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Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen. Six days ago, I asked whether we were prepared to confront some hard truths about this organization. I call for honesty, realism and pragmatism to guide our discussions. Over the course of this general debate, you have answered sometimes with different perspectives, but always with the conviction that the challenges before us demand action and that the United Nations remain indispensable. 194 delegations spoke at this rostrum, including 113 heads of state and government, one crown prince, 11 vice presidents, seven deputy prime ministers and 48 ministers. We have also heard from our Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres.
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Mr. President, excellencies, at the outset, allow me to extend my warm and heartfelt congratulations to you on your election as president of the 81st session of the General Assembly. Your election reflects the confidence of Member States in your steadfast commitment to multilateral system and your vision for a United Nations that is responsive, effective, and capable of delivering for humanity. As you embark on this important journey, my delegation reaffirms its unwavering commitment to working closely with you and all Member States to ensure a productive and successful session. I also pay tribute to your predecessor, Her Excellency Ms. Baerbock, president of the 80th session of the General Assembly, with whom my delegation had the honour to serve as Vice President. Her dedicated leadership, zeal and tenacity of purpose in strengthening multilateral cooperation during a period of profound global uncertainty gave us hope that the future of this organization can be secured when all nations work together for the common goal of leaving no one behind. To the secretary general, Antonio Guterres, whose tenure is approaching an end, my delegation commends his exemplary leadership and commitment to the ideals of the United Nations. During his term the world confronted unprecedented challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic to the eruption of new conflicts, the catastrophic effects of climate change, and unstable trade regimes. Throughout these crises, he remained the moral force and steady anchor of the organization. We salute him for his distinguished service and will fondly cherish his historic visit to the Mountain Kingdom in December 2024, during which he witnessed firsthand the dividends of the UN's contribution to Lesotho. Mr. president, the theme for this session Restoring Trust, Managing Transformation: A United Nations that delivers for all, resonates deeply with Lesotho's aspirations for a more inclusive, transparent and result oriented multilateral system capable of advancing respect for international law, maintaining global peace and security, accelerating sustainable development, protecting human rights, driving climate action, and implementing long overdue institutional reforms.
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In the name of Allah, the most gracious, the most merciful. Excellency Doctor Khalilur Rahman, president of the General Assembly, Excellency Mr. Antonio Guterres, Secretary general of the United Nations. Excellencies, heads and members of delegations. For the second consecutive year, the Palestinian delegation was denied the entry visas required to reach New York and participate in the meetings of the United Nations General Assembly in person.
Mr. president, Mr. Secretary General, distinguished heads of delegations. Ladies and gentlemen, at the outset of my speech, I would like to sincerely congratulate Mr. Rahman on being elected as the president of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly and wish him further success.
Mr. Khalilur Rahman, president of the General Assembly. Mr. Antonio Guterres, secretary general of the United Nations. Excellencies, heads of State and government, and heads of delegation. Ladies and gentlemen. I have the honour to take the floor before this General Assembly on behalf of and representing His Excellency Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, president of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea, to express to you his greetings of peace and the greetings of the people of Equatorial Guinea, and to reaffirm our support for and commitment to the charter of the United Nations. I congratulate Mr. Khalilur Rahman on his election to the presidency of this 81st session and I express our gratitude to Miss Annalena Baerbock for her work during the previous session. Mr. president. The theme of this session is Restoring Trust, Managing transformation, A United Nations that delivers for all.
Your Excellency, president of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, heads and members of delegations. Allow me to extend my sincere congratulations to His Excellency, Doctor Khalilur Rahman on his election to preside over this session, wishing him every success in carrying out his duties.
Mr. President of the 81st Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations, Mr. Secretary-General of the United Nations, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, heads of state and government, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, heads of delegation, ladies and gentlemen. Mr. President, at the outset I wish to convey to you, on behalf of the sovereign peoples of the Republic of Guinea and our delegation, our warmest congratulations upon your election to the presidency of this 81st Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations. I cherish the hope that our proceedings under your skillful stewardship will allow the United Nations, our organization, to best address and meet the legitimate aspirations of the peoples of the world. I also wish to applaud the continuous and consistent efforts of the Secretary-General, Mr. António Guterres, at the helm of our United Nations. It is with a profound feeling of pride and of humility that I speak before this august body on behalf of the sovereign people of the Republic of Guinea. As we seek to describe to the international community the progress that my country has achieved, ladies and gentlemen, three years ago, from this rostrum, I, with the candor that my country and our continent are bound by, I spoke the truth and I stated that the model of imported governance, without being adapted, on our continent was not generating the fruits that had been expected by our peoples, and this is something which I stand by.
