UNITED NATIONS – UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, on Monday, paid his respects to Amb. Mårten Grunditz, the UN Permanent Representative of Sweden to the UN who died on Jan. 27.
Ban in his remarks at the General Assembly Meeting in memory of Grunditz in New York, said he had a distinguished diplomatic career, with postings in Moscow, Beijing, Washington and other capitals.
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He said “Grunditz’s geographic reach of assignments’’ was matched by the depth of his conviction to international cooperation and the UN.
The UN boss added that during Grunditz’s four-and-a-half years as Sweden’s Permanent Representative in New York, “he was an active presence across our agenda.
“I am especially grateful for his advocacy for the rights of persons with disabilities, his dedication to helping to consolidate peace in Liberia and his devotion to carrying on the legacy of former Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld.
“He was known and will be remembered for his warmth, kindness, integrity and dignity.
“I thank the General Assembly for taking time this morning to remember a good colleague.
“I offer my deep condolences to Amb. Grunditz’s family, Mrs Grunditz and his two children, many friends and to his colleagues in the Swedish foreign ministry and to all others touched by this loss.’’
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Grunditz, while addressing the 69th UN General Assembly on Sept. 29, 2014 said: “
neither development nor peace is possible without strong focus on the role of women.
“By empowering women, we simultaneously promote both peace and development. Gender equality is not only just, but also smart economics.
“A fundamental step toward gender equality is to ensure women their sexual and reproductive health and rights, including freedom from violence.
“We have the normative frameworks in place, including Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security.
“The time has come to translate these norms into action,’’ the late Grunditz said. (NAN)
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