Director-General's remarks at the reopening of the Kazakh Room

Reopening of Room XIV (“Kazakh Room”)
Monday, 8 December 2025, at 4.00 p.m.
Room XIV, Palais des Nations

Ambassador Kazykhan,
Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen, 

It is a pleasure to welcome you at the Palais des Nations as we celebrate both the reopening of Conference Room XIV – the Kazakh Room – and the 34^th anniversary of Kazakhstan’s independence. I would like to congratulate Kazakhstan on this special occasion and thank its Permanent Mission for organizing this important event. 

Room XIV has long been part of the story of multilateral diplomacy in Geneva. Designed in the 1930s by Parisian interior architect Marc Simon[1], who adorned it with beautiful ash and mahogany woodwork, this room once reflected the finest craftsmanship of the League of Nations era. Over the decades, its purpose evolved – from a conference room to a cinema in the 70s.

After falling out of service in 2007 due to ageing of its equipment, the room was given a new life thanks to the generous support of Kazakhstan, whose contribution allowed us not only to restore an important heritage space in 2013, but also to adapt it to the evolving needs of the 21^st century. It is also important to recall that this renewal took place during the tenure of H.E. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, now President of Kazakhstan, who served as Director-General of UNOG from 2011 to 2013 and actively supported this process, making this reopening particularly meaningful.

Today, Room XIV emerges as a modern, versatile and inclusive space, ready to host a wide variety of events that are part of the life of International Geneva. Its renewed layout, enhanced acoustic, upgraded technology and improved accessibility will allow it to support press conferences and briefings, cultural events and film screenings, and many other types of gatherings. 

This flexibility is essential. The Palais needs multifunctional spaces like this one to satisfy the variety of demands of a fast-evolving multilateral landscape. 

The Kazakh Room is not only functional, but also symbolic. It demonstrates how we can preserve our architectural heritage while ensuring that the Palais remains fit for purpose, stays inclusive and technologically ready for the future. This is one of the most important parts of the Strategic Heritage Plan – the most comprehensive renovation of the Palais des Nations since its construction. 

Ladies and gentlemen,

Kazakhstan has been a constructive and engaged member of the United Nations since its independence. Its leadership in peace, dialogue, intercultural understanding, nuclear non-proliferation and sustainable development continues to enrich our collective work. And the Kazakh room stands as a visible expression of this partnership – a space contributed by a Member State that believes in the power of diplomacy and cooperation.

I have no doubt that the Room XIV will once again become a place where ideas are exchanged, consensus is built, cultures are celebrated and solutions to global challenges are shaped. 

Let me once again thank Kazakhstan for its generous support and extend my congratulations to the people of Kazakhstan on the eve of their Independence Day. 

Thank you.