Monsieur le président. Mr. president of the General Assembly. Mr. United Nations Secretary general. Excellencies heads of delegation. Ladies and gentlemen, president of the General Assembly. Allow me to begin by conveying to you the warm congratulations of His Excellency, Mr. Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, president of the Gabonese Republic, on your outstanding election to preside over this 81st session of the General Assembly. I wish to assure you right now of my delegation's full support and express the hope that your term of office will be marked by a spirit of listening and dialogue, and by the tireless pursuit of compromise in the service of international peace and cooperation. As the Secretary General of the UN, Antonio Guterres comes to the end of his second term, the president of the Gabonese Republic pays special tribute to him for his steadfast commitment to multilateralism and to upholding the principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter. Ladies and gentlemen, Gabon fully aligns itself with the theme for this session Restoring Trust, Managing Transformation: a United Nations that delivers for all.
Distinguished Mr. President, Honorable Mr. Secretary-General, members of delegations, ladies and gentlemen. Today, humanity doesn't live in an easy time; wars continue around the world, geopolitical tensions are escalating, trust is fading, inequality is increasing. The times like these countries are faced with a choice.
Excellencies. Ladies and gentlemen, his Excellency Paul Biya, president of the Republic of Cameroon, has bestowed upon me the immense honor of representing him in this encounter for the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, and to deliver the following statement on his behalf, I quote, Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen, heads of State and Government. Ladies and gentlemen, heads of delegation. Mr. Secretary General, excellencies, ladies and gentlemen. Allow me to begin by warmly congratulating you on behalf of Cameroon for your election to the presidency of this 81st session of the General Assembly. Your eminent skill as a diplomat, your knowledge and your wealth of experience when it comes to United Nations issues as well as your vision, the vision that you proposed for our organization are a good omen for the success of our work. The delegation of Cameroon, through my voice, would like to assure you that you have our total and full cooperation to ensure that your mandate is a resounding success. I would also like to welcome the work of your predecessor, Madam Annalena Baerbock of the Federal Republic of Germany, for the commitment and dynamic energy that she brought to her mission, and this is remarkable, in a particularly turbulent period for the international arena. Finally, I would like to avail myself of this occasion to reiterate to the Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr. Antonio Guterres, Cameroon's sincere esteem for his constant commitment to the ideals, purposes and principles of the charter of the United Nations, as well as for his efforts and the remarkable results that have characterized his two consecutive mandates as Secretary General of our organization. We would like to welcome his courage and his tenacity in a context that oftentimes has been difficult. He is preparing to leave his important post in a few months, and at this time, Cameroon would like to thank him for his unswerving commitment to the United Nations, and we pay him a vibrant tribute for the magnitude of his legacy. Mr. president, you decided to select as a theme for this session Restoring Trust, managing Transformation for a United Nations that delivers for all. Cameroon appreciates the relevance of this theme and its pertinence for our current context. We are, in effect, facing together three needs that cannot be teased apart.
Mr. President of the General Assembly, your Majesties, Your Highnesses. The United Nations Secretary General, your excellencies, heads of State and government, your excellencies, heads of delegations, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen. Peace be upon you. At the outset, on behalf of the Comorian delegation, I wish to express our sincere gratitude to the authorities of the United States. We thank them for the hospitality and arrangements extended to us since our arrival in New York for this 81st session of our Assembly. Allow me to also congratulate His Excellency Doctor Khalilur Rahman on his election as president of the session, and to wish him every success in his noble mission. I would also like to pay a well-deserved tribute to Her Excellency, Miss Annalena Baerbock, for her work and her wisdom in guiding the previous session. I would also like to pay tribute to the leadership of His Excellency Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, and commend his commitment to peace and development at a time when the international order is under severe strain.
We need to defeat extreme poverty, and we also need to achieve well-being for all, to bring about a better world which is so urgent a task. The scourges of our time are the greatest threat and greatest danger to our societies, because they deprive us of our heritage. And we see major crimes linked to drug trafficking and organized crime which are forms of terrorism which assail us and make us sick. Against this intimidating backdrop, our purpose, our vow, our commitment has been and remains clear, and we aspire to gather with more peoples around the urgent need to curb these afflictions and to bring about safety and to provide education food, health, peace and development for all. We would like warmly to greet all delegations who are present here, and we hope that you will join our commitment to address these challenges and to alleviate the suffering that we have mentioned. There are many proposals that we have mentioned, and we wish to stress the strength that the BRICS countries, for instance, have shown in striving for better living conditions for their people and the right of all to achieve sustainable development in a complementary way. We would like to recognize and pay tribute to all brothers and sisters throughout the world who believe in ideals, principles and values that are valuable to us all as humanity. To continue moving towards achieving the most important, significant battle, which is to achieve peace so that we can defeat poverty once and for all. It is in this battle that we all have to wage to achieve peace.
Your Excellency Dr. Khalilur Rahman, President of the 81st General Assembly; Excellency António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations; Excellencies, heads of delegations, ladies and gentlemen. Good evening. On behalf of the Government of Rwanda, allow me to begin by congratulating His Excellency Dr. Khalilur Rahman on his election as President of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly. Rwanda also wishes to commend the Secretary-General, His Excellency António Guterres, for the steady commitment with which he has led this organization through a period of extraordinary strain. We reiterate our full support as he carries through the remainder of his mandate. Last year, we gathered under the theme of "Better Together," marking 80 years since the charter was signed.
