pleased to offer my warmest congratulations to Mr. Mogens Lykketoft, President-elect of the 70th session of the General Assembly. This is a well-deserved recognition of Denmark’s important role on the international stage. And it is a testimony to Mr. Lykketoft’s personal strengths.

I take this opportunity to express my appreciation to the current President, His Excellency, Mr. Sam Kutesa.

Guten Tag. [Good afternoon.]

Ich freue mich, in Bonn wieder zu sein. Ich freue mich, heute zu diesem besonderen Anlass bei Ihnen zu sein – der offiziellen Eröffnung des Weltkonferenzzentrums Bonn. [It is a pleasure to be back in Bonn. It is a pleasure to join you for this special occasion -- the official opening of the World Conference Center Bonn.]

Ich gratuliere allen, die daran mitgewirkt haben, dieses Ereignis möglich zu machen. [I congratulate all involved in making this achievement possible.]

Thank you very much, Mr. President,

It’s a great honour and pleasure to visit the European Union with the new leadership installed.

We have a very good and extensive exchange of views on matters of our common concern.

Last night, I also attended a dinner consultation with all 28 foreign or development ministers of the European Union to discuss matters of our concern, including migration and sustainable development.

In a short while, I will have the honour of addressing the European Parliament.

Congratulations!

Please join me in saluting the families, friends and faculty who shared in your journey and achievement.

Thank you for this honorary degree. I humbly accept on behalf of the dedicated United Nations staff around the world, working day and night, for peace, development and human rights. This honour is for them.

Dear graduates,

I am at home at Georgetown.

Your list of graduates reads like a United Nations directory.

It includes so many people, particularly, among them, United Nations spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric.

I am honoured to join with all of you to celebrate the return of the Peace Bell.

As we do, we thank the people and Government of Japan for their support of the goals and ideals of the United Nations.

The Peace Bell is one of the oldest outdoor gifts to the United Nations, and a particularly meaningful one. I always take great inspiration whenever I pass by, and of course when we ring it each September to mark the International Day of Peace.