26 September 2024<\/p>\n
Seventy-ninth Session,<\/strong> World leaders addressed multiple flashpoints and volatile crises in the Middle East and elsewhere during the third day of the General Assembly\u2019s\u00a0annual high-level general debate<\/a>, with Mahmoud Abbas, President of the State of Palestine, urging the international community to hold Israel to account for carrying out a \u201cfull-scale war of genocide\u201d and stressing that the Palestinian people \u201cwill not allow a single centimetre of Gaza to be taken\u201d.<\/p>\n For almost a year, the Palestinian people have been \u201csubjected to one of the most heinous crimes of our era\u201d, said Mr.\u00a0Abbas.\u00a0 Israel has killed more than \u201c40,000\u00a0martyrs in Gaza alone, and thousands remain under the rubble\u201d.\u00a0 Whole families have been wiped out, while more than 2\u00a0million Palestinians in Gaza have left their homes multiple times in search of safety.\u00a0 The West Bank is under daily Israeli aggression, he went on to say.\u00a0 \u201cThey are building everywhere in Palestine, as if all of Palestine is theirs,\u201d he stressed.<\/p>\n Turning to the events of 7\u00a0October\u00a02023, he recalled immediately stressing the need to avoid an all-out war.\u00a0 \u201cI condemned the killing of civilians, regardless of who they are, and regardless of what side they were on,\u201d he said.\u00a0 But instead of \u201chearing the voice of reason\u201d, the Israeli Government took advantage of what happened to launch a genocidal war.\u00a0 Noting that the United States has obstructed draft resolutions three times in the Security Council demanding Israel to observe a ceasefire, he said that country \u201calone stood and said, \u2018No, the fighting is going to continue\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n Mbae Mohamed, Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Comoros, condemned the war in Palestine as the \u201cpurest form of genocide\u201d.\u00a0 \u00a0Reaffirming solidarity with the Palestinians, he beseeched the international community to act towards an immediate cessation of hostilities and resumption of humanitarian supply, also working quickly to arrive at a two-State solution based on international law and relevant Security Council resolutions. \u00a0Further, he applauded the admission of Palestine as a full Member State of the UN.<\/p>\n Echoing that urgency, Mohammed Shia’ Al Sudani, Prime Minister of Iraq, stated that in the Occupied Palestinian Territory today, there is public talk of mass starvation and the use of nuclear weapons to exterminate the population, who have been denied their rights amid a \u201cshameful global paralysis\u201d.\u00a0 International law and Security Council resolutions are now \u201cmere ink on paper\u201d and are dangerous precedents that can result in dire consequences for all of humanity.\u00a0 He further declared his country\u2019s solidarity with Lebanon as it faces a new phase of brutal aggression that seeks to plunge the region into crisis \u2014 promising to provide support to enable it to withstand the attacks.<\/p>\n Stressing that his country is in a crisis that is threatening its very existence, Abdallah Bouhabib, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Emigrants of Lebanon, said \u201cthis is a situation that requires international intervention on an urgent basis.\u201d \u00a0Without such action, the crisis will \u201ctransform into a black hole that will engulf regional and international peace and security.\u201d<\/p>\n Condemning the detestable, repugnant transformation of telecommunications devices into ticking time bombs claiming the lives of dozens, including children and women, he warned:\u00a0 the Israeli occupying Power is attempting to extend the war, adding that the return of displaced Israelis cannot be achieved by bombarding Lebanese people.\u00a0 \u201cHas Israel not had enough of the endless wars since 1948 \u2026 Will Israel not embrace the path of peace?\u201d he asked.\u00a0 Reiterating support for the United States-French ceasefire initiative, he called on the United Nations to generate momentum towards ending this crisis.<\/p>\n For his part, Dick Schoof, Prime Minister of the Netherlands, stressed that \u201ca major regional war must be prevented at all costs,\u201d adding: \u00a0\u201cand so must any new attack on Israel\u201d. \u00a0Noting this begins with supporting international diplomatic initiatives, he echoed the call for implementation of the proposal by the United States and France for a temporary ceasefire. \u00a0It is urgent to \u201cbreak the endless cycle of violence and help them see \u2018the other\u2019 for who they are\u201d, he stated.<\/p>\n Turning to his country, Rashad Mohammed al-Alimi, President of the Presidential Leadership Council of Yemen, urged the need \u201cto put an end to the false rhetoric concerning that crisis \u2014 which minimizes the role of Tehran.\u00a0 \u201cIran has been manipulating the just Palestinian cause,\u201d he said, accusing that country of using blackmailing and propaganda that undermined the peace process in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, as well as in Yemen. \u00a0\u201cLeniency with the enemies of peace leads to the most heinous wars,\u201d he stressed, as the Houthis continue to commit violence, hijacking planes, attacking oil facilities and issuing racist orders and laws.<\/p>\n Touching on a widening crisis in another part of the world, Edgar Leblanc Fils, President of the Presidential Council of the Transition of Haiti, said that nearly half of that Caribbean nation\u2019s people are suffering from acute food shortages.\u00a0 Painting a grim picture of the country\u2019s unprecedented security crisis, he said the people of Haiti are afraid to send their children to school.\u00a0 \u201cHaiti is the greatest victim of a historical injustice,\u201d he stressed.\u00a0 Acknowledging the \u201cheavy heritage\u201d of serious human rights violations associated with UN missions, he called to change the current mission into a peacekeeping operation under the United Nations mandate.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Sudan\u2019s President of the Transitional Sovereign Council, Abdel-Fattah al-Burhan Abdelrahman al-Burhan, said a war in his country is being waged by a group of rebels receiving political and logistical support at the local and regional level.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019ve all witnessed the crimes, violations and atrocities committed by these rebels targeting the Sudanese people and the Sudanese State,\u201d he emphasized, pointing to ethnic cleansing, forced displacement and genocide by the Rapid Support Forces.\u00a0 The United Nations must shoulder its responsibility, specifically to protect developing countries.<\/p>\n In a different register, other Member States addressed the Fourth Industrial Revolution, with Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Prime Minister of Greece, stating that \u201clike steam or electricity before it,\u201d artificial intelligence\u00a0(AI) presents a huge opportunity to transform human life and drive solutions across science, climate change and medicine. \u00a0However, noting that technology companies are transnational actors with more economic muscle than most countries at the United Nations, he pointed out that there is no framework to govern their actions or ensure accountability. \u00a0\u201cThe brains of our children are being rewired at an almost unimaginable scale, yet we do nothing,\u201d he warned.<\/p>\n Ti\u00e9moko Meyliet Kon\u00e9, Vice President of C\u00f4te d\u2019Ivoire, agreed that AI holds great promise \u2014 yet warned that it can also hold a range of threats due to the lack of international regulations governing its use. \u00a0\u201cIt falls to us that these developments do not lead to a digital downgrading of some and that it serves the progress and well-being of all,\u201d he stressed \u2014 welcoming the Global Digital Compact, which should be used by all nations. \u00a0Similarly, Prithvirajsing Roopun, President of the Republic of Mauritius, advised that for humanity to benefit from its transformative power, the regulation of AI must be anchored on international law.\u00a0 He therefore welcomed the adoption of the Pact for the Future, \u201cwhich is a renewed testimony to our collective resolve for the betterment of our world.\u201d<\/p>\n Statements<\/u><\/p>\n LAZARUS MCCARTHY CHAKWERA,\u00a0President of Malawi<\/u>, called on Member States to act in urgency to fix the United Nations and other multilateral institutions.\u00a0 The Security Council must give Africa two permanent seats with veto power.\u00a0 \u201cWe need this fix to strengthen our voice on the issues that matter to us in Africa,\u201d he went on.