Your Excellency, Doctor Khalilur Rahman, president of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly. Your Excellency Antonio Guterres, Secretary General of the United Nations, Honorable heads of delegation, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen I have the honor to present this statement on behalf of my president, His Excellency, president of the State of Eritrea. Allow me to join previous speakers to congratulate Your Excellency for your election to the presidency of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly.
Excellencies, Heads of State and Government, distinguished delegations, ladies and gentlemen. There was a time in which, in my country, fear prevailed over the law. This was the experience of families that weren't going out at night, business owners who had to pay to be able to work, young people who were given weapons before they were given a diploma. We decided that this should not be the destiny of Ecuador, and we have acted with determination.
Mr. President, at the outset, allow me to express my warmest congratulation to His Excellency, Doctor Khalilur Rahman on his election as the president of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly. My delegation assures you of our full support and cooperation throughout your presidency, and I also express our deep appreciation to Her Excellency Annalena Baerbock for her dedicated leadership during the 80th session.
Excellency Khalilur Rahman, President of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly; Your Excellency Mr. António Guterres, United Nations Secretary-General; heads of state and government; distinguished heads of delegation; ladies and gentlemen. At the outset, on behalf of the Dominican people, I wish to congratulate you, Mr. President, upon your election, and express to Secretary-General Guterres in his last GA session at the helm of this organization our gratitude to him for his commitment to peace.
Mr. President at the conclusion of this general debate, we hope that all participating delegations leave with a greater commitment to peace, to development, and to prosperity. This cannot be an imposition or even a negotiation. It must be a mindset. It must be an outlook. It must be a belief. In the lawns outside this building are recorded the powerful words of Mahatma Gandhi. And that should serve as an inspiration for these times. And those words are that there is no way to peace. Peace is the way.
We meet at a time when tensions are growing, conflicts are multiplying, trust is eroding, and uncertainty is becoming part of our daily reality. Over the past several days, from this very rostrum, we have heard many delegations speak about the importance of peace. Peace remains our most fundamental responsibility, but peace cannot be taken for granted. It must be diligently built, and it must be steadfastly protected, and it must be passed on to future generations. It is precisely in this spirit that Tajikistan initiated the proclamation of 2027–2036 as the International Decade of Strengthening Peace for Future Generations, which was adopted by the General Assembly resolution on 25th June 2026. We are grateful to Member States, partners and the United Nations system for supporting this initiative of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, His Excellency Mr. Emomali Rahmon. The idea behind the decade is simple our responsibility for peace does not end with our generation. We must work to resolve the conflicts of today, but we must also prevent the conflicts of tomorrow. Building on this vision, Tajikistan will convene a high level international Conference on Peace in Dushanbe in June 2027, in cooperation with the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, the United Nations Youth Office and other partners. The conference will help launch the decade and turn our shared commitment to peace into practical cooperation. Mr. President, our position on conflicts and disputes is clear. They must be resolved peacefully through dialogue, diplomacy, negotiations and in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations. In this context the situation in Palestine remains a matter of deep concern to Tajikistan. The continuing suffering of civilians must end. We reiterate our call for a lasting ceasefire in Gaza, and unhindered access to humanitarian assistance. Our position remains principled and consistent. A just and lasting peace can only be achieved through dialogue and diplomacy, in accordance with international law and the relevant resolutions of the United Nations. Tajikistan reaffirms its support for the establishment of an independent and sovereign state of Palestine, based on the 1967 borders and with East Jerusalem as its capital, living side by side with Israel in peace and security. But peace cannot endure in isolation. It needs development, opportunity, inclusion and hope.
President, Liechtenstein joined the United Nations 36 years ago as its 160th member. We did so driven by the conviction that we, as one of the smallest members of the international community, should be part of the most important conversation on global governance, with the participation of all states, big or small, in developing international norms and standards, and also in upholding respect for them. Sovereignty was a key theme of our domestic discussions, resulting in our UN membership. We joined out of enlightened self-interest the belief that we need the UN to secure respect for our sovereignty through upholding international law as the basis for our security and prosperity. To this end, we also decided to make our own contribution to make best use of the opportunity offered to us as a small state, to be an active part of the biggest peace project in the history of humankind. President, our belief in the United Nations remains steadfast. This is the place where we can make our voice heard, where we can put ideas forward, and where we can gather to try to solve the issues that affect us all. We have greatly benefited from our membership, and the UN has consistently been a key platform for our foreign policy. Our membership has consistently enjoyed high levels of support in our population. But today we also find ourselves in a moment where instability and uncertainty dominate the conversation. Our organization no longer seems able to deliver on the key promises of the UN Charter to save future generations from the scourge of war. It can no longer count on the unconditional support of its most powerful members for the guiding rules of international law. It is increasingly ignored or sidelined in efforts to address both the traditional and new challenges, such as the regulation of artificial intelligence. It is permanently squeezed financially. Legal obligations to pay are turned into tools to exercise political leverage. As a result the United Nations has moved down the foreign policy agenda, even of states who have a strong history of supporting it. We can no longer take it for granted that our people will continue their strongly positive views of our organization. President. This is the difficult moment in which we find ourselves. But rather than engaging in doomsday scenarios, we have to find the opportunities hidden in the challenge. The overwhelming majority of the states present in this room believe in the United Nations. They want to see positive change for the UN to emerge stronger, more effective, more relevant. But we all have to be prepared to be part of the change that we want to see. Resisting the temptation of collective inertia and of waiting for positive change to happen on its own, will require our active political investment. We are grateful to Secretary-General Guterres for his service to the organization, and for his proposals to adapt the organization to the needs of today. On the basis of his ideas, our delegations here have done good work that will show positive results over time. This is important. It shows that we can come together also during times of deep political division. It is also not enough. The steps we have taken are just the beginning of what we need, a political agreement that combines significant structural change with a reliable financial commitment and firm support for the UN Charter from all. This is also the vision we are looking for in the person that will be appointed as the next Secretary-General. We hope that this decision will come very soon, in order to give the new Secretary-General the time she needs to prepare for this most unique of jobs. And we remain convinced that having a woman at the helm of the United Nations is long overdue for an organization that prides itself on its role in gender equality. President. At its core, the United Nations is a peace organization.
