Director-General's remarks at the Planting of grapevines "Vigne des Nations"

‘Vigne des Nations’
Symbolic Planting of the Vines

Tuesday, 12 May 2026 at 9.00 a.m.
Ariana Park, Palais des Nations

Your Excellency, Ms. Fontanet 
[State Councilor of the Republic and Canton of Geneva], 
Ambassador Gürber,
Dear friends and colleagues,

It is a pleasure to be with you this morning for this very special ceremony in Ariana Park.

There is something symbolic about planting a vine. It is an act of faith in the future, a belief that what we nurture today will bear fruit for years to come. In that sense, it is a simple but powerful reflection of the values we uphold together: peace and dialogue, sustained through cooperation, and a sense of responsibility to future generations.

The “Vigne des Nations” stands as a testament to the close and longstanding ties between this city and International Geneva. The United Nations has had the honor of receiving this distinction on several occasions, most recently in 2025, on its 80th anniversary. Each time, it underscores the extraordinary partnership and support of our host country.

Today, that partnership takes deeper root.

As we plant this vine, we give that commitment a tangible form. It reflects the deep connections that bring together the many actors of International Geneva. In many ways, it also mirrors the path of our Organization, as it continues to adapt and renew itself to remain effective in a changing world.

Its placement here in Ariana Park is particularly fitting. Planted near the beehives offered by Switzerland in 2012 to mark a decade of its membership in the United Nations, it brings together two enduring symbols of care, patience, and continuity, qualities that also underpin our collective work.

Allow me to express my sincere gratitude to the Republic and Canton of Geneva, and to Switzerland for this generous gesture and for your unwavering support to the United Nations and to International Geneva.

I hope this vine will grow and flourish, and in the years ahead serve as a living emblem of the future we are cultivating together here in Geneva.

Thank you.