\u00a0 No nation can survive a global crisis or develop in the face of shocks without strong multilateral cooperation to sustain it.\u00a0\u201cComing off the back of the state of natural disaster that I declared last year to secure international cooperation in response to the devastation caused by Cyclone Freddy, I have had to declare another state of natural disaster this year to secure international cooperation in response to the El Ni\u00f1o weather conditions,\u201d he said.\u00a0Malawi has also suffered from the death of its Vice-President, Saulos Claus Chilima, in a plane crash, the cause of which is yet to be established, he said.<\/p>\n He noted various ways Malawi is focusing on developing the country, including through the building of roads and schools and strengthening education and governance institutions.\u00a0 These projects are thriving due to cooperation with various countries from the United Kingdom to Saudia Arabia.\u00a0 \u201cMalawi is a testament to the power of cooperation to move a nation\u2019s development forward into an inclusively wealthy and sustainable future,\u201d he said.\u00a0 If the future belongs to nations that know how to leverage the power of international cooperation, then the future belongs to Malawi.\u00a0 But, some efforts to move forward are being significantly slowed down by a global system of multilateral agencies and financial institutions that are too slow, too inefficient, too monolithic and too undemocratic.<\/p>\n The debt-to-gross domestic product\u00a0(GDP) ratios in developing countries like Malawi are growing at an alarming rate, posing a significant threat to global financial stability, he warned.\u00a0 \u201cIf this is not fixed, those who keep us in a state of perpetual debt when they have the resources to cancel those debts should make no mistake:\u00a0 the spreading debt crisis in the developing world is a cancer that will make your own economies unsafe,\u201d he added.\u00a0 There is nothing wrong with healthy competition between nations, but competition must be fair.\u00a0 The international system must ensure that the way nations compete and what they compete for is not rigged to disenfranchise some countries in accessing natural resources, international markets, financial support and new technology, which are currently skewed against the Global South.<\/p>\n \u201cEven with the era of artificial intelligence\u00a0(AI) being fully upon us, I worry that the rules for regulating this arena are already being written to empower some nations and give them unfair advantages over others,\u201d he said.\u00a0 Stronger governance institutions must enforce fair rules for accessing education, markets, technology, financing and natural resources.\u00a0 If governance is weak here, there will be no one to regulate the collaboration and competition between nations in an equitable manner, and it is this absence of equity that is at the root of unwinnable conflict in Eastern Europe, in Palestine, in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and counting, he went on to say.<\/p>\n WILLIAM SAMOEI RUTO,\u00a0President of Kenya<\/u>, said that \u201cthe promise of the United Nations Charter to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war has been profoundly shaken\u201d.\u00a0 From Gaza to Darfur, Ukraine, Yemen, eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan, the Sahel region and the criminality in Haiti, conflict is inflicting a trail of destruction of life and livelihoods in historic proportions.\u00a0 These conflicts have become battlegrounds for armed factions, external interventions and proxy wars, resulting in unprecedented repercussions on global stability and economic development.\u00a0 Expressing regret that the world\u2019s most powerful States have increasingly chosen unilateralism and militarization over dialogue and diplomacy, he observed that the capacity of multilateral institutions to maintain and enforce peace is \u201cseverely undermined\u201d.<\/p>\n Spotlighting Kenya\u2019s initiatives, he said that, through our participation in the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia\u00a0(ATMIS), it has stood side by side with Somalia in its fight against Al-Shabaab.\u00a0He welcomed the adoption of resolution\u00a02719\u00a0(2023), establishing a framework for financing African Union peace support operations through UN assessed contributions, thereby enhancing collective peacekeeping efforts.\u00a0 In\u00a02024, he launched the all-inclusive Tumaini Initiative, bringing together the warring parties and the political leadership of South Sudan to address the root causes of the protracted conflict.\u00a0 On the Multinational Security Support Mission to Haiti, he said that Kenya has deployed 382\u00a0specially trained police officers.\u00a0 Nairobi\u2019s support for the Haitian National Police has significantly advanced the pacification of cities and towns, protected critical infrastructure and relieved many communities previously held captive by criminal gangs.<\/p>\n He further underscored that the existing international security architecture, represented by the Security Council, continues to hamper efforts to maintain international peace and security.\u00a0 \u201cAn institution that excludes 54\u00a0African countries, representing 1.4\u00a0billion people, while allowing one nation to veto decisions of the remaining 193\u00a0Member States, is unacceptable,\u201d he asserted.\u00a0 Many countries in the Global South are forced to choose between buying medicine and hospital equipment or paying debt, and between hiring teachers or paying debt, he observed, adding:\u00a0 \u201cThis is not an abstract illustration detached from daily reality, but the normal experience of billions of ordinary people.\u201d<\/p>\n Against this backdrop, he stressed that facilitating debt relief, grants and de-risking lending instruments are essential to developing vital infrastructure.\u00a0 \u201cConsider Africa\u2019s immense untapped potential in clean energy resources,\u201d he said, noting that harnessing this potential is crucial not only for the continent\u2019s economic growth and social resilience, but also for global priorities like accelerating the energy transition and combating climate change.\u00a0 In this context, he spotlighted the Africa Green Industrialization Initiative, aimed at unlocking investments for the continent\u2019s immense opportunities.\u00a0 This pan-African initiative promotes large-scale, high-impact, bankable green industrial and infrastructure projects.\u00a0 Additionally, he said, the Africa Club \u2014 an alliance of African multilateral financial institutions to strengthen Africa\u2019s position in the global financial architecture \u2014 will serve as a powerful negotiator on behalf of the continent, coordinate with global financial institutions and leverage African countries\u2019 balance sheets to increase investment and create jobs.<\/p>\n RASHAD MOHAMMED AL-ALIMI,\u00a0President of the Presidential Leadership Council of Yemen<\/u>, reaffirmed the Yemeni Government\u2019s commitment to achieving a \u201cjust and comprehensive peace\u201d. In light of the escalation of violence from the Houthi militias, he called for a \u201ccollective approach to support the Government of Yemen\u201d and ensure\u00a0implementation of resolutions prohibiting the flow of Iranian weapons.\u00a0 \u201cLeniency with the enemies of peace leads to the most heinous wars,\u201d he warned, noting that the militias will not engage in any peacemaking efforts.\u00a0 Despite the truce approved by the Yemeni Government in\u00a02022 and efforts to de-escalate,\u00a0the Houthis continue to commit violence, hijacking planes, attacking oil facilities and issuing racist orders and laws.\u00a0 Against this backdrop, he called on the international community to \u201ctake firm policies\u201d and push the Houthis towards peace, in line with resolution\u00a02216\u00a0(2015).<\/p>\n Turning to the \u201carrest\u201d of the UN personnel by the Houthis, he said \u201cthere is widespread belief that the UN is responsible\u201d for giving militias this opportunity.\u00a0 He stressed that the UN\u2019s decision to keep its headquarters in Sana\u2019a \u2014 despite the Yemeni Government\u2019s call to move it to Aden \u2014 has \u201cunintentionally enabled these terrorists\u201d to\u00a0take UN personnel hostage and use them as a bargaining chip.\u00a0 \u201cThis ongoing situation can be neither defended nor justified,\u201d he emphasized, adding that \u201cthe presence of the UN headquarters in Sana\u2019a emboldens these militias\u201d.\u00a0 There is a need to reconsider these policies, he asserted.