January 2004 was a very special month for the memory of our national Bard, Robert Burns. While many traditional Burns Suppers and events continued to be enjoyed throughout the world, just under 300 special guests from many countries attended a unique gala dinner, held in the Delegates Dining Room of the United Nations on 13 January. They were there to hear United Nations Secretary General, Kofi Annan, deliver the inaugural Robert Burns Memorial Lecture on the theme of the state of the world and brotherhood of man.

In his well delivered, challenging speech, Mr Annan praised the vision of the Scots Bard in his call for greater equality and care for others. From the beginning to the end it was very clear that the Secretary General knew and admired the vision of Bums. Mr Annan told the audience that Burns's poems and work illuminated the struggle faced by the vast majority of the world's population today. The poet was an advocate for political and social change and an opponent of slavery, pomposity and greed - all causes very much supported by the United Nations, said Mr Annan. He highlighted Burn's lines in the poem A Man's a man for a' that, "That man to man the world o'er, shall brothers be for a' that" as the touchstone of his address. Speaking movingly about anti-Semitism, lslamaphobia and racism, he called for a true brotherhood in tribute to the poet. A brotherhood and sisterhood that embraces and encompasses all humankind and allows all people a chance to enjoy their inalienable rights of dignity and freedom. A fitting tribute that Robert Bums would have endorsed.

As part of the evening's activities, lain McConnell presented the Secretary General with a framed certificate from the Burns Federation to mark the excellent work achieved by Mr. Annan in bridging conflict and bringing more harmony to people throughout the world.

Amongst the guests attending the dinner were Mr. Jim Wallace, Deputy First Minister for Scotland, Mr Peter Lederer, Chairman of Visit Scotland, Mr. Ian Russell, Chief Executive of Scottish Power who sponsored the event, Dr Andrew Cubie, Chairman of BESO Scotland and over 20 UN Ambassadors from the developing world and other member countries of the United Nations, together with many guests from the world of international business and politics. The unique event was the brainchild of Iain J McConnell from East Lothian in Scotland. Iain is a former BBC broadcaster and producer. Apart from his involvement in producing and presenting the evening's activities, lain had the added challenge of identifying over 200 of the 280 guests who attended. "It was certainly a very steep learning curve and quite an awesome task from some 3000 miles distance," he admitted the following day "The Robert Bums Inaugural Lecture took Iain over 2 years to bring to fruition but was well worth the wait," he says.

January 2004 was a very special month for the memory of our national Bard, Robert Burns. While many traditional Burns Suppers and events continued to be enjoyed throughout the world, just under 300 special guests from many countries attended a unique gala dinner, held in the Delegates Dining Room of the United Nations on 13 January. They were there to hear United Nations Secretary General, Kofi Annan, deliver the inaugural Robert Burns Memorial Lecture on the theme of the state of the world and brotherhood of man.

In his well delivered, challenging speech, Mr Annan praised the vision of the Scots Bard in his call for greater equality and care for others. From the beginning to the end it was very clear that the Secretary General knew and admired the vision of Bums. Mr Annan told the audience that Burns's poems and work illuminated the struggle faced by the vast majority of the world's population today. The poet was an advocate for political and social change and an opponent of slavery, pomposity and greed - all causes very much supported by the United Nations, said Mr Annan. He highlighted Bum's lines in the poem A Man's a man for a' that, "That man to man the world o'er, shall brothers be for a' that" as the touchstone of his address. Speaking movingly about anti-Semitism, lslamaphobia and racism, he called for a true brotherhood in tribute to the poet. A brotherhood and sisterhood that embraces and encompasses all humankind and allows all people a chance to enjoy their inalienable rights of dignity and freedom. A fitting tribute that Robert Bums would have endorsed.

As part of the evening's activities, lain McConnell presented the Secretary General with a framed certificate from the Burns Federation to mark the excellent work achieved by Mr. Annan in bridging conflict and bringing more harmony to people throughout the world.

Amongst the guests attending the dinner were Mr. Jim Wallace, Deputy First Minister for Scotland, Mr Peter Lederer, Chairman of Visit Scotland, Mr. Ian Russell, Chief Executive of Scottish Power who sponsored the event, Dr Andrew Cubie, Chairman of BESO Scotland and over 20 UN Ambassadors from the developing world and other member countries of the United Nations, together with many guests from the world of international business and politics. The unique event was the brainchild of Iain J McConnell from East Lothian in Scotland. Iain is a former BBC broadcaster and producer. Apart from his involvement in producing and presenting the evening's activities, lain had the added challenge of identifying over 200 of the 280 guests who attended. "It was certainly a very steep learning curve and quite an awesome task from some 3000 miles distance," he admitted the following day "The Robert Bums Inaugural Lecture took Iain over 2 years to bring to fruition but was well worth the wait," he says.