Memorial Speech of Special Representative of the Secretary-General Bernard Kouchner; On the Occasion of the Death of UNMIK Staff Member Mr. Valentine Krumov.

Pristina, 15 October -- Today is a sad day for the United Nations and its mission members serving across the globe. Today we share grief for a fallen colleague - the untimely death of Mr. Valentine Krumov, who was brutally murdered on 11 October, the same day he arrived in Pristina to join our team. On behalf of all of us, I want to express our deep condolences to Mr. Krumov's family. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.

Mr. Krumov came to Pristina to work with the United Nations to achieve peace and security in an area which has experienced far too much violence in its recent past. That Mr. Krumov fell victim to the same hatred, which he came to remedy, is an extreme tragedy. That Mr. Krumov was reportedly killed because of the language he spoke is also an extreme tragedy. That people are still murdered for their ethnicity, language, religion, culture or other affiliation here and around the world is disgusting and will not be tolerated by the United Nations and should not be tolerated by any citizen of this world.

Mr. Krumov's contribution to the United Nations efforts to build a peaceful society in Kosovo cannot be measured by the actual time he spent in the area. Rather, Mr. Krumov's contribution is a model to each and every one of us of his commitment to peace and his desire to achieve the freedom of democracy. That is our reason for being here, our reason for enduring separation from family members and hardship conditions and our reason for risking our lives. We believe in the United Nations. We believe that all citizens of the world deserve an environment within which they can achieve their dreams and a place where there is a future to look forward to.

Mr. Krumov gave his life for these values. His sacrifice for our common dreams and goals was for a noble cause - a higher calling that we of the United Nations commit to each day we arrive at work. Mr. Krumov's efforts towards achieving these common goals have not been in vain. We will continue our struggle. We will continue to implement the goals of the United Nations without trepidation and fear from evil forces who seek repression and persecution in a land fraught with violence and hatred.

Please join me in a moment of silence for Mr. Krumov, as well as for all our other colleagues who have given their lives in service to the United Nations.

Our thought are with you, Mr. Krumov's family. Thank you.