The transcripts are AI-generated from the UN's English audio and can contain mistakes. We are checking them against the statements the missions publish; some errors are still expected.
There, I appealed that it is essential for countries to acquire the capabilities to freely determine their own futures and resilience across economic, social and security domains. Japan places particular emphasis on following three pillars that embody this idea. First, Japan is engaged in strengthening the resilience of supply chains for energy and critical minerals. For global energy security, it is crucial to ensure free and transparent energy trade, engage in international coordination on strengthening oil stockpiling and enhance collaboration between producing and consuming countries. Japan has also launched the Partnership on Wide Energy Resources Resilience Asia POWERR Asia to strengthen energy and resource supply resilience in Asia, and has been promoting cooperation in areas such as stockpiling, capacity development and credit provision. Furthermore, Japan is currently formulating a comprehensive cooperation plan aimed at strengthening the economic and energy resilience of Gulf countries in the Middle East. Through this initiative, we will work to further strengthen the collaboration between the Asia Pacific region including Japan and the Gulf countries, to ensure a stable global energy supply. Moreover, concerns about arbitrary export restrictions are growing throughout the international community.
I am pleased to highlight Mongolia's active leadership within the United Nations in advancing the interests of landlocked developing countries drawing greater international attention to their special needs and unique circumstances, and cooperating with these countries to ensure that their voices are heard on the global stage. Mongolia has launched several important initiatives in this regard, including serving as one of the founding members of the Group of Landlocked Developing Countries at the United Nations and the establishment of the International Think Tank for Landlocked Developing Countries in Ulaanbaatar. To translate the Awaza programme of action into tangible outcomes, it is essential for landlocked developing countries to align the programme with their national development agendas and make full use of available resources and opportunities to accelerate regional integration and cooperation. We also call upon the international community, banks, financial institutions and development partners to provide credible assistance to landlocked developing countries through their support and collaboration. Mr. President, as the deadline for the 2030 agenda for Sustainable Development approaches, the SDG report 2026 shows that only 36% of the Sustainable Development Goals are on track or making moderate progress, while 15% are regressing. It is deeply regrettable that, according to the latest report of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute released at this critical time, global military expenditure has reached an all time high of 2.9 trillion USD. It is time for all of us to ponder and reflect with common sense, on what progress could have been achieved in the development of human society if this huge budget and funds had been spent on tackling pressing issues such as combating global warming and climate change, and improving education, health, food security and advancement of women and children. According to the SDG report 2026, Mongolia has achieved 68.8% of the SDGs, reflecting the tangible results of our efforts and the progress we have made in recent years. As a country experiencing the adverse impacts of climate change firsthand, Mongolia has remained steadfast in contributing to global collective efforts to protect and preserve our natural environment.
Quite to the contrary, this is a call for win-win partnership, partnership that is respectful of the sovereignty of each nation, rooted in win-win collaboration, rather than pre-established arrangements which disregard our realities. The Republic of Guinea, for our part, is and shall remain a reliable, open, engaged partner, open, reliable, and engaged vis-à-vis the international community while engaging in mutual respect for the sovereignty of one and all. Mr. President, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, the Republic of Guinea is advancing. We are making headway by harnessing our own means, by capitalizing upon our own choices for the benefit of our own people, and we are doing so in a manner that is in accordance with international law, in the spirit of the Charter of the United Nations, and in the spirit of candid and inclusive cooperation with all of our partners. I cherish the hope that this Guinean experience can, to a modest degree, stimulate more in-depth consideration into the manifold legitimate development pathways for our continent. Thank you for your attention.