<\/p>\n The Houthis\u2019 terrorist attacks on international maritime navigation threaten not only Yemen, but the stability of the region, he said, detailing a recent attack by the Houthis on\u00a0the crude oil tanker\u00a0Sounion<\/em>, which\u00a0caused fires and risked being \u201cone of the worst oil spills in history\u201d.\u00a0 Pointing out the devastating economic impact of these attacks, which have deprived Yemen of vital resources needed for salaries and services, he urged the international community to provide comprehensive support for Yemen\u00a0to address the dire humanitarian conditions and \u201cto lay the foundations for long-term economic recovery\u201d.\u00a0\u201cThe stability of Yemen is decisive in safeguarding peace and stability in the region and trade routes in the Arabian Sea,\u201d he stated.<\/p>\n On the wider regional affairs, he called \u201cto put an end to the false rhetoric concerning the issue of Yemen\u201d, which minimizes the role of Tehran.\u00a0 \u201cIran has been manipulating the just Palestinian cause,\u201d he said, accusing that country of using blackmailing and propaganda that undermined the peace process in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as well in Yemen,\u00a0urging an end to the ongoing conflicts and the achievement of lasting peace in the region.<\/p>\n BRICE CLOTAIRE OLIGUI NGUEMA,\u00a0Transitional President of Gabon<\/u>, said his country has just celebrated the first anniversary of the Liberation Coup, having kept the promises to establish transitional institutions, release prisoners of conscience, ensure permanent inclusivity, hold an inclusive national dialogue and draft a new constitution.\u00a0 \u201cThe next step is to organize the referendum in the coming months, the adoption of an electoral code and the revision of the electoral register,\u201d he noted, adding that all of this progress supported by the people of Gabon contributes to a progressive return to the constitutional order through free, transparent and peaceful elections as soon as possible.\u00a0He went on to mention significant reforms undertaken in sectors that directly affect human development:\u00a0roads, health-care centres, schools, the return of school grants, the opening of competitions for major universities, the lifting of recruitment freeze and the payment of pension arrears.<\/p>\n He thanked all partners, friendly countries, and national and international donors for supporting this transition process despite its difficulties.\u00a0 \u201cOn the day after the Liberation Coup of 30\u00a0August\u00a02023, that was carried out without bloodshed, we advocated for the preservation of peace and for national unity by appealing to all stakeholders of the nation, whatever their origins, their beliefs or their social status, in an effort to build a fairer and more prosperous Gabon,\u201d he recalled.\u00a0 He stressed that respect for life, territorial integrity, the sovereignty of States to freely choose their partners and rejection of violence \u2014 all favour peacebuilding.<\/p>\n Turning to environmental issues, he reminded that Gabon has dedicated 13 national parks to the service of humanity, thus contributing to the absorption of more than 100\u00a0million net tons of CO2 per year and the preservation of threatened species.\u00a0 \u201cNevertheless, this does not mean in any way that we are bypassing the expectations of our population who are focused on their basic needs being met,\u201d he specified, reminding industrialized nations of the need to truly respect their commitments by supporting the countries that host the greatest carbon reservoirs in the world.<\/p>\n Urging to provide appropriate responses to the numerous conflicts in the world, particularly in Africa, he welcomed the adoption of resolution 2719 (2023) on the financing of peace support operations led by the African Union.\u00a0 \u201cIts implementation is a categorical imperative,\u201d he emphasized, also voicing support to the efforts of the Secretary-General of the United Nations aimed at providing a realistic, pragmatic and sustainable political solution for the Moroccan Sahara.\u00a0 He welcomed the official announcement by the United States of its support for the admission of two African States as permanent members of the Security Council.\u00a0\u201cHowever, Africa is expecting broader support from other permanent members of the Security Council for this initiative and at the same time we expect access for African members to the right to veto,\u201d he said, also urging not to avert the gaze from Gaza with a view to the harmonious existence of the Palestinian and Israeli States and to lift the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed on Cuba.\u00a0\u201cTogether, let us pool our efforts in a hope of a better future by acting in a different way in order to preserve the human race,\u201d he concluded.<\/p>\n FAUSTIN ARCHANGE TOUADERA,\u00a0President of the Central African Republic<\/u>, recalled the 30\u00a0July decision of the Security Council to lift the unjust, harmful decade-long arms embargo on his country, noting that the belated move will help establish peace and security in the territory and region and contribute to sustainable development.\u00a0 As the Central African Republic has great mining potential, he voiced optimism that the diamond embargo imposed by the Kimberley Process will also be lifted to aid the country\u2019s economic development.\u00a0 \u201cPeace is inextricably linked to sustainable development,\u201d he said, noting that this General Assembly session is marked by conflicts between the Russian Federation and Ukraine, between Israel and Hamas, in Sudan and in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.\u00a0 Nonetheless, dialogue is the only tool that can put an end to the bloodshed, he said.<\/p>\n This year has been a period of stability for the Central African Republic, he continued, adding that the country will organize regional democratic elections for the first time in 40 years.\u00a0 Measures have been taken to remove armed groups vying for control through violent means from the State.\u00a0 Moreover, the tenth session of the Strategic Committee of the Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration programme marked a turning point to appreciate the success of the National Reconciliation and the Luanda Joint Roadmap.\u00a0Nonetheless, his country faces challenges including the construction of more military bases in key areas where defence against threats is lacking.\u00a0 Turning to the climate crisis, he said that in sub-Saharan Africa, the \u201cepicentre of humanitarian crises\u201d, environmental catastrophes have caused more than 1,000 deaths and more than 4\u00a0million people to be displaced, with almost incalculable monetary cost in structural damage.<\/p>\n Developing countries pay the highest price in this world marked by strife and crises, he said.\u00a0 Already made poor by centuries of slavery, colonialism and neocolonialism, meddling in their internal affairs and being disadvantaged by the international financial infrastructure, they are \u201clooking on powerlessly\u201d as security, financial, economic, food and environmental challenges mount.\u00a0 Promises of financing to vulnerable countries are slow to come, and decisions made by powerful countries at United Nations Climate Change Conferences change like the weather.\u00a0 While the Central African Republic has put measures in place to respond to climate change, it depends on often unstable financing, he said, urging the Assembly to work towards addressing security risks linked to climate change.\u00a0 \u201cThe world is teetering close to the brink,\u201d he warned, adding that the United Nations architecture that maintains peace and security is under unprecedented pressure.\u00a0In that vein, Africa\u2019s demands for Security Council reform and the right to the veto are legitimate.\u00a0 Welcoming the United States\u2019 support for the creation of two new permanent seats for Africa and one rotating seat for small island developing countries, he insisted that Africa \u2014 long sidelined \u2014 must also have veto powers.<\/p>\n Moreover, it is high time to accelerate reform of the global financial infrastructure to remedy inequality.\u00a0 Financing to obtain the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) must be mobilized to protect the planet.\u00a0 In 2050, half the world\u2019s global youth will live in Africa, and half of its countries will see their populations double.\u00a0 While the documents signed at the Pact for the Future are a good first step, the implementation of the SDGs should be sped up, particularly in the areas of science, technology and digital cooperation.\u00a0 Young people, women and girls must be included and invested in to guarantee a future for all, he said.