UN Day Concert – 24 October 2013, Dag Hammarskjöld Auditorium 
 Remarks by Dag Hammarskjöld – to be read by Adhiratha 

UN Day observances have traditionally included music. 

Following are excerpts from Secretary-General 
         Dag Hammarskjöld’s statement 
           on 24 October 1960 – 
his last United Nations Day – 
        when the Philadelphia Orchestra 
          performed Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. 
I quote: 
 
…This concert is in celebration of United Nations Day 
    and it has been felt that a few words may remind us 
            of the purpose for which we have assembled…. 

On his road from conflict and emotion to reconciliation 
  in this final hymn of praise, 
      Beethoven has given us a confession
                       and a credo[CREED-O] 
which we, 
   who work WITHIN and FOR this Organization, 
      may well make our own…. 

The road of Beethoven in his Ninth Symphony 
       is also the road followed by the authors 
	     of the Preamble of the Charter. 
It begins with the recognition of the threat 
   under which we all all live
    speaking as it does of the need 
     to save succeeding generations 
      from the scourge of war 
      which has brought untold sorrow to mankind. 

It moves on to a reaffirmation    of faith 
	in the dignity and worth of the human person. 
And it ends with the promise to practice tolerance 
    and live together in peace
          with one another      as good neighbors 
     and to unite our strength to maintain peace

We are indeed still in the first movements. 
But…we have too much in common, 
         too great a sharing of interests,… 
   ever to weaken in our efforts 
       to surmount the difficulties 
and not to turn the simple human values, 
   which are our common heritage, 
              into the firm foundation 
       on which we may unite our strength 
                 and live together in peace….