Speech by Ambassador Buddhi Athauda,
Diplomatic Council Co-Founder and Chairman of the Board of Presidents

Diplomatic Council Summer Celebration 2019

Your Excellencies,
most valued Distinguished Diplomatic Council members, ladies and gentlemen.

Allow me to extend a very special “thank you” to those who travelled all the way to come here from far away cities and countries. We sincerely appreciate your dedication and believe in Diplomatic Council.

So glad to see many founding members of the Diplomat Council and many members who have been with us for a very long time.

Big welcome to all those new members who have joined us recently.

Your Excellencies,
When we read the newspapers or follow on the Internet the world seems to be chaotic and more and more uncertainties growing every day. Economic and trade tensions, religious conflicts, regional disputes are escalating. And we might feel hopeless.

But - my distinguished Diplomatic Council members: Let ́s not give up.
We always have had and there will always be challenges. Personal challenges, but also challenges for mankind. How can we overcome these challenges? Only if we join hands, stick together, putting our minds together, then we can make the difference.
This is why our Secretary General Hang Nguyen, our Executive Chairman Andreas Dripke and I together founded the Diplomatic Council many years ago. To bring together, ambassadors and business leaders, the thinkers and the champions with big hearts.

So here you are, our wonderful Diplomatic Council members. You, the thinkers, the champions, have joined us for the bigger purpose of life, To make our world a better place,

Of course there are other organisations besides the Diplomatic Council where people and nations stand together. The European Union is one of the best examples. I have been a Diplomat here in Germany, in The Netherlands and now in France - so I am aware of and experience first hand the weaknesses of the European Union. Still, believe me, the formation of European Union is the best that ever happened to Europe. A united Europe is much better than a disunited Europe. Ask your parents and grandparents. They know more about World War I and World War II , probably first hand experiences , because some European countries thought they where superior to others. The problems the European Union has now is nothing compared to the problems which will occur if Europe falls apart.

This is why we are so proud that His Excellency Dr. Gordon Radman, Ambassdor of the Republic of Croatia, joins our Presidents Board here in the Diplomatic Council. Your country and you personally believe as we do in the future of Europe. I know that you are not just representing you country - you go far beyond your call of duty, and are an exemplary European citizen

Your excellencies,
It is my very pleasure to give you a warm welcome as our new President of the Diplomatic Council. You are representing and living up to the ultimate goals Hang, Andreas and I had when we founded the Diplomatic Council..

Ladies and gentlemen, please give a big applause to our new President and friend His Excellency Dr. Gordon Radman, Ambassdor of the Republic of Croatia

Many of you are aware that the Diplomatic Council has consultative status with the United Nations. And this is for a good reason: We believe in multilateralism. Having served various leadership positions in many multilateral organizations such as UNESCO, Permanent Cour of Arbitration, Common Fund for Commodities, Organization for Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, and a few more.

I am aware that UN has weaknesses - actually a lot of weaknesses, it is common knowledge. But still it is by far the strongest global institution we have on earth.

As with all international organisations - you have to improve them every day, they all must change with time must adopt and provide leadership to new social needs . The United Nations, the European Union, the Diplomatic Council - they all have to evolve and improve every day. it is worthwhile to spend the time and effort to do so. The world is in need of those international organisations more than ever.

Distinguished members,
If you think of the three organisations - the UN, the EU and the DC - only one of them represents the civil society. And this is the Diplomatic Council. Dr. Gordon and I, represent our countries as Ambassadors. But believe me, the states alone cannot fix the world. We do need more engagement of the civil society than ever before. when I say civil society I mean the civilized society, not the mob. I am living in Paris and I can tell you, nobody needs, violence and social threats, which drains the economy and the “fabric of safety” in our society.

On the contrary the civilized society is more needed than ever. This is what the Diplomatic Council is about: smart people, future thinkers, personalities who want to make a contribution, who have passion to model the future. who are champions that have understood that it makes much sense to play as a team

So let us get together in this wonderful evening, let ́s talk, let ́s develop ideas and also let ́s have fun - as I said earlier, let us together build the future that our children can live in harmony and in peace. Let us make this world a better place.

Ambassador Buddhi Athauda, June, 28, 2019