\u00a0 For its part, the Central African Republic\u2019s ambitious National Development Plan 2024-28 strikes a balance between the needs of today\u2019s population and future generations in line with human capital development.<\/p>\n MAHMOUD ABBAS,\u00a0President of the State of Palestine<\/u>, said that his people, for almost a year now, have been \u201csubjected to one of the most heinous crimes of our era\u201d.\u00a0 Israel is carrying out a full-scale war of genocide, a crime that so far has killed more than \u201c40,000 martyrs in Gaza alone, and thousands remain under the rubble\u201d, he added.\u00a0 Hundreds of Palestinian families have been annihilated.\u00a0 Thousands have died because of the spread of disease and shortages in medicine and water.\u00a0 More than 2\u00a0million Palestinians in Gaza have left their homes multiple times in search of safety.\u00a0 Dozens of people are being killed every day.\u00a0 The West Bank is under daily Israeli aggression, he went on to say.\u00a0\u201cThey are building everywhere in Palestine, as if all of Palestine is theirs,\u201d he stressed.\u00a0 The Aqsa Mosque and its surroundings is the exclusive property of Muslims, and yet Israel is trying to erase that fact.\u00a0 Turning to what happened on 7\u00a0October, he recalled that he immediately stressed the need to stop war.\u00a0 \u201cI condemned the killing of civilians, regardless of who they are, and regardless of what side they were on,\u201d he said.\u00a0 There is no need to detain women, children and the elderly.\u00a0But instead of \u201chearing the voice of reason\u201d, the Israeli Government took advantage of what happened to launch an all-out war.<\/p>\n Israel today is launching a new aggression against the Lebanese people, who are now being subjected to a war of genocide, he said, condemning the aggression, and demanding that it stops immediately.\u00a0Israel has reoccupied the Gaza Strip in its entirety.\u00a0 \u201cSeventy-five per cent of everything in Gaza has been fully destroyed,\u201d he added.\u00a0 The international community must immediately impose sanctions on Israel.\u00a0 \u201cThe massacres, the crimes, the genocide that Israel has been perpetrating against our people since its inception in 1948 to this very day will not go unpunished; there is no statute of limitations,\u201d he stressed.\u00a0 But despite repeated calls, the world has not succeeded in obliging Israel to stop this war of genocide and its war crimes against innocent civilians.<\/p>\n The United States has obstructed draft resolutions three times at the Security Council demanding Israel to observe a ceasefire, he went on to say.\u00a0 \u201cThe US alone stood and said: \u00a0\u2018No, the fighting is going to continue\u2019,\u201d he added.\u00a0 It furnished Israel with the deadly weapons that it used to kill thousands of innocent civilians, including children and women.\u00a0 This is the United States, the very country that was the only member in the Security Council that voted against granting the State of Palestine full membership in the United Nations.\u00a0 \u201cWe don’t deserve membership in the eyes of America,\u201d he said.\u00a0 Israel does not deserve to be a member in this international organization, he went on to say.\u00a0 He commended the General Assembly for adopting a resolution that called on Israel to withdraw from the Palestinian territories within 12 months.\u00a0He paid tribute to Turkish-American Aisha Noor, \u201ckilled by the occupation army in cold blood\u201d.<\/p>\n He called for a comprehensive and permanent ceasefire in Gaza and an end to the military aggressions and attacks by terrorist settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, he said.\u00a0 Humanitarian aid must be delivered throughout Gaza while Israel fully withdrawals from the enclave.\u00a0 \u201cWe will not allow a single centimetre of Gaza to be taken,\u201d he warned, demanding the return of all those who have been displaced.\u00a0 He also underscored the need to protect the work of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) and other humanitarian organizations.\u00a0 \u201cWe cannot fight Israel, and we don\u2019t want to fight, but we want protection,\u201d he said.\u00a0 The Palestinian people must have authority over all Palestinian territories in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank and Eastern Jerusalem, as has been stipulated by international law.\u00a0 \u201cWe want a solution that will protect both countries, the State of Palestine and the State of Israel, so that they can coexist in peace, stability and security,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n ADAMA BARROW,\u00a0President of Gambia<\/u>, called on the international community to recommit to implementing the Summit of the Future resolutions to tackle climate change, poverty, transnational crimes and conflict.\u00a0Underscoring the need for comprehensive reforms within the UN system \u2014 particularly the Security Council and the international financial institutions \u2014 he stated:\u00a0 \u201cWe must equally strive for a more representative, just and inclusive United Nations to shape the world we so dearly want.\u201d\u00a0 Like many least developed countries, Gambia faces immense challenges that threaten its survival as a nation and require collective international efforts.\u00a0 The global community must assist the least developed countries in addressing the burden of inequality, building more robust economies and creating policy space for economic growth.\u00a0 Concurrently, investment must be increased in capacity-building to tackle the debt burden.<\/p>\n He further underscored the need to bridge the digital divide and support technology transfer to advance development.\u00a0Recognizing women\u2019s indispensable role in socioeconomic development, he said that empowering women translates into community empowerment and \u2014 ultimately \u2014 inclusive development.\u00a0Spotlighting Gambia\u2019s participation in collective international efforts, he recalled that in 2023, it cosponsored General Assembly consensus resolution 77\/276, which sought to engage the International Court of Justice on the obligations of States regarding climate change.<\/p>\n At the national level, Gambia is committed to promoting human rights and establishing a vibrant democratic environment.\u00a0 The establishment of a National Human Rights Commission and entrenchment of a free, independent and impartial judiciary provide a solid framework and a sense of security for Gambia\u2019s citizens, thus ensuring they have a place to seek redress for injustice.\u00a0 Since 2017, Gambia has neither recorded a single political prisoner nor has any journalist or human rights activist been jailed.\u00a0 Also, in August\u00a02024, his country was recognized as one of Africa\u2019s leading defenders of freedom of expression and ranked third in Article 19\u2019s Global Expression Report 2024.<\/p>\n Turning to the ongoing conflicts in Palestine, Sudan, the Sahel, Ukraine, the Russian Federation, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Libya, he urged the international community to explore all diplomatic means to restore lasting peace.\u00a0 He also underlined the need to prioritize support for the post-conflict reconstruction of Gaza and improve the West Bank\u2019s economic conditions.\u00a0 Even though the situation in that region is dire, the intense destruction of lives and property continues, he observed, calling on the international community to join forces and urgently bring about permanent peace in Palestine.\u00a0 As Chair of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), he reiterated his commitment to exploring every possible diplomatic and peaceful channel to resolve the Middle East crisis.\u00a0 He also highlighted his Government\u2019s collaboration with relevant countries to improve the plight of migrants.\u00a0 \u201cAlthough we must discourage irregular migration, we are duty-bound to respect the rights of migrants and ensure they are treated with dignity,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n EDGARD LEBLANC FILS,\u00a0President of the Presidential Council of the Transition of Haiti<\/u>, said that as \u201cthe first Black republic in the world\u201d, his country was proud of its heroic fight for freedom and human dignity and expressed hope for a better future, while calling for international solidarity.\u00a0 Citing alarming data on climate change, poverty and conflicts faced by the world, he detailed their devastating effects on his country.\u00a0 In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, Haiti is facing a high level of poverty and structural challenges, he noted, emphasizing that this global crisis demands comprehensive economic reform.\u00a0 With nearly half of Haiti\u2019s population suffering from acute food shortages, he warned that the country\u2019s stability is at serious risk.