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.
Your excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, heads of State and government. President of the General Assembly. Secretary general. Ladies and gentlemen, heads of delegations. Ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of the president of the Council, his Excellency Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé, of the government and the Togolese people, I would like, Mr. President, to convey to you my sincere and warm congratulations on your election to the presidency of this session of the General Assembly. To you, Secretary General, Sir, and Mr. António Guterres, I would like to convey Togo's sincere gratitude for your unfailing commitment to peace, to security, to solidarity, and to sustainable development. At a time when you are completing your term, Togo would like to pay a particular tribute to you for these years of commitment, of courage, of listening and of service, for the defense of the ideals of the United Nations and to reform our organization. We would like to express the desire that the legacy of your action will continue to inspire our organization, and to guide those people who will have the responsibility to continue your work. We wish you every success in the future for your future commitments. Mr. president, the topic of this session asks us to do two things to be clear in our diagnosis and to be strong in our commitment. To be clear, because we can no longer have insufficient responses to those challenges that affect our international system. Commitment, because noting the limits of multilateralism should no longer mean that we renounce multilateralism.
We meet at a time when the Arab Gulf is facing a security situation of a severity not witnessed in decades. The states of the Gulf Cooperation Council and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan have been subjected to waves of unjustified Iranian attacks involving ballistic missiles and drones targeting civilian infrastructure, residential areas, ports, airports and energy facilities. This came in flagrant violation of international law and the charter of the United Nations. These are indiscriminate attacks without justification under any law. My country also condemns the attacks carried out by the Iran backed terrorist Houthi militia against civilian objects and Islamic holy sites in the brotherly kingdom of Saudi Arabia. We also condemn their threats to freedom of navigation in the Bab el Mandeb and the Red sea. Allow me to put the facts before you in figures. Our countries have been subjected to nearly 7000 attacks at the hands of Iran, involving 1700 ballistic missiles, 80 cruise missiles and 5220 drones. 2000 cargo vessels and tankers with 20,000 seafarers on board have also been detained, while 72 commercial vessels have been targeted, resulting in the deaths of 22 seafarers. These are not merely numbers. Behind every figure is a ship, a port, a market and families waiting for those that provide for them to return home. Commercial vessels have been targeted in the Straits of Hormuz. Mines have been laid in an international shipping lane. Restrictions on passage have been imposed in contravention of international law. The consequences of all the above extend far beyond the Arabian Gulf. It affects energy and food prices, shipping and insurance costs, as well as supply chains across the world. As the kingdom renews its full solidarity with the brotherly countries subjected to these attacks, it commends the professionalism of the Bahrain Defence Force and the Air Defence Forces of brotherly countries, and their readiness in confronting these attacks. We reaffirm the right of all states to take all lawful measures to defend their sovereignty and territorial integrity, pursuant to article 51 of the UN charter and the Joint Defense Agreement of the GCC states. All the same, we continue to exercise the utmost restraint, seeking to ensure that security and peace prevail for the benefit of the people of the region. Mr. president, the position of the Kingdom of Bahrain is grounded in international law, the rights of peoples and. The Strait of Hormuz is an international strait, and the right of transit through it is established for the vessels of all states under the UN convention on the law of the sea. That right may not be suspended or obstructed, nor may it be subjected to conditions imposed unilaterally by any state. Accordingly, the Kingdom categorically rejects any permit or fee regime imposed on the passage. It rejects the use of international waterways as instruments of pressure or economic coercion, or any attempt at the seizure of vessels. Such actions would set an extremely dangerous precedent, because what is accepted today in one strait may be demanded tomorrow in every international waterway upon which global trade depends. Alternative routes cannot be treated as a solution to conduct that violates international law. Mitigation measures are an emergency response. They should not be used as a pretext to claim that the strait is no longer necessary, or to accept a new status quo. The right of passage does not cease to exist because alternatives are available. Nor does the violation cease just because those affected have found ways to reduce the loss. This threat is not confined to the Strait of Hormuz. Security Council Resolution 2817 also referred to Bab el Mandeb, recognising that a threat to one waterway is a threat to navigation through all waterways. The security of navigation in the Red sea, the Gulf of Aden and the Bab el Mandeb is part of the same