Everyone is being harmed, from Asia to Europe, from Africa to the Americas. No country is immune. They have serious economic and social impact and are already having undesirable consequences for all of us and also for the parties involved. This is a senseless crisis because it's harmful to everyone. We must put an end to this collective masochism, and we must do it quickly to close this chapter, which is a chapter of widespread harm. We all have a duty to learn from the lessons of the crisis of the 1970s and avoid repeating what happened then. We will be judged by how we handle this challenge. On the one hand, it is urgent to put an end to the protracted conflicts and on the other hand, starting now, we must discuss and decide on complementary ways to mitigate the impact of this energy crisis and prevent it from being prolonged. It is my belief that it would also be beneficial to discuss the mechanism by which international oil prices are determined. I do not have a concrete solution which is very complex and difficult, but I wonder if it makes sense for all of us to be so dependent on speculation and the volatility of financial and futures markets, which affect the entire production sector, even when the instability originates only from a portion or a limited period of that production. Excellencies, we also bear the intergenerational responsibility to accelerate the energy transition in order to reduce dependencies and mitigate the effects of climate change. I will share with you that in Portugal, we feel the devastating impacts of climate change firsthand in the increase in forest fires, coastal erosion, and the degradation of marine ecosystems, and also and more frequently in extreme weather events, new such as storms, high winds and flash floods. That is why we take a strategic approach to the energy transition. More than 70% of our energy production comes from renewable sources. We have anticipated our carbon neutrality target to 2045. We maintain close collaboration and continued support for countries that are particularly vulnerable to climate change, and we are investing in innovative solutions, such as agreements to convert debt into green investment. Climate change and freedom of navigation share a common priority of our policy: the sea and ocean. Protecting the marine environment and its biodiversity, combating ocean warming, addressing the threat of sea level rise and ensuring universal freedom of navigation are essential priorities on the ocean agenda, which is an agenda we all have to pay attention to.
It is upon this unwavering aspiration that we are pursuing all possible diplomatic avenues to secure access to and from the sea, to ensure Ethiopia's integration into a global trading system. Mr. President, as we attend this August Assembly, we are reminded not only by the ideals and values of our organization, but of the imperatives we must uphold as enshrined in the Charter. We stand a better chance of surviving and succeeding if we continuously and collectively shape our collaboration. This will certainly revive multilateralism to meet the demands of the current and future generations.
We witness geopolitical instability in Europe, the Middle East and elsewhere. It is made worse by growing nuclear ambitions in the Middle East and Asia, as well as the irresponsible transfer of military related goods, dual use items and sensitive technologies. In recent months, Iran has continued attacking neighboring countries, often through its proxies, while actively impairing the freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. These actions constitute a serious threat to regional and international peace and security. We reaffirm our full solidarity with the Gulf Cooperation Council countries and Jordan. We call on Iran to halt its nuclear and missile programs, as well as its collaboration with armed groups across the Middle East. Lithuania commends all efforts to find a solution ensuring freedom of navigation. We will contribute with our demining capabilities to the international maritime missions in the Strait of Hormuz. As regards the situation in the Gaza Strip, my country supports international efforts to maintain and consolidate the cease fire. The Comprehensive plan to end the Gaza conflict, including the deployment of the Temporary International Stabilisation Force, provides the guidelines to follow. Lithuania reiterates the importance of full demilitarization of non-state armed groups. Humanitarian aid must also be allowed to reach those in need safely and without obstruction. To this day, the two state solution remains the only way towards a comprehensive, just and lasting peace. In this light, it is crucially important to abstain from any further actions incompatible with a credible political process. Ladies and gentlemen, the one conflict that poses the greatest threat to the world order is Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, supported by its proxies. In the 12 years since the illegal occupation of Crimea, Russia has escalated from clandestine operations and limited warfare in eastern Ukraine to massive military operations, mass killings and ultimately the largest drone attacks against civilian infrastructure the world has ever seen. The current stage of the war, which began with the full scale invasion in February 2022, has already lasted longer than the First World War. In the last 55 months, Russia has suffered 1.5 million military casualties. In the last year, it has gained 0.3% of Ukraine's territory, at the cost of over 400 000 soldiers killed and wounded. Yet all these enormous efforts, all that blood and tears, basically came to nothing. Ukraine is still standing proudly as an independent state. The Ukrainian language, culture and national identity are alive and thriving. In all but name, Russia has already lost the war. Yet its leadership does not allow itself to admit defeat, fearing international legal accountability and possible revenge from its own people. As inevitable approaches, the stakes get higher and the Kremlin regime increasingly finds itself cornered. How much more Ukrainian civilian lives will be sacrificed on Russia's war altar? How many people will be tortured, sexually assaulted thrown into dark dungeons, never to see the sunlight again? How many children will be illegally separated from their parents and sent to Russia to suffer indoctrination? We do not know the answers, yet we must all feel the deep pain brought by this brutal and pointless war. And we all should join our forces to draw Ukraine's victory closer, for it is only Ukraine's final victory safeguarding its sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity that could ensure the global peace, security and credibility of the United Nations Charter. What we can not allow is the brute force prevailing over international law. We cannot tolerate any longer Moscow's colonial aspirations, which undermine global food security and driving up food prices. Russia's imperial ambitions reach far into Europe, Africa and Asia. No country should consider itself immune from this threat. Naturally, Lithuania witnesses many dangers up close. In recent months, Russia's war of aggression has led to numerous violations of our airspace by combat drones. Russia has also intensified hybrid attacks, disinformation and sabotage efforts. Where Russia advances, opening Pandora's box of new techniques for destabilisation, other hostile actors follow, learning new skills and ideas.