\u00a0 Noting that Haiti is one of \u201cthe least connected countries\u201d, he called for urgent support \u201cto fill in the digital divide\u201d and enable his country\u2019s participation in the global economy.<\/p>\n \u201cThese global challenges can only be addressed through renewed commitment to multilateralism, through solidarity and collective action,\u201d he said, pledging his country\u2019s commitment to build, together with the international community, \u201ca future where peace, justice and human dignity are triumphant\u201d.\u00a0 Turning to Haiti\u2019s internal political situation, he highlighted the creation of the Presidential Council of Transition \u2014 \u201cthe embodiment of the plurality of Haitian society\u201d \u2014 as a key development in the country\u2019s effort to overcome its multidimensional crisis.\u00a0 While noting that the ultimate responsibility for his country\u2019s recovery lies with the Haitian people themselves, he pointed out the international community\u2019s responsibility, which played \u201ca decisive role in the history of Haiti\u201d.<\/p>\n Painting a grim picture of the unprecedented security crisis, which has engulfed Haiti \u2014 with people fearing to move around the country or send their children to school \u2014 he welcomed the decision of the Security Council to authorize the deployment of the Multinational Security Support Mission.\u00a0However, he acknowledged the \u201cheavy heritage\u201d of serious human rights violations associated with previous UN missions and stressed the importance of learning from the past by \u201crethinking the approach\u201d.\u00a0 Therefore, he called on the international community to transform the current mission into a peacekeeping operation under the United Nations mandate.\u00a0 Such a transformation, he stressed, would ensure more stable funding and reinforce Member States\u2019 commitment to restoring security in Haiti.<\/p>\n \u201cHaiti is the greatest victim of a historical injustice,\u201d he stated, recalling that his country was forced to pay a colossal debt to France in 1825 in exchange for the recognition of its independence.\u00a0 This debt, paid under threat, \u201csiphoned off\u201d vital resources from Haiti, \u201cplunging it into an infernal cycle of impoverishment\u201d.\u00a0Demanding \u201crecognition of the moral and historic debt\u201d, he called for \u201cthe implementation of just and appropriate reparations, which will make it possible for our people to free themselves from the invisible chains of this unjust past\u201d.<\/p>\n ABDEL-FATTAH AL-BURHAN ABDELRAHMAN AL-BURHAN,\u00a0President of the Transitional Sovereign Council of Sudan<\/u>, said his country stands convinced of the important role played by the United Nations and supports all initiatives towards reforming the Organization and its bodies, specifically the Security Council, so that these bodies can put an end to the protracted crises.\u00a0\u201cUnilateral measures taken outside the United Nations framework in complete violation of the UN Charter and international law, political and economic restrictions \u2014 these are the main drivers of instability,\u201d he stressed, adding that double standards and selectiveness are currently prevailing in international affairs.<\/p>\n In Sudan, a war is being waged by a group of rebels receiving political and logistical support at the local and regional level, he said.\u00a0\u201cYou\u2019ve all witnessed the crimes, violations and atrocities committed by these rebels targeting the Sudanese people and the Sudanese State,\u201d he emphasized, pointing to countless crimes, ethnic cleansing, forced displacement and genocide by the Rapid Support Forces, which should be considered a terrorist group.\u00a0 \u201cAnd it is most unfortunate that it is receiving the support of some States in the region,\u201d he specified, adding that the terrorist group has also hit diplomatic missions and the UN office in Sudan, so there is all the more reason to call for Security Council reform to avoid the policy of impunity and double standards.\u00a0 \u201cThis devastating aggression being waged by the RSF [Rapid Support Forces], with the support of the States in the region providing funding and mercenaries as well as weapons to the RSF, has resulted in the deaths of dozens of thousands of Sudanese and the displacement of many millions more,\u201d he recalled, pointing out the regional political players who are in favour of the war.<\/p>\n He stated that the Sudanese Government is steadfastly committed to facilitating humanitarian assistance and protecting humanitarian convoys and personnel.\u00a0 \u201cThe protection of civilians is our responsibility, especially when women and children are being hit the hardest by violations committed in the areas controlled by the militias \u2014 some women and children have even been sold in the marketplace,\u201d he said.\u00a0 \u201cThis organization must shoulder its responsibility, specifically so as to protect developing countries in the face of the efforts of some other States who would like to control our people\u2019s riches through the use of force and specifically through the use of money,\u201d he stressed, adding that numerous crimes in Sudan are the product of the policy of double standards as well as political approaches based on exerting power and economic blackmail.<\/p>\n Recalling that the Sudanese Armed Forces is one of the State\u2019s oldest institutions, which is non-politicized and is very much in favour of the democratic transition, upholding the commitments of the glorious 2019 revolution, he said that his country will never accept the return to the previous regime, which was rejected by the Sudanese people.\u00a0 \u201cWe will continue pursuing peace, working with all groups who laid down their weapons as well as with groups who still carry weapons but who are willing to respect the Juba Peace Agreement signed in 2020,\u201d he said, adding that the Rapid Support Forces rebelled against the State and are committing terrorist crimes, so they should be considered as such at the United Nations.\u00a0 In conclusion, he urged to put an immediate end to the aggression in Gaza and Lebanon, calling for full membership in the United Nations for Palestine.<\/p>\n CARLOS MANUEL VILA NOVA,\u00a0President of Sao Tome and Principe<\/u>, said that as a small island developing State, his country bears the brunt of climate change, which represents the greatest existential threat to the country.\u00a0 Worse, even though Sao Tome and Principe produces only a tiny portion of greenhouse gases, it suffers the most from the effects of climate change, including sea level rise, coastal erosion and a loss of biodiversity, threatening all lives on the island.\u00a0 The international community must respect commitments made in the Paris Agreement on climate change and listen to the most affected countries, he said, calling for ambitious, global, concrete actions.\u00a0 The upcoming UN Climate Change Conference in Baku is a crucial moment to reaffirm a collective commitment to limit global warming to 1.5\u00b0C.\u00a0 Concrete actions must address the impacts of climate change, and the largest emitters must fulfil their \u201chistorical and moral\u201d obligations in reducing their emissions while also honouring their promises of climate financing to developing countries, he said.\u00a0 Moreover, adaptation mechanisms must be funded.<\/p>\n Though the country is already investing in solutions such as sustainable use of marine resources and renewable energies, support is required for scaling up those solutions to be fit to task.\u00a0 Sustainable development is not a choice for Sao Tome and Principe but a necessity, and against the backdrop of the rapidly approaching deadline for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, much progress remains.\u00a0Support for development must be renewed, and new models of partnership between States must be explored, he said.\u00a0Without an international environment that promotes free trade and peace, the country\u2019s efforts will be hampered.\u00a0The importance of strengthening multilateralism and ensuring that all States, regardless of size and economic power, have a voice cannot be understated.\u00a0 \u201cMultilateralism is our best tool for tackling collective challenges that transcend borders,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n Turning to Africa, he said that the continent continues to be the scene of protracted conflicts requiring diplomatic intervention and African solutions for African problems in respect of the sovereignty of States.