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..Press
Release................................
UNESCAP News Services
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Date 20
May 2005
Press Release No: L/18/2005
THE UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY?GENERAL
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MESSAGE ON THE OCCASION OF THE DAY OF VESAK
22 May 2005
I send you my warmest greetings on the Day of
Vesak, when we commemorate the birth, enlightenment and passing
of the Buddha. The ideals we celebrate on this day are close
to those of the United Nations: understanding among peoples,
the pursuit of harmony, the promotion of peace.
This Day of Vesak falls at a special time for
the United Nations. This year not only marks the 60th anniversary
of our founding at the end of the Second World War. It is also
a year in which we are thinking ahead, and engaging in a constructive
debate about the future: how to defeat poverty; how to build
a collective security system able to meet our common threats;
and how to increase respect for human dignity in every land.
I believe that historic, fundamental progress is possible. But
it will depend on the will of Governments, and on the engagement
of groups and individuals around the world.
As we mark this year’s Day of Vesak, let
us remember that whatever our origin, race, culture or belief,
we share the same home -- a small, single planet on which we
are bound to live together. Let us resolve to work together
towards the common good and the harmonious and peaceful coexistence
of all the world’s people. I thank all of you for your
commitment to those ideals, and wish you a wonderful celebration
for the Day of Vesak.
Kofi A. Annan
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