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 On 23 October, the United Nations in Armenia, together with its strategic partners - government officials, representatives of the diplomatic corps, international organizations, private sector, civil society, educational institutions and media, celebrated the 70thanniversary of the organization, according to the press service of the United Nations Office in Armenia.

“The 70th anniversary of the United Nations is a timely opportunity to highlight its many and enduring achievements -- and to strengthen our collective resolve to do more to promote peace and security, sustainable development and human rights,” the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon said in his special message issued on this occasion.

Seven decades after its founding, the United Nations remains a beacon for all humanity. Every day, the UN feeds the hungry and shelters those driven from their homes. The United Nations vaccinates children who would otherwise die from preventable diseases. The UN peacekeepers are on the frontlines of conflict. Guided by the values of the UN Charter the United Nations works for the entire human family of seven billion people, and cares for the earth.

The UN Resident Coordinator Mr. Bradley Busetto said during his speech at an official reception marking the jubilee: “Armenia has been a member of the UN since virtually the founding of the republic, and the UN has been active in Armenia since the beginning too. We are proud of our achievements together, from the assistance to people affected by conflict in the early days, to strengthening disaster preparedness, to improving child rights, and reducing child mortality, and strengthening gender equality and protecting human rights. And it has only been possible through the excellent cooperation with our partners, and the passionate commitment to improving the lives of Armenia”.

At the same event, the Vice Prime Minister Mr. Vache Gabrielyan mentioned։ "This year we are wrapping up the Millennium Development Goals. Despite quite a few achievements that we have in MDGs we understand that we still have to do and develop a lot. This approach has been a basis to prepare the new and more universal UN development program "Transforming the World. Sustainable Development Agenda 2030" to which Armenia has been part of since its inception. The new agenda with its 17 goals and 169 targets is called to ensure the sustainable development of the world population in all walks of life."

To mark this anniversary, monuments and buildings across the world are being illuminated in UN blue. Armenia has also joined the global campaign "Turn the World UN Blue‬" by having several of its landmarks turn UN blue. The Opera House in Yerevan, St. Gregory Cathedral (Zvartnots) in Vagharshapat (5-7th centuries), Tufenkian Old Dilijan Complex in Dilijan (19-20th centuries) and the Monument “Mother Armenia” in Gyumri are among the list of over 200 iconic monuments, buildings, museums, bridges and other landmarks in nearly 60 countries around the world that were lit up blue on October 23-24. ‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

On 24 October 1945, seventy years ago, the founding Charter of the UN entered into force, thus announcing the establishment of the Organization. The UN Office in Armenia was opened in December 1992, after Armenia became a member of the United Nations in March 1992.