Roundup: Bi-coastal celebrations in U.S. mark 70th anniversary of UN Charter

The signing 70 years ago of the "We the peoples" Charter of the United Nations was marked on Friday in celebrations both at UN Headquarters in New York and the west coast city of San Francisco where representatives of 50 countries penned commitments in the shadow of World War II.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon delivered the keynote speech in the City Hall of San Francisco and UN Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson, a staunch supporter of the UN Charter known for carrying a small copy of it in his pocket daily, shared the spotlight here with U.S. ambassador Samantha Power, representing the host country of the world organization.

After remarks by the deputy secretary-general and the ambassador, attention switched to a live video feed of the San Francisco celebration and remarks of the secretary-general.

Ban recalled how more than 3,000 people worked for two months in the memorial's Opera House to write the document that famously begins, "We the peoples of the United Nations determined to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war .."

"The drafting of the Charter was a glorious gamble," Ban said. "Delegates from dozens of countries bet on humanity. So much faith was lost in the trenches and gas chambers of two world wars in the space of one generation. But they dared to believe in something bigger than person or country."

Hailing the Charter as a victory, he said, "We take the idea of the United Nations for granted, but bringing it to life required huge leaps of statecraft to bridge differences. Through intense negotiations, the delegates realized their dream. They knew you do not just rebuild broken societies with bricks and mortar, but with ideas and values. With the adoption of the Charter, a world in rubble found a path to renewal."

Ban reminded that the UN mission is not just attempting to prevent bloodshed.

"Every day, the United Nations feeds the hungry, shelters refugees and vaccinates children against deadly disease," he said. "The United Nations led the charge in dismantling colonialism, bringing freedom to millions. We mobilized the world to defeat apartheid. Our peacekeepers are on the frontlines of war; our mediators bring warriors to the table of peace."

"In signing the Charter, the founders achieved what many thought impossible," Ban said. "It falls to us to heed the Charter 's call to "unite our strength" and to use their creation -- the United Nations -- for the common good. The United Nations is the hope and home of all humankind. The Charter is our compass. Let us never relent on the journey to a better world for "We the peoples".

Back at UN Headquarters, the deputy secretary-general called the document "an expression of hope," adding that "It symbolizes the hope and aspirations that we can bring the world a little closer to the world as it should be. This we can do through cooperation, dialogue, peaceful settlement of disputes and respect of human rights."

Eliasson answered his own question as to why he carries a copy of the Charter: "I carry it because it is a physical reminder that this is an organization built around values and principles."

"At the heart of all this is one enduring symbol of our core values and mission: the UN Charter," said the deputy-secretary general. "Practically everything that we at the United Nations are doing and in the field today, was set into motion and was guided by this document."

He said hopes for peace, progress and fundamental dreams and aspirations of over 7 billion people around the world as expressed in the charter still resonate: "To save succeeding generations from the scourge of war .. to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person .. to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom."

Power expressed envy Ban was able to attend the celebration in San Francisco, especially on the day the U.S. Supreme Court decided same-sex marriage was the right of all U.S. citizens, as the movement for "gay marriage" began in San Francisco 10 years ago. All speakers at both celebrations referenced the historic decision.

She noted that the 50 original signatories in the United Nations has now swollen to 193 members.

But the ambassador also looked at the world organization with a critical eye.

"There are many people in my country -- and perhaps people in many of your countries as well -- that don't believe the United Nations serves its full purpose," said the Washington envoy. They believe we are broken, an institution of strife and inaction in the face of too much pain around the world."

"These people are not entirely wrong," she said. "When they see allegations of sexual abuse among peacekeepers, and resolutions without accountability in the Security Council, and indicted war criminals walking free, it depresses all of us. But we can be better, and we have to be better and do better because these United Nations matter more than ever."

"The people of the world are looking to us today," she said. " They looked to us for peace, they looked to us to support the quest for freedom and they looked to us to advance human dignity."

"We pray that we will continue to accomplish great and vital things for the people of the world," Power said. Endite