Courtesy of Dr. Susan Williams:
Secretary-General Anniversary Message Marking Death of Dag Hammarskjöld Urges Embodying Former UN Chief’s Qualities of Integrity, Compassion to Build Peaceful, Just World
Following are UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ remarks at the wreath-laying ceremony commemorating the sixty-fifth anniversary of the death of former Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld, in New York today:
We come together to pay tribute to the life and legacy of Dag Hammarskjöld, who was tragically killed 65 years ago. The values Mr. Hammarskjöld fought for – and the passion with which he pursued them — have made him a reference and inspiration for me and for countless UN colleagues through the years.
When his airplane went down in 1961, he was on a mission of peace — seeking to negotiate a ceasefire in the Congolese region of Katanga. His death haunts us still. Many questions remain unanswered.
I have now received the latest report from the former Chief Justice of the United Republic of Tanzania, Mohamed Chande Othman, on the investigation into the crash. I am encouraged by the progress and will soon convey my recommendations to the General Assembly for its consideration. While Member States have provided information, it is likely that other documents have yet to be disclosed.
I renew my appeal for all parties to come forward with any relevant records in their possession. We will not stop striving to determine what happened that night. The families of the deceased, the United Nations — and indeed the world — deserve answers.
When we lay this wreath, we remember not only Mr. Hammarskjöld, but also the 15 colleagues and crew accompanying him. They came from countries across the globe — political advisers, legal specialists, translators, security officers, pilots. None survived.
Their sacrifice reminds us of [all] the women and men who have lost their lives while serving the United Nations. Tragically, their numbers are growing. Over the last three years, our dear UN colleagues have been killed in record numbers.
We mark Dag Hammarskjöld’s death at a time when global cooperation is under siege. Wars are raging. Temperatures are rising. And human rights are being trampled. But in times like these, the qualities Mr. Hammarskjöld embodied can be our guide: integrity, in the face of raw power; compassion, for those who are suffering; and humility, when our courage and skills are put to [the] test.
As he once said: “Our work for peace must begin with[in] the private world of each one of us. To build a world without fear, we must be without fear. To [build] a world of justice, we must be just.”
Let us be without fear. Let us be just. And let us never abandon the work of peace. Please join me in a moment of silence to honour Dag Hammarskjöld, and all those who perished with him.