\u00a0 Addressing conflicts in the Middle East, he said that diplomatic efforts must be redoubled for the peaceful resolution of conflicts, adding:\u00a0 \u201cThere can be no development without peace, and peace is only possible with justice.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe future we want must be built on the foundations of cooperation, solidarity and mutual understanding,\u201d he recalled, underlining that COVID\u201119 illuminated the reality of interdependence of nations and the need for cooperation to address global challenges.\u00a0 \u201cThe world\u2019s current affliction is not inevitable,\u201d he said.\u00a0Without the United Nations and with all countries divided, the world will fall into conflict, he said, hailing multilateralism.\u00a0 However, the world has changed since the Organization\u2019s inception and must evolve.\u00a0Sao Tome and Principe advocates for Security Council reform, in particular \u201cthe need to think of Africa as a part of the world\u201d.\u00a0 The Council cannot continue reflecting the same power structures of 1945, a time of colonization, he urged.\u00a0 Finally, turning to other global affairs, he called for an end to the unjust embargo on Cuba and reaffirmed support for Morocco\u2019s sovereignty as well the country\u2019s efforts to find a \u201cpeaceful and credible solution to the dispute\u201d as well as the Morocco-Nigeria pipeline initiative, which reflects regional integration and sustainable growth.<\/p>\n KING LETSIE III of\u00a0Lesotho<\/u>, noting that his country was founded on the principle of peace, said that its founder \u201cMorena Moshoeshoe I was able to bring together different tribal groups, avert conflicts and negotiate lasting peace that to this day, we strive to maintain\u201d.\u00a0 The United Nations has continued to forge peace in conflict-ridden areas around the world, he said, reaffirming his country\u2019s commitment to advance the collective vision of a prosperous and lasting future for all.\u00a0Voicing concern about a troubling trend where 48 developing countries spend more on loan interest payments to developed nations than on essential services, he stressed that this economic inequality drives migration, as refugees seek better opportunities, often leading to xenophobia and conflict in host countries.\u00a0 \u201cAddressing this inequality is crucial for fostering inclusive development and ensuring global peace and stability,\u201d he stressed.<\/p>\n His\u00a0Government<\/a>\u00a0plans to present its third voluntary national review on sustainable development in 2025 but achieving that requires stronger partnerships and increased financial support, particularly for vulnerable countries that are both least developed and landlocked, he pointed out.\u00a0 In Lesotho, climate change exacerbates environmental degradation, impacting agriculture, water resources and energy supplies, leading to food shortages which have compelled the Government to declare a state of emergency in food security.\u00a0 Nonetheless, his country will pursue opportunities that will enable greater self-sufficiency, he said, noting:\u00a0 \u201cLesotho\u2019s stock in trade is a high-quality suite of renewable energy resources of sun, wind and a plentiful supply of the purest mountain water.\u201d\u00a0 This will enable the establishment of a sustainable renewable energy and water economy, he said, adding that Lesotho aims to satisfy the deficit in its domestic energy demand and to export clean energy and high-quality water to the region.\u00a0 \u201cOur goal to fully meet commitments to the Paris accord well in advance of 2050 will be attained, with the potential of Lesotho being among the first countries in Africa to be a fully carbon-neutral electricity generator,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n Turning to other development goals, he said the Government has implemented policies and laws for gender equality and the protection of women and girls.\u00a0 It has made strides in the fight against HIV\/AIDS, he said, highlighting that since 2010, new HIV infections have been reduced by 74\u00a0per\u00a0cent.\u00a0Voicing concern about threats to global peace and security, he said the Security Council must take a proactive leading role in the mediation of disputes and adopt a multilateral approach.\u00a0Turning to human rights, he urged the full implementation of UN resolutions aimed at ending all forms of colonialism and occupation, particularly ensuring the right to self-determination of the people of Western Sahara.\u00a0 The human rights violations in Gaza require urgent attention, he stressed, reiterating his call for a ceasefire and realization of the two-State solution.\u00a0 \u201cGenuine dialogue and mediation and respecting both parties\u2019 rights and concerns are crucial for resolving the Palestine question,\u201d he added.\u00a0 He also called for a mediated solution to the unilateral coercive measures imposed on Cuba and the lifting of sanctions on Zimbabwe.<\/p>\n Pointing to the principle of subsidiarity, he called for greater and more effective cooperation between the Security Council and regional organizations, as outlined in Chapter\u00a0VIII of the Charter of the United Nations, for the swift resolution of regional conflicts.\u00a0 Further, the Council must be more representative of UN membership and thus enjoy legitimacy, he said, advocating for comprehensive Council reform in line with the common African position, the Ezulwini Consensus.<\/p>\n GORDANA SILJANOVSKA-DAVKOVA,\u00a0President of North Macedonia<\/u>, recalled that the Prespa Agreement was signed and ratified in 2018, a process that was followed by an unsuccessful referendum and constitutional changes, following which her country, the Republic of Macedonia, legally became the Republic of North Macedonia.\u00a0 Underscoring that \u201cwhat is legal is not always just and legitimate\u201d, she said that, in her country\u2019s case, it has not acted in accordance with the right to self-determination.\u00a0 \u201cThe line that divides the legal from the just is sometimes merely a crack, but other times it is a deep gap and even an abyss,\u201d she said, adding that such abyss most often and most severely affects the small nations.\u00a0 She also stressed that her country\u2019s European Union membership \u2014 after 20 years of negotiations \u2014 resembles Mr. Godot, encouraged by international representatives with the refrain \u201cjust this one condition more\u201d.<\/p>\n The stagnation of the European integration not only demotivates her country\u2019s citizens and slows down reforms, but also destabilizes the region of South-East Europe, she observed.\u00a0 \u201cEnlargement must be tied to the meritocratic Copenhagen criteria and freed from the veto linked to the attempt to revise history and disrespect national and cultural identity,\u201d she said, calling for fair unblocking of the negotiations for European Union membership and rejecting double standards.\u00a0\u201cThe European reunification is like an unfinished symphony without us,\u201d she stated, noting that the full integration of the Balkans into the bloc will end the redrawing of borders and balkanization as a phenomenon.<\/p>\n In the most famous dialogue about power and justice, Thucydides recalls that \u201cjustice is a word that has value in disputes between men only when both sides are of equal strength; in other cases, the strong do what they can, and the weak what they must\u201d.\u00a0 However, she said, \u201cthe UN exists to ennoble the cruel Thucydian world by securing legal equality among nations, taming the power of the great and protecting small nations\u201d.\u00a0 The Organization exists to bridge \u2014 or at least narrow \u2014 the gap between the legal and the just.\u00a0 While the UN has prevented another world war, it failed to prevent and preclude regional conflicts, including the war in Ukraine and the bloodshed in the Middle East.\u00a0It has lifted millions of people from poverty but still fails to eradicate hunger.\u00a0 With the right to self-determination, it accelerated the process of decolonization but failed to bridge the gap between the rich North and the poor South.<\/p>\n The International Court of Justice, she continued, is \u201cthe ultimate instance of justice between States\u201d, yet its judgments are not always implemented or even treated as advice.\u00a0 The world is going through a turbulent geopolitical, economic, scientific, technological and industrial transformation in which man has a huge impact on the planet.\u00a0 \u201cAnd instead of increased cooperation and action on pressing issues, the geopolitical rivalry and the new arms race are intensifying that are rapidly pushing us towards a state resembling a new, second cold war and Orwell\u2019s world too,\u201d she cautioned.