President excellencies, Mexico believes in this organization and today faces a huge challenge resolving and renewing compliance of the foundational mandate to save humanity from the scourge of armed conflicts, to protect human rights, to improve the situation of millions of vulnerable people, and to ensure that international law is respected. This renewal also um, reaches the leadership of this organization because soon we will have a new person at the helm of the UN secretariat. And Mexico would like to be crystal clear on this. At the United Nations, it is also time for women. Alfonso Reyes, uh, diplomat and humanist, left Mexico, taught Mexico rather a lesson that today we'd like to bring to this assembly. The only way of being usefully national is being generously universal. This is the vocation of our foreign policy in Mexico. Knows that no nation can build its future in isolation, and that sovereignty is strengthened through dialogue and respectful collaboration between all peoples. Mexico came up to this rostrum with a conviction, and we are ending with the very same conviction that the legitimacy of institutions depends on their ability to transform through action the life of people. As President Claudia Sheinbaum has said, Mexico is advancing along the path of shared prosperity, with independence, with freedom, and always with dignity.
In that regard, Tanzania remains firmly committed to supporting the efforts of the UN Security Council to fulfil its primary responsibility, for the maintenance of international peace and security. our commitment is demonstrated by our two terms of service on the Security Council, during which we made substantive contributions to such cause. Notable achievements include the adoption of Security Council Resolution 1653 (2006) on the Great Lakes Region and Tanzania’s collaboration with Denmark in establishing the Peacebuilding Commission. Building on this record of service and sustained commitment to multilateralism, I am pleased to inform you that, last month, the African Union formally endorsed Tanzania’s candidacy for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for the term 2029–2030, during elections to be held by this Assembly in June 2028. I, therefore, seize this opportunity to formally announce our candidature. During our tenure in the Council, we will put forward and prioritize deliberations on matters vital to the maintenance of international peace and security, such as preventive diplomacy and the peaceful Settlement of disputes; women in peacekeeping; youth in peace and security and the Reform of UN Peacekeeping. In the coming days, we will engage with each one of you and present our vision and respectfully seek your valued support to enable Tanzania to serve with a strong African voice, principled leadership, and unwavering commitment to international peace and security. Tanzania is deeply concerned and saddened by the protracted conflict and humanitarian suffering in Gaza and across the Middle East. We continue to call for the protection of civilians, unhindered humanitarian assistance, and renewed diplomacy towards lasting peace. Furthermore, Tanzania remains firmly committed to the two-State solution, with Israel and Palestine living side by side in peace and harmony, in accordance with international law and relevant UN resolutions. We reaffirm the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and believe that lasting peace must guarantee the dignity, security and legitimate aspirations of both peoples. We have been consistent on this for the past 50 years. For us, this is a matter of our foreign principle.
Our national objective is to ensure that every family has access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food. This is a matter of basic human dignity and sustainable development. To achieve this, we are intensifying investment in agriculture, modern farming technologies, research, infrastructure, and the empowerment of our smallholder farmers. We continue to provide subsidies for farming inputs and implements to support subsistence farmers. Furthermore, we have embarked on major dam construction projects for irrigation, which are set to transform our agricultural landscape, particularly in the Lowveld. National endeavors such as this are greatly enhanced by international cooperation. The partnership between the United Nations and the Kingdom of Eswatini has been instrumental in advancing our national development aspirations and implementing the SDGs. This collaboration spans critical sectors, including health, tourism, education, agriculture, and renewable energy.