system. We are now not only defending a regional interest, but a rule that applies to every international waterway, and if it does apply to our strait alone, it wouldn't have been a rule. The Kingdom of Bahrain has not only stated its position in principle. On behalf of the Gulf Cooperation Council states and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and by virtue of its current presidency of the GCC and its non-permanent membership of the Security Council, Bahrain led efforts resulting in the adoption of Security Council Resolution 2817, with a historic and unprecedented support of 136 countries. The resolution condemned the attacks against our countries, reaffirming their sovereignty and rejecting any action intended to close the strait or obstruct navigation through it. The Kingdom also introduced a draft resolution under chapter seven of the charter to protect commercial navigation. The resolution, adopted by the Council of the International Maritime Organization on the 19th of March, together with the Human Rights Council resolution 61/1, both have further demonstrated that the international rejection of such conduct extends beyond the Security Council. We stress the need for the full implementation of these resolutions to ensure that those responsible are held accountable, and there are compensation for the damage caused. On the 17th of this month, the Kingdom convened an Arria-formula meeting of the Security Council dedicated to freedom of navigation. In this session, we heard from 53 affected states, the maritime transport sector and relevant international bodies. And we heard a conclusion expressed by all delegations. That is, the freedom of passage through international straits is a prerequisite for global economic prosperity. The Kingdom contributes to the protection of a rules based maritime order across an area exceeding 3,000,000mi² through its hosting in Manama, of the headquarters of the Combined Maritime Forces. This comprises 47 nations. We welcome the establishment of the Multinational Maritime Defence Alliance, led by the brotherly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The Kingdom is proud to participate in the alliance as a founding member in support of efforts to safeguard international trade routes and global energy supplies in accordance with international law. As efforts continue in the Security Council, this General Assembly has an equally important role to play as the forum in which all states stand equal. From this podium, we call upon Member States to support a firm collective position which upholds freedom of navigation and the right of transit passage in accordance with international law.
Mr. President of the General Assembly, Secretary General of the United Nations. Excellencies, heads of delegation, ladies and gentlemen. It is a great honor for me to be speaking before this august Assembly. I would like to convey to you the warmest greetings of the Beninese people, and to carry before you the voice of these people, a voice resolutely committed to peace, dialogue and multilateralism, a voice which yearns to fully partake in our collective reflection about the future of our organization and the future of our world. If I may, at the outset, I would like to pay a glowing tribute to His Excellency Antonio Guterres. This is his last General Assembly as secretary general of the United Nations. At a time when the temptation to withdraw to turn inwards is strong, when many are saying that in the face of crises, we must do so. No nation can build lasting security and prosperity through isolation. I would like to extend to Mr. Guterres our heartfelt gratitude. Thank you for your commitment to serving humanity. I also wish to extend our heartfelt congratulations to His Excellency Khalilur Rahman, president of this 81st session.
A very very good afternoon to you all Secretary general, president of the General Assembly, heads of State and government. Distinguished delegates. Particular greetings to the delegation that has travelled with me from Chile. I wish to greet our Minister for Foreign Affairs, our Minister for the environment, for development and the family, our ambassadors our senators and Members of Parliament, and I wish to greet each and every Chilean person. Greetings and a warm embrace to you all. 64 years ago, in this same forum, the then President of Chile, Jorge Alessandri, described our country Chile, as a large, narrow nation between the Andes and the Pacific, extending from there till the moving expanse of the Antarctic. The land remains where it is.
It confirms that climate responsibility is not only political or moral, it is legal. And the task now, Your Excellency, is implementation. Obligations recognized by the court must be reflected in national commitments, in the conduct of states and in the outcomes of our negotiations. Climate finance must move from promise to access, from announcement to disbursement. The loss and damage fund must operate at a scale that reflects actual need, and access must be simplified. For small administration, the cost of applying should never exceed the capacity to apply. In November, the world gathers in Antalya for COP31 and before that Fiji hosts the Pre-COP and Tuvalu a leadership event in early October. To every delegation in this hall come to the Pacific. See what a rising sea means to a village that has nowhere to move. Then let us go to Antalya and deliver on adaptation on finance and on loss and damage, and on the transition away from fossil fuels. As a Large Ocean State, Fiji's identity, economy and future are inseparable from the ocean.