\u00a0 To overcome political marginalization, a new spirit of multilateralism is needed to alleviate geopolitical rivalries and increase cooperation among States.\u00a0 \u201cOnly a fundamentally reformed United Nations can bridge the gap between the legal and the just and contribute to a truly transformed world in which no one is left behind and forgotten,\u201d she declared.<\/p>\n LUIS LACALLE POU,\u00a0President of Uruguay<\/u>, noting this would be his last address to the Hall as his country\u2019s leader, reflected on his previous speeches, identifying a consistent theme of \u201cresponsible freedom\u201d.\u00a0 \u201cIt is impossible to understand humanity without understanding concessions individuals are making for the global good,\u201d he said.\u00a0Globalization presents an opportunity for mutual understanding and collaboration, he said, provided there is \u201ctolerance and respect for those who may think differently\u201d.\u00a0 He underlined the need for fair international law, which is applied \u201cto all equally, regardless of a country\u2019s size and regardless of the country\u2019s economic power\u201d.\u00a0 \u201cWe must work together to build international law,\u201d he urged.<\/p>\n No country is obliged to participate in international organizations, he said, however doing so would mean isolating yourself in this interconnected world.\u00a0 While a large part of the freedom lies within our countries, he cautioned that a leader\u2019s words can have both positive and negative repercussions, stressing that divisive politics only \u201creach and retain power\u201d at the expense of unity.\u00a0 He condemned the authoritarian regime in Venezuela, which has long \u201cattacked freedom and the common good\u201d.\u00a0 Even though many Governments have turned a blind eye on the situation in Venezuela, he urged to \u201cact for Venezuela and the Venezuelan people\u201d.<\/p>\n Highlighting the link between environment and economy, he detailed his country\u2019s efforts in pioneering financial instruments like green bonds.\u00a0 He went on to emphasize the need for international treaties to be not only agreed upon but fully implemented, warning that failure to do so would \u201clead to a loss of stimulus in caring for the environment\u201d.<\/p>\n On free trade, he reiterated his stance against protectionism, adding that \u201cit is not possible to fully enjoy freedom in the absence of free trade.\u201d\u00a0 Calling for a more open world for goods and services, he stated that economic openness and domestic prosperity can coexist.\u00a0 \u201cWe are all one,\u201d he said, adding:\u00a0 \u201cWe will progress more quickly if we are more united.\u201d<\/p>\n RATU WILIAME MAIVALILI KATONIVERE,\u00a0President of Fiji<\/u>, said that from Gaza to Sudan, Ukraine, Afghanistan and beyond \u2014 conflicts rage on, as humanitarian needs escalate.\u00a0 Reminding that in 2024, at least 72 countries, whose combined population comprises almost half of the world\u2019s total population, have already or will soon select their own leaders at the polls, he noted that the world is in need of courageous leaders who are willing to garner the political will and mobilize the resources to bridge the divide and seek solutions that benefit humankind.\u00a0 \u201cStrong international cooperation, diplomacy and a commitment to upholding the principles of the United Nations are not only important but indispensable,\u201d he said, urging to go back to the basics \u2014 the foundation and purpose of the Charter of the United Nations, which is only as strong as its Member States.<\/p>\n \u201cFor 79 years, the global community has placed its trust in multilateralism and in the United Nations to foster cooperation, uphold human rights and promote global stability,\u201d he recalled, pointing to the current age of distrust, fuelled by the increasing disconnect between people\u2019s expectations and the inadequate responses of the multilateral system.\u00a0 He also called for countering misinformation and disinformation, as trust is a prerequisite for effective multilateralism.\u00a0\u201cThe stakes are high for developing countries, including small island developing States and least developed countries that continue to be left behind in the development race, as we grapple with multiple crises,\u201d he went on to say, underscoring that recovery from the frequency and magnitude of climate-related shocks, including disasters, are a costly affair.<\/p>\n Spotlighting that the Blue Pacific Continent knows the value of peace, having lived through the horrors of its absence as a theatre of the two world wars and a testing ground for the most dangerous weapons, he stressed that on 25\u00a0September\u00a02024 there was a unilateral test-firing of a ballistic missile into the Pacific Ocean.\u00a0 \u201cWe urge respect for our region and call for cessation of such action,\u201d he said, adding that Fiji may be a small State but, through its leadership and stewardship roles in the region, makes a profound contribution to regionalism and multilateralism.\u00a0 \u201cWe commit to the principles of the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent,\u201d he emphasized, calling for concerted efforts at the World Trade Organization (WTO) to finalize part two of the Fisheries Subsidies Agreement, which addresses subsidies to overfishing and overcapacity.<\/p>\n He also reiterated the importance of understanding the vast ocean space, guided by science and data, in order to undertake risk-informed decisions.\u00a0 \u201cDeep, rapid and sustained reductions in greenhouse gas emissions in line with 1.5\u00b0C must be vigorously pursued and accelerated,\u201d he said, adding that the phase-out of unabated coal power, transitioning away from fossil fuels in energy systems, will contribute to the achievement of net zero targets by 2050, when around 240 of Fiji\u2019s coastal communities will be displaced due to sea-level rise while 42 communities are in urgent need of relocation.\u00a0 \u201cWith the limitations of the multilateral climate financing architecture, Fiji has established the world\u2019s first national Relocation Trust Fund to support our relocation costs,\u201d he stressed, pledging to work closely with the United Nations and all Member States to advance efforts towards building a better, safer and fairer world for all.<\/p>\n TEODORO NGUEMA OBIANG MANGUE,\u00a0Vice-President of Equatorial Guinea<\/u>, said that his country remains unwavering in its position on ending conflict and establishing peace through preventative diplomacy.\u00a0 He called on all parties to conflicts \u2014 either directly or by proxy for economic or neocolonial interests \u2014 to choose inclusive negotiations.\u00a0 The proliferation of conflict is \u201cfurther proof of the obsolescence incapacity, and inefficiency of the United Nations Security Council today\u201d.\u00a0 Instead of solving conflicts, the Council is the place where geostrategic interests are played out, effectively blocking resolution to conflict and prolonging the suffering of concerned populations.\u00a0 The Security Council must end its \u201cobsolete composition which dates back to 1945\u201d that disadvantages Africa as it lacks a permanent seat.\u00a0 In line with the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration, the continent has called for this injustice to be corrected for the past 20 years, he said, reiterating demands for two permanent seats with all their commensurate privileges and five additional non-permanent seats.<\/p>\n Voicing deep concern over the situation in the Sahel, he noted that interference, pressure and blockades applied on countries of the Global South by \u201csome other countries\u201d causes the instability in the region today and prevents African countries from prosperity.\u00a0 While no country is perfect, some act as judges, intervening in the domestic affairs of other countries.\u00a0 All nations have the right to decide on their bi-lateral partners and agreements, he stressed.\u00a0 In that vein, he spotlighted the decades-long economic, commercial and financial embargo on Cuba, calling for it to be lifted and for the country to be taken off the \u201cinfamous list of countries that allegedly sponsor terrorism\u201d.\u00a0 The embargo goes against the spirit of the Pact for the Future, advocating to leave no one behind, he said.<\/p>\n \u201cAfrican countries can become major actors in global supply chains\u201d, he said noting that the continent has stores of raw materials needed in the technology sector and its own markets.\u00a0 Africa, therefore, deserves priority attention in development support, in addition to financing to achieve the SDGs and the African Union\u2019s Agenda\u00a02063. \u201cCommitments to finance sustainable development must be honoured,\u201d he urged.