NEW YORK, April 30, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Following are UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s remarks at the ceremony for handing over United Nations documents to the Central African Republic today:
I am honoured to be here. The United Nations is working hard to help the suffering people of the Central African Republic. The Security Council has authorized a new United Nations peacekeeping operation called MINUSCA. United Nations humanitarian staff are providing food, shelter and protection to thousands of people displaced by the fighting and violence. United Nations human rights officials are in the country to help its people.
I went to Bangui and saw how much people want peace. The United Nations will do everything possible to help them build a united future. The Minister for Foreign Affairs, H.E. Mr. Toussaint Kongo-Doudou, used to be a staff member here. He understands the great value of the United Nations. He asked the Department of Public Information (DPI) to replace documents — including copies of the United Nations Charter — that were lost or looted during the recent violence.
I thank the Dag Hammarskjöld Library and other colleagues in DPI for working quickly to honour this request. Mr. [Mesmin] Dembassa [Worogagoi] from the Permanent Mission of the Central African Republic, it is my pleasure to be able to give you these essential documents. They include DVDs containing records dating back to when the Central African Republic became a United Nations Member State in 1960, the originals of which you can see beside us.
The United Nations stands ready to provide as much aid and expertise as we can to the Central African Republic. Beyond that, the principles in these documents can help the country restore peace and contribute to our world.
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