The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy celebrated the contributions of the United Nations (UN) yesterday by holding a flag-raising ceremony with a keynote address by the UN's third highest ranking official, Syed Igbal Riza, the Chef de Cabinet to the Secretary General. The event signified Tufts' awareness of current world conflicts and support for the UN in solving them.
Oct. 23, worldwide UN Day, marks the anniversary of the signing of the UN charter in San Francisco in 1945.
"Symbolically, it is held for people to recognize the UN one day a year for keeping peace," Fletcher School spokesperson Terry Ann Knopf said. "Particularly in this time with the events happening in Iraq, Israel, and most recently Korea, we need peace."
Riza, who graduated from the Fletcher School in 1957, stressed the role of the UN in the world. "The greatest challenge for the UN is the eradication of extreme poverty and international peace and security," he said. "We not only need the support of nations; we need the support of individuals like you for the causes of internationalism and multilateralism."
The UN is the world's primary example for multilateralism, Fletcher professor Ian Johnstone said. Multilateralism, as Johnstone explained, is the idea that solutions to trans-national problems need to be pursued through cooperation among governments and other actors in international affairs.
Riza touched on the current conflicts faced by Americans. In many ways these are like the issues being faced by Israelis, Koreans, and Middle Easterners today, he said. "The shadow of terrorism hangs over us in many manifestations. From the heinous attacks of Sept. 11 to that which plagues the nation's capital right now."
"People are not born terrorists. They become terrorists," Riza said.
At 11:30 the flag was raised by the Chef de Cabinet and Tufts ROTC/Color Guard. "The raising of the flag shows US involvement and awareness at Tufts," Jan Arno Hessbruegge, a first year Fletcher Student said. "The UN is now, more than ever, vitally important, and it is a great thing to celebrate their principles."
UN Day is globally celebrated, but few college students are aware of the holiday or its purposes. Tufts is one of the few schools in the area to celebrate the UN in its progress for peace, human rights, and global development. The event was organized to provide a chance to reflect on the continuing value of the UN as a vehicle for promoting peace and prosperity around the world.
"The fact that [Riza] came at a moment that is especially critical for the UN is a real honor and a great opportunity for the Tufts community to hear from somebody who is in the thick of things," he said before the event.
Riza responded that the speech "was an invitation I couldn't refuse."
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