And how can we make cooperation a genuine partnership among nations, rather than a carving-up of spheres of influence? We, in the Arab and Islamic world, and on our African continent, do not approach this question as observers, for we live its consequences every day. That reality unfolds before us at every moment in Palestine, whose delegation, we regret, has not been able to participate with us in this session. There, the plight of the Palestinian people continues to worsen after decades of occupation, repression, and alteration of their identity, yet they remain steadfast in their adherence to their right to life and to self-determination. These are rights guaranteed without discrimination by international law and international humanitarian law. All of humanity yearns for international instruments and resolutions to move from texts and promises to a reality, and for the right of the Palestinian people to their state to be realized in accordance with international law. The continued undermining of these prospects for its establishment not only squanders opportunities for peace; it also drives the region toward a widening cycle of conflict, the spread of extremism, and a search for alternatives amid major expansionist projects that extend beyond occupied Palestine to Syria and Lebanon. Neither the Islamic and Christian holy sites, nor civilians, nor civilian infrastructure in Palestine have been spared the ravages of this conflict. Its repercussions have extended to the Arabian Gulf, most recently in the attack against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. We affirm our full solidarity with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in safeguarding its security, its territorial integrity, its citizens, and its holy sites. We reject any targeting that threatens it or endangers Islamic holy sites. The security of the Kingdom and the Gulf, given their Arab and Islamic weight, is not a national matter, but it is a pillar of the security and stability of our region. The ongoing armed conflict in the Sudan, our brotherly neighbor, has made its people the victims of a devastating war for which they are paying a hefty price. In that war, interests and interventions collide, and its effects extend beyond the borders of Sudan, endangering the security and stability of the region and the unity of its states. The instability in the Sahel region represents an existential threat to the integrity of its states. That threat stems from the nexus of terrorism, organized crime, poverty, climate change, displacement, and migration, and from the widening of the cycle of armed conflict in the region.
The Malian delegation fully endorses that statement that will be delivered by His Excellency Mr. Traore, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Burkina Faso, on behalf of the Confederation of Sahel States, which brings together Burkina Faso, the Republic of Mali and the Republic of Niger. Malian forces on their own and also within the AES unified force and with the support of the Russian Federation, are today on the front line against imposed terrorism. I would even go so far as to say, as a hybrid war by proxy, whose implications extend beyond our region. I also salute all partners who continue to support Mali and the countries of the Sahel in this difficult context. Victory against terrorism this global existential threat requires pooling efforts and resources, but above all, it requires a shared understanding of the phenomenon of terrorism itself. Because contrary to what some would have us believe, there is no such thing as a good terrorist and a bad terrorist. The three AES member countries remain open to cooperation with all partners who respect our main principles governing our countries, namely respect for our sovereignty, territorial integrity. The respect for our strategic choices, including our choices for partnership, and also taking into account the interests of our populations. And we do not accept dictates here.
Mr. president, allow me to congratulate His Excellency, Doctor Khalilur Rahman on his election to the presidency of the General Assembly and assure him of the support of my delegation. I also wish to pay tribute to His Excellency António Guterres for his outstanding dedication and commitment to this organization during his two terms as Secretary General, he will be remembered as a leader with a steady hand, always guided by principles of fairness, compassion and dignity for all. Mr. president, the United Nations has now completed the first eight decades of its existence, eight decades replete with resolutions, declarations, and action on decolonization development, new international order, the new constitution for the oceans, as well as climate and environmental technology, human rights, international law, and peacekeeping.
Your Excellency, president of the General Assembly. Mr. Secretary General, your excellencies, ladies and gentlemen. I extend my sincere congratulations on behalf of the delegation of the Kingdom of Morocco to His Excellency, Mr. Khalil al-Rahman, on his election as president of the General Assembly at its 81st session, and I wish him every success in his lofty mission.
Mr. president, Mr. Secretary General, excellencies, distinguished delegates. I bring you warm greetings from my people and my country. We meet under the theme Restoring Trust, Managing transformation: a United Nations that delivers for all. For my country, that means ensuring no nation, regardless of size or distance, is left behind as the world changes around us. Mr. president, let me begin by congratulating you on your election to preside over this 81st session. My delegation assures you of our full support and we thank your predecessor for the stewardship of the 80th session. We also pay tribute to Secretary General Antonio Guterres. This is the last general debate of his tenure, and my country records its gratitude for a decade in which the smaller states were heard more often than before. I have travelled far to speak on matters that may seem distinct, but are united by a single fundamental principle the right of every people to be treated as an equal and to speak for itself.
In the name of Allah, the most merciful and gracious, peace and blessings be upon our prophet and his family and his companions. Your Excellency, Mr. Khalilur Rahman president of the General Assembly, at its 81st session. Your Excellency, Mr. Antonio Guterres, Secretary General of the United Nations. Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, esteemed delegations. At the outset, I wish to congratulate Mr. Khalilur Rahman on his election as president of the General Assembly at its 81st session. I wish him every success in the discharge of his duties. I also extend my appreciation and gratitude to Miss Annalena Baerbock for her capable stewardship of the previous session. I would be remiss not to express our appreciation to His Excellency Mr. Antonio Guterres, secretary general of the United Nations, for his defence of legitimate causes and his protection of the charter.
