Jeremić pays tribute to fallen UN staff members

NEW YORK Vuk Jeremic paid tribute at the annual memorial service on Wednesday to the UN staff members who lost their lives in the line of duty over the past year. The president of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) underscored that the 29 colleagues worked in some of the world's most dangerous environments. Jeremic pays tribute to fallen UN staff members "Accepting such a call takes a special type of character-one that combines traits such as devotion, bravery and self-sacrifice, which our 29 fallen colleagues surely possessed," Jeremic said. "Some were peacekeepers; others policemen; still others civilian staff members. They each bore the UN badge on their helmet, jacket or identity card, sending out a message of reassurance and solidarity to the communities they worked in-a visible reminder that the world has not forgotten their plight," Jeremic said at the memorial service. The former Serbian foreign minister underlined that the UN badge remains a universal emblem of hope. "People in distress know they can seek help, support and shelter from the brave men and women who wear it, for that badge symbolizes humanity's protective shield, dedicated to 'saving succeeding generations from the scourge of war,' in the words of the UN Charter's Preamble," Jeremic noted. "This ceremony allows us to remember and grieve for the fallen alongside their families. It also bids us to think more deeply not only about their lives, but our own as well-to ask ourselves what more we can do to serve the cause of peace and reconciliation," he added. "Our pledge to carry on their work is perhaps the most meaningful affirmation we can make to ensure they did not die in vain," Vuk Jeremic said. "Let that commitment be a living memorial to them-and to all those whom Martin Luther King once defined as 'dedicated individuals whose tireless exertions and passionate concern for mankind bring us a step closer to achieving the goal of justice," Jeremic said. "In my own name and that of my staff, and on behalf of the General Assembly, allow me to express my deepest condolences to the families of the deceased, and to their friends and colleagues," concluded the president of the UNGA. Vuk Jeremic (Tanjug, file) Tanjug

Jeremić pays tribute to fallen UN staff members

"Accepting such a call takes a special type of character-one that combines traits such as devotion, bravery and self-sacrifice, which our 29 fallen colleagues surely possessed," Jeremić said.

"Some were peacekeepers; others policemen; still others civilian staff members. They each bore the UN badge on their helmet, jacket or identity card, sending out a message of reassurance and solidarity to the communities they worked in-a visible reminder that the world has not forgotten their plight," Jeremić said at the memorial service.

The former Serbian foreign minister underlined that the UN badge remains a universal emblem of hope.

"People in distress know they can seek help, support and shelter from the brave men and women who wear it, for that badge symbolizes humanity's protective shield, dedicated to 'saving succeeding generations from the scourge of war,' in the words of the UN Charter's Preamble," Jeremić noted.

"This ceremony allows us to remember and grieve for the fallen alongside their families. It also bids us to think more deeply not only about their lives, but our own as well-to ask ourselves what more we can do to serve the cause of peace and reconciliation," he added.

"Our pledge to carry on their work is perhaps the most meaningful affirmation we can make to ensure they did not die in vain," Vuk Jeremić said.

"Let that commitment be a living memorial to them-and to all those whom Martin Luther King once defined as 'dedicated individuals whose tireless exertions and passionate concern for mankind bring us a step closer to achieving the goal of justice," Jeremić said.

"In my own name and that of my staff, and on behalf of the General Assembly, allow me to express my deepest condolences to the families of the deceased, and to their friends and colleagues," concluded the president of the UNGA.