UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and dignitaries joined UN staff members and others on Thursday in an annual ceremony, "Ringing the Peace Bell", to mark the 25th International Day of Peace.

"For some of us, peace is a day-to-day reality," Annan said in his message of peace. "Our streets are safe; our children go to school. Where the fabric of society is strong, the precious gifts of peace can almost go unnoticed. But for far too many people in the world today, those gifts are only an elusive dream. They live in chains: a climate of insecurity and fear. It is mainly for them that this day exists," he said.

The UN chief noted that the last few weeks had seen "tragic new escalations of conflict in several parts of the world," and stressed the many ways in which the UN works for peace, from preventive diplomacy to peacekeeping missions and efforts to support democracy and promote human rights.

Annan then called on those attending the ceremony to observe a minute's silence in the name of peace, and drove the ringing beam into the Peace Bell, a gift from Japan cast from pennies donated by children from 60 nations, accompanied by an anthem of peace sung by a choir.

A total of 193 children, dressed in their national costumes and holding the national flags of member states, witnessed the event.

World-renowned Chinese-American cellist Yo-Yo Ma was appointed by Annan as New UN Messenger of Peace and performed for the gathering.

Four other UN Messengers of Peace were also present. They were author and journalist Anna Cataldi, Oscar-winning actor Michael Douglas, wildlife researcher and conservationist Jane Goodall, and tennis champion and actor Vijay Armitraj.

(Xinhua News Agency September 22, 2006)