United Nations Radio

Narrator: UN staff members and their families celebrate the International Year of Languages in New York's Central Park on October 4th. Dr Shaaban Muhammad Shaaban talks to Samantha Hoar about the event:~~

USG SHAABAN: This get-together in the Central Park is the first of its kind. The idea is for the staff members, and their families, and their children to get more acquainted with one another; this is one objective. The other objective is that the United Nations is celebrating [the] International Year of Languages in 2008, so we are celebrating the different cultures we come from - our roots, our traditions, and the different languages we speak - we made it open for the whole UN Secretariat, so we are expecting between 400 to 500 people.

HOAR:Gosh - that's a lot!

USG SHAABAN:It is indeed.

HOAR:So you want everyone to come along, bring their families, their children - it's going to be a big extravaganza. Whereabouts is it?

USG SHAABAN: This is in Central Park, on Saturday, 4th of October, from 12 noon to 5 PM. That is what they would call the East Meadow 99th Street, and 5th Avenue.

HOAR:So what made you want to hold it there, as opposed to in the United Nations?

USG SHAABAN: Well, we live in the United Nations most of our lives, so it would not be a change, I believe this was the idea: to get out from the surrounding of the United Nations, to go to an open-air place, and the mingling of the families, the children could play; and so I hope it will be a successful day.

HOAR:So you wanted it to be a bit more casual, if you like - more interactive, if you like.

USG SHAABAN: Indeed. And for the children we also have a special program: karate lessons for children, yoga lessons, capoeira lessons, ballroom dancing lessons. So I think the children, and their families, and their parents will enjoy the day.

HOAR: Any lessons for the adults, or they just get to talk?

USG SHAABAN: There is a tango performance by a staff member, Spanish folk songs, Colombian dancers by a Colombian cultural club; so there is actually an item for every taste.

HOAR: So what do you want UN staff members to get out of this day?

USG SHAABAN: I do hope that this will be the first, and not the last, function of this sort of get-together. Besides celebrating the International Year of Languages, and the children who are capable of speaking or learning four languages at a time will be - I mean they will enjoy the most, I believe, and when the parents see that their children are happy, they themselves are happy.

HOAR: So that's one of things you really want to highlight here; not only is the UN staff talking, but to highlight the wonderful Year of Languages.

USG SHAABAN: Indeed, indeed. We are not killing, but we are hurting two birds with one stone.

HOAR:And so what are you going to do there?

USG SHAABAN: Well, actually, I have the "onerous" task of making the inaugural speech. To welcome everyone, to thank the organizing the committee, to thank the New York Police Department, who will be observing the safety of the staff members, to thank the Central Park authority, and to thank the mayor of New York, who individually or personally intervened towards the success of this day.

HOAR:Is he going to come?

USG SHAABAN: I don't think so.

HOAR:Are you looking forward to it, then?

USG SHAABAN: Very much so, very much so.

HOAR:Are you going to do the tango?

USG SHAABAN: No, I'll watch (laughter).

HOAR:Alright, that was great, thank you very much. Is there anything else you'd like to add?

USG SHAABAN: Thank you very much. Actually, the idea is that people from different cultures meet to know that eventually there is a universal culture; that is the culture of peace.

(duration: 4'12")