11 July 2006

Bonn, Germany: In opening a new complex to house the United Nations offices in Germany, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan today praised the German government for its support to the world organization.

“One might even say that UN ideals have become part of the country’s very identity. Having themselves known the horror of war, and the errant path a society can take, the German people are strongly committed to peace, human rights and sustainable development – and not just at home,” Mr Annan said, citing German participation in current international peacekeeping efforts, from Afghanistan to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

“With today’s opening of this campus, Germany’s commitment to the United Nations grows deeper still. The renowned ‘Langer Eugen,’ which formerly housed the parliamentarians of a divided Germany, is now the place where all UN agencies are united, and will work as a single family.”

The UN Secretary-General said Bonn is one of the organization’s most rewarding duty stations for UN staff and is home to a range of diverse organizations. It is the headquarters of the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme, which sends thousands of people to volunteer in support of UN-led economic and social development initiatives, as well as the secretariats of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species (CMS). In total, 12 organizations are hosted in Bonn.

 
Mr Annan and the German Chancellor Angela Merkel addressed more than 1,000 invitees, including government officials, UN staff and press, at the International Congress Centre (Internationales Kongresszentrum Bundeshaus), before attending a ribbon cutting and flag raising ceremony in front of the Langer Eugen complex.

In her speech, Chancellor Merkel stressed the importance Germany places on the UN and the support it has provided to establish a visible UN presence in the country. She said today’s inauguration signifies 10 years of joint efforts to put Bonn – and Germany – on the global map of development.

Mr Annan also took the opportunity to speak briefly on developments related to UN reform and the challenges facing the international community, from Darfur to Iran.