A very good evening to you, distinguished President of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly, distinguished heads of state, heads of government, and heads of delegation. I have stood on this podium at various points in my life as a civil servant, first as the Minister of Foreign Affairs, then as Executive Vice President, and now as Acting President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
Dialogue is not the opposite of resolve. Diplomacy requires both. It also requires institutions capable of functioning. Defending the United Nations doesn't mean pretending that everything within it works well. The UN80 process is necessary, but there is a difference between reforming an organization and weakening it. We cannot ask more of it, steadily strip away its resources and then express surprise when it's not effective enough. Reform must preserve what gives the organization its purpose peace and security, human rights and development. It must also ensure better representation for every region of the world. And more than 80 years ago, ladies and gentlemen, Paul-Henri Spaak led the Belgian delegation to the San Francisco conference that gave birth to the United Nations. A few months later, he became the first president of this General Assembly. Belgium was emerging from war and occupation. That is precisely why multilateralism seemed the obvious choice to us. We are not here to preserve an institution for its own sake. We are here to preserve what it must make possible peace and security, human rights and prosperity for all. So, ladies and gentlemen, before we were presidents, ministers, ambassadors, or diplomats, we were all children. And despite all that sets them apart, the people we represent often want remarkably simple things to come home in the evening, to watch the children grow up and send them to school without fear, to work to love the person they love, to make plans for next year.
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No. 35
Burkina Faso09/28 · first at about 20 min1 mention
However our cooperation will never be synonym of submission, and our openness will never mean abandoning our own vital interests. It is only if these conditions are met that we will be able to restore confidence and trust between our nations, to make our organisation credible again and to offer present and future generations a safer, more prosperous world that is more respectful of the aspirations of all peoples. President, heads of delegation. Ladies and gentlemen, in our national capacity, I wish to draw the attention of this August Assembly to some thoughts, some considerations on the situation in my country.
Mr. president, doctor Khalilur Rahman, Excellency, Mr. Antonio Guterres, Secretary General of the United Nations. Your Majesties Excellencies, head of State and government, heads of delegation, distinguished delegates. Ladies and gentlemen it is a distinct honor for me to address this assembly on behalf of His Excellency, Mr. Adama Barrow, president of the Republic of the Gambia. I bring to this hall the warm greetings of the government and people of the Gambia, together with our enduring friendship, solidarity and goodwill to all nations represented here. Mr. president allow me at the outset to congratulate you most warmly on your election as president of the 81st session of the General Assembly. The Gambia assures you of our full support and constructive cooperation as you guide our collective work under the timely theme you have chosen: restoring trust and managing transformation so that the United Nations can deliver for all. That theme speaks directly to the moment in which we meet. Permit me also to express our profound appreciation to your predecessor, Miss Annalena Baerbock, for the dedication, dignity and determination with which she presided over the 80th session of the General Assembly. I also wish to place on record The Gambia's appreciation for the Secretary General, Mr. Antonio Guterres, and Deputy Secretary general Amina Mohammed, whose steady and principled leadership, through years of compounding global crisis, have done much to keep the flame of multilateral cooperation alight even as the winds against it have grown fiercer.
And you know what they're most afraid of their own people, the brave Iranian people who have sacrificed so much for so long, the Iranian regime is especially afraid when their people have this, when their people have this. This is a communications device, Starlink that allows people to access truth, to exercise, choice, to exercise, freedom of thought and freedom of speech. That's why the Iranian regime spends millions and billions of dollars censoring the internet, Mr. President. I'm going to leave this device with you so you can give it to the Iranian delegation. So when they inevitably defect, they too will be able to freely tell their story on social media. To the protesters outside, to the hypocritical, hypocritical delegates who left us all. I ask, where were you when the Iranian tyrants butchered and maimed tens of thousands of unarmed Iranian civilians when they butchered and maimed thousands of their own people? Where were you? Did you organize mass rallies, hunger strikes? Did you protest outside the Iranian mission to the U.N.? Did you speak out, for that matter, for Christians persecuted in Iran and throughout the Middle East? No, no, you didn't do that because you're phony human rights protesters and Christians. You know that their numbers are plummeting everywhere in the Middle East, where they're being persecuted and hounded. Except one place my country, Israel, where the Christian community is growing, thriving, succeeding. In fact, you didn't protest when we left Bethlehem. It was controlled by us. It was 80 to 90% Christian, and we gave it to the Palestinian Authority. And today it's 80 to 90% Muslim. Everyone, the Christians were shoved out. Did you protest that? Did you speak about that? Nothing. Nada. And you said nothing about Iran just now. You said nothing about Iran. But I want to give you the good news. Despite your silence, despite your hypocrisy, it's only a matter of time that in Iran something incredible will happen. The power of the people will overcome the people in power. I want you to listen to my words carefully one day, and it may not be far away. The Iranian people will be free. Their murderous regime will be toppled by its lies, by its corruption, by its cruelty. This evil regime will fall, and we will all celebrate that day. Ladies and gentlemen, the story of my people, the Jewish people goes back over 3000 years.
