Dear Colleagues and friends,
My recent 30th anniversary of entry on duty at the United Nations was an opportunity to look back through my career at the UN and at official statistics. During these years I had an opportunity to meet many people who enriched my life and who let me to learn from them. You are among them. Considering you not only as colleagues, but also as good friends, I am addressing you this message.
Let me to recall two important days of my career: The entry on duty on 12 April 1992 and the day when I joined ESCWA on 19 January 2009. A time has come to add the third and final date – I choose to take a retirement with my last working day at the UN being 31 August 2022. I would like to thank you for your support, coopreration and friendship. Without you and your dedication to your common goals, I would not be able to carry my duties. I was happy to be surrounded by great people, who gave me the force and motivation to continue. Whenever I met problems and hurdles at work, there were always colleagues with whom together we could get over those obstacles.
I also have to thank my family that lived over the last three decades in the rhythm of UN events, meetings, deadlines. My family provided me with a safe harbour where I did rest and recuperate my force. My family understood and participated in my work, and it is thanks to the comprehension and support of my wife and daughters that I could accomplish a successful career at the UN. Therefore, I would like now to devote more time to them. Together with my wife we are assuming a new role of grandparents, and we would like to support our daughters and their families, but also have more time for each other.
Everything reaches its end sooner or later, and my employment at the UN is to end now. I believe that it is the right time now to leave my place to younger generation that will bring new ideas to the UN work – the same way as my superiors and predecessors left their place to me. Each end brings a new beginning – that is the never ending cycle of life. By separating from the active service, I will still remain attached to the UN, its goals and values, and I will also continue promoting the ethical and professional principles of official statistics. And I will still keep all of you in my heart and in my best of the memories of the last three decades of my life.
So let’s not say goodbye, let’s keep each other in our minds. Should you wish to drop a message, my Viber, WhatsApp and Signal will be registered at a phone number +421 908 359 753, Skype dr.juraj.riecan or e-mail juraj.riecan@usa.net. You will find me also on LinkedIn and Facebook. Good luck in your future career and life.
Best regards,
Juraj
Juraj Riečan 