Economic transformation and sustainable development are impossible without a healthy population. The vulnerabilities exposed by recent global pandemics continue to linger, reminding us that global health security is only as strong as its weakest link. Malawi is making strides towards a universal health coverage and strengthening our primary health care system. However, systemic global inequities in healthcare access, medical manufacturing and vaccine distribution remain glaringly unresolved. True global health security demands decentralised pharmaceutical manufacturing capabilities, unrestricted technology transfer and intellectual property waivers during health emergencies. My delegation appeals to all of us here to finalize a robust, legally binding pandemic treaty that guarantees equity, solidarity and immediate resource sharing for the Global South. We also call for collaboration in efforts to build long term resilience against pandemics through investment in our domestic pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity. By producing essential medicines within Africa, the entire world gains through stronger health security and stable supply chains, especially through faster outbreak response.
We welcome the decisions of the UN Commission on the limits of the Continental Shelf, approving the submission lodged by Mauritius in December 2008 and approved in March 2011, as well as the second one filed in May 2009 and approved in July 2026. We welcome the 100th ratification of the agreement and calls for its prompt and effective implementation. We look forward to its first conference of the parties advancing the institutional, financial and procedural arrangements necessary for the effective implementation of the agreement. Collaboration is key to effective maritime security, maritime surveillance, and domain awareness.
First, the Global AI Universal Basic Society. The Artificial Intelligence revolution is both a massive opportunity and a crisis for humanity. While it can be a core driver of new prosperity and sustainable development, it will only deepen inequality and imbalance unless we are properly prepared for it. Younger people around the world in particular, are facing growing anxiety about their employment and their future, as the pace of change becomes increasingly difficult to keep up with. This boils down to a clear direction for the new era we seek to build. It is the AI Universal Basic Society where everyone can benefit from technological progress. The Republic of Korea is pursuing an AI transformation that will ensure stronger protection of human fundamental rights across fields such as Social Security, labor, housing and culture, beginning with our AI Universal Basic Health Program. And I believe this resonates with the core principle of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, which prioritizes the guiding principle of leaving no one behind. It also harnesses the AI revolution as a new driver to accelerate the realization of economic, social and cultural rights. The Republic of Korea will build the Global AI Hub platform to share this vision with the international community in collaboration with international organizations, multilateral development banks, the business sector, and academia. The Republic of Korea envisions a global AI Universal Basic Society where no country or individual is left out from access to the basic benefits of AI development.
We ask the world to help us to prepare for it, withstand its impacts and recover with dignity. Mr. president, the ocean is central to Vanuatu's identity, culture, food security and prosperity. Protection of it is essential for the future of our people. Climate change, damage to the ocean and loss of biodiversity are linked. We must address them together. Vanuatu welcomes the entry into force of the agreement. It is an important achievement for ocean governance and multilateral cooperation. For nation, whose identity, culture and prosperity are inseparable from the ocean, the agreement represents an important step towards protecting marine biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction, and ensuring that the benefits of our common ocean heritage are shared fairly and sustainably. Vanuatu stands ready to contribute to its effective implementation and to strengthening international cooperation for the protection of our oceans for generations to come. Since the agreement entered into force on 17th January 2026, following its ratification by more than 60 states including Vanuatu and our Pacific neighbours, the international community has moved into a critical implementation phase. Vanuatu looks forward to the first conference of the parties advancing the operationalisation of Marine Protected Areas, environmental impact assessments and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits from marine genetic resources. And we call on all states yet to ratify the agreement to do so without delay. The implementation of the agreement must respect sovereign rights and take full account of the special circumstances and capacity constraints of small island developing states. It must enable countries to participate effectively and equally benefit from it. The hosting of the inaugural Melanesian Ocean Summit in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, this year arrives at a critical juncture where, on one hand, we are faced with daily mounting challenges of the detrimental effects of climate change, the alarming degradation of our marine biodiversity, pervasive marine pollution and the overexploitation of our vital marine resources. Yet some of these global issues have already escalated to a level where ensuring sustainability for future generations has become a critical concern, highlighting the urgent need for improved management of our ocean resources. In today's world, science and technology and economic opportunities must also work closely with our traditional custodians in our vast coastal area to maintain respect for nature. Our culture and tradition are deeply rooted in the ocean, and hence our collective wisdom and collaboration to address the core issues affecting our people's livelihoods today and reshape the future of our ocean and communities is extremely paramount. Mr. president, the world is entering a period of extraordinary transformation.
