Switzerland celebrates 20 years of UN Membership
Swiss President Ignazio Cassis inaugurated a 1:25 model of the Palais des Nations in Melide, Ticino, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Switzerland joining the United Nations.
The model is over 11 meters long, weighs over a metric ton an demanded over 4,000 hours of work. It is a detailed reproduction of the historical building that hosted the League of Nations and, since 1945, the European Headquarters of the UN. The diplomatic corps accredited in Switzerland and the Director-General of the UN in Geneva gathered around the Swiss President for the ceremony.
“The Palais des Nations is both a painful memory and a sign of hope”, the Swiss President said, referring to the League of Nations and also to the fact that multilateralism was able to adapt and create solutions throughout history.
Former Heads of Government Joseph Deiss, Ruth Dreifuss et Luigi Pedrazzini remember these days that changed the international profile of Switzerland.
Switzerland, Host State and Member State, is also called home by over a thousand UN staff.
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