Mr. President of the general assembly, Mr. Secretary general ladies and gentlemen, heads of State and government. Ladies and gentlemen, heads of delegation. Ladies and gentlemen, I am taking the floor before this august assembly on behalf of my country. On behalf of His Excellency, the General of the Army, Abdourahamane Tiani, President of the Republic of Niger, a head of state, to express the message of peace of the people of Niger, the sovereign people of Niger, a people that is committed to its dignity and to cooperation among nations. Mr. president, please accept the congratulations of Niger upon your election to the presidency of this 81st session of the General Assembly, as well as our thanks to your predecessor, Her Excellency Mrs. Annalena Baerbock, and Mr. Antonio Guterres, Secretary General of our organization, whose second term will conclude on the 31st of December.
Mr. president, at the end of August, the Vanuatu government initiated proceedings against France before the International Court of Justice concerning sovereignty over Umaenupne and Umaeneg/Leka islands, or Matthew and Hunter, as they called in English, and the maritime boundaries between Vanuatu and New Caledonia. These islands are integral part of Vanuatu's territory, grounded in customary governance, long standing historical connections indigenous ownership and is seen as part of our duty as ancestral custodians to protect and preserve. We recognise France as a steadfast champion of the international rules based order and under the leadership of President Macron, a strong supporter of international judicial institutions. France has stood alongside Vanuatu in advancing global climate action, including through its support for initiatives before the International Court of Justice. We greatly value this partnership and France leadership on issues of international importance. It is in the same spirit of mutual respect and commitment to international law that we respectfully invite France to consent to the jurisdiction of the court. Mr. president, trust is important for the United Nation's credibility. It cannot be restored through declarations alone. Trust must be earned through action. People will trust the United Nations when they see it preventing conflict. They will trust it when international law is respected. They will trust it when humanitarian assistance reaches those who need it. They will trust it when development commitments become real projects. They will trust it when climate finance reaches vulnerable communities. They will trust it when small states are heard and they will trust it when the international system treats all nations with equal dignity. For Vanuatu, restoring trust also means restoring confidence in multilateralism itself. We must resist the temptation to conclude that because the international system is imperfect, it is therefore irrelevant. The UN80 reforms currently implemented are paramount to rebuild trust again at the United Nations, and therefore needs to be managed diligently. Vanuatu supports efforts to strengthen the United Nations. But reform must preserve what is most important the principle of sovereign equality. The United Nations cannot become an institution where the voices of the most powerful states dominate, where smaller states are expected merely to follow. Reform must strengthen General Assembly. It must make international institutions more accessible to developing countries. It must address the financing and capacity constraints facing small delegations. It must strengthen preventive diplomacy. It must improve the implementation of international decisions. It must ensure that the development pillar remains resourced and that the implementation on the ground is effective and efficient. And it must ensure that international law remains central to the international system. Vanuatu calls for UN Security Council that is more representative, transparent and accountable, with membership and working methods that reflect today's realities and give all regions a meaningful voice. But reform cannot be limited to institutional structures. The deeper reform we require is political and renewed commitment by member states to the principles we have already agreed to. That charter does not need to be reinvented. It needs to be respected. Mr. president, excellencies, for Vanuatu, the United Nations Charter remains our compass. It tells us that the nations are sovereign equals. It tells us that disputes must be settled peacefully. It tells us that the force must not be used against the territory or political independence of states. It tells us that the nations must cooperate. And it reminds us that the ultimate purpose of the international system is not power for its own sake. It is peace, justice, human dignity, development, and cooperation. And it is a better future for succeeding generations. These principles are particularly important to Vanuatu because we know what independence means. Our independence is not merely the absence of colonial rule. Independence means the right of a people to determine our future. It means sovereignty. It means dignity, it means equality, and it means having an equal place in the family of nations. That is why Vanuatu will continue to defend the multilateral system. That is why we will continue to defend international law, and that is why we will continue to speak for the principle that every nation, regardless of size, matters. Mr. president, we meet at a critical moment in international affairs. There are wars that remain unresolved. There are communities facing humanitarian catastrophe. There is growing geopolitical rivalry. There is economic uncertainty. There is climate disruption. There is technological transformation. And there is declining confidence in the international institutions. Yet I remain convinced that this is precisely the moment when we must choose cooperation over confrontation. We must choose dialogue over division. We must choose law over force. We must choose solidarity over indifference. And we must choose multilateralism over fragmentation. Vanuatu comes from a part of the world where our ancestors navigated vast oceans using the stars, the winds, the currents and the knowledge passed from generation to generation. Today the international community is navigating another uncertain ocean. We need a compass. The United Nations Charter is that compass. It provides the principles by which we can navigate a world of competing interests while preserving our common humanity. The theme of this 81st session Restoring Trust, Managing transformation, a United Nations that delivers for all reminds us of what is required. But ultimately, restoring trust will depend not on the words we adopt here, but on the actions we take when we leave this hall. Let us therefore, build a United Nations that is strong enough to prevent war, fair enough to protect the vulnerable, courageous enough to defend international law, and inclusive enough to give every nation a meaningful voice. Let us build a United Nations where the concerns of a small island nation in the Pacific and all over the world can stand alongside those of the largest powers of the world. Let us not allow division to rule our era. Instead, we choose cooperation. We choose peace. We choose justice. We choose solidarity. And we choose to renew our faith in the idea that together, nations can build a world. We can build a better world.