\u00a0 Committed to the protection of human rights globally and sounding the alarm over the systematic violation of them in conflict zones, he voiced grave concern over the crisis in Haiti.\u00a0 A thorough analysis of the root causes for that country\u2019s \u201cchronic\u201d situation is required to find a stable solution, he said, proposing a UN international conference for Haiti.<\/p>\n UDUCH SENGEBAU SENIOR, Vice-President and Minister for Justice of\u00a0Palau<\/u>, said this year, her country celebrates 30 years of independence.\u00a0 Underscoring the critical role of women, she highlighted the first-ever \u201cMeeting of Women in Elected Leadership\u201d, held in Palau on 30\u00a0September\u00a02023.\u00a0 Over the past four years, Palau has undertaken initiatives that empower women in their traditional roles, enabling them to scale their entrepreneurial ventures and raise their profiles.\u00a0 These efforts give women a pathway into entrepreneurship and business.\u00a0 Noting that food security is central to Palau\u2019s long-term resilience, she pointed to the national goal to reduce food imports from 80 per\u00a0cent to 60 per\u00a0cent by 2030.\u00a0 \u201cBy promoting local food production, we not only preserve our traditions but also combat non-communicable diseases linked to overreliance on imported, processed foods,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n As a small island developing State, Palau confronts unique challenges that threaten its economic development, environment and survival, she said, adding that these countries bear the brunt of the climate crisis.\u00a0Palau has experienced more intense storms, and landslides and prolonged droughts are becoming the new normal.\u00a0The ripple effects of global climate disasters have caused the cost of imported goods to skyrocket, further jeopardizing the country\u2019s food security and economic stability.\u00a0 \u201cThe global response to climate change is a matter of life and death,\u201d she stated.\u00a0 Sea-level rise is one of the most urgent challenges for small island developing States as they sit just a few meters above sea level, leaving them vulnerable to coastal erosion, flooding and storm surges.\u00a0 \u201cThis is not only a present threat but an existential crisis for future generations,\u201d she cautioned, spotlighting national steps to relocate critical infrastructure \u2014 including a hospital and schools \u2014 to protect people from rising waters and climate-related disasters.<\/p>\n Palau\u2019s National Adaptation Plan prioritizes immediate and long-term actions to build resilience, focusing on protecting vital ecosystems and sustainable development.\u00a0 Mitigation is equally important, she observed, noting her country\u2019s commitment to reducing carbon emissions and transitioning to renewable energy.\u00a0 Solar, wind and ocean energy provide opportunities to reduce reliance on imported fossil fuels and secure a cleaner, more sustainable future.\u00a0 As Co-Chair of the Ocean Panel, Palau plays a vital role in shaping global ocean governance, she said, citing the 2025 UN Ocean Conference in Nice, France, as \u201ca pivotal moment\u201d for accelerating ocean action.\u00a0Palau has also declared a national moratorium on deep-sea mining, reaffirming her country\u2019s unwavering commitment to preserving marine ecosystems.<\/p>\n SABAH AL KHALED AL SABAH,\u00a0Crown Prince of Kuwait<\/u>, said that the Summit of the Future shed light on the grave global challenges requiring genuine political will to reform international institutions, particularly the Security Council and international financial bodies.\u00a0 \u201cDecision-making at the Security Council must be based on the principle of democracy and equitable representation,\u201d he stressed, adding that the Council \u201cmust be able to respond to a world that is completely different to the world of 1940\u201d.<\/p>\n Voicing concerns about the misuse of technological innovations such as AI and social media \u2014 which are increasingly being exploited for terrorist recruitment and spreading hate speech \u2014 he said that \u201cconfronting this scourge requires international cooperation\u201d.\u00a0 Moreover, there will be no justice or equality as long as double standards are applied, he said, calling for accountability for those who violate the Charter of the United Nations.<\/p>\n On the regional issues, he said that his country will soon assume chairmanship of the Gulf Cooperation Council \u2014 a \u201cpillar for stability and prosperity\u201d in the region.\u00a0 Reaffirming Kuwait\u2019s commitment to good neighbourliness, he urged Iraq to solve outstanding issues, including maritime border demarcation and the return of Kuwaiti prisoners and property.\u00a0 Turning to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, he condemned the \u201cdangerous escalation of military operations\u201d by Israeli \u201coccupational forces\u201d, which have subjected Gazans to collective punishment.\u00a0 \u201cPeace in our region will not be achieved unless an independent State of Palestine is established,\u201d he stressed.<\/p>\n He went on to call for a return to peaceful political processes in Sudan, Libya, Yemen and Syria, stressing the need for dialogue to resolve ongoing conflicts.\u00a0 Condemning the air strikes and military operations launched by Israeli occupation forces against Lebanon, he emphasized that these operations were conducted in \u201cflagrant violations of all norms and international law\u201d and claimed lives of innocent civilians.\u00a0 He warned of the broader repercussions of such aggression on the region, urging full implementation of resolution 1701 (2006).\u00a0 On Iran, he reiterated Kuwait\u2019s call for dialogue based on mutual respect and non-interference in the internal affairs of neighbouring countries.\u00a0Looking ahead, he detailed Kuwait\u2019s Vision 2035 and emphasized the importance of digital diplomacy in navigating global challenges.<\/p>\n LU\u00cdS MONTENEGRO,\u00a0Prime Minister of Portugal<\/u>, said his country \u201cis an uncompromising advocate of multilateralism as a method of cooperation and organization of the international system,\u201d adding that his country is a candidate for a non-permanent seat of the Security Council for 2027-2028.\u00a0 \u201cWe want to move forward with the reform of the global governance system to guarantee greater representativeness, transparency, justice and cooperation,\u201d he said, calling for reforming the Security Council to make it more representative, agile and functional.\u00a0 \u201cPortugal supports the African Common Position and the aspirations of Brazil and India to become permanent members,\u201d he continued, noting that small and medium-sized countries should also have their representation strengthened, alongside with the limitation and greater scrutiny of the use of the veto.<\/p>\n As chronic hunger is on the rise, affecting one in 10 people globally, while acute food insecurity has almost tripled since 2016, he welcomed the Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty.\u00a0 Recalling the needs of people affected by conflict, he said that Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan, Myanmar, the Sahel and now Lebanon are examples of the suffering of millions of people forced to leave their homes and families, while rising temperatures, forest fires which tragically hit his country recently, droughts and other extreme weather events have forced millions to move.\u00a0\u201cThe context of human rights protection is severely weakened and threatened,\u201d he stressed, urging to combat relentlessly all forms of discrimination and hatred that undermine the cohesion of our societies.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Russian Federation\u2019s war of aggression against Ukraine constitutes a flagrant violation of international law,\u201d he continued, underscoring that the negative effects of this war \u2014 the food, energy and inflation crises \u2014 are echoing around the world, with the greatest impact on the most fragile regions.\u00a0 In Lebanon, he called on the parties to exercise maximum restraint to avoid escalation.\u00a0Condemning the horrific terrorist attacks by Hamas on 7\u00a0October\u00a02023 and demanding the release of all hostages, he stated:\u00a0 \u201cWe will not stand by the humanitarian disaster and the growing number of civilian victims in Gaza.\u00a0 It is imperative to unconditionally cease hostilities.\u201d\u00a0 Speaking about conflict prevention and mediation, particularly in Africa, he highlighted Portugal\u2019s consistent presence in UN peacekeeping operations and European Union missions, with national forces deployed in Mozambique, Somalia, South Sudan, the Central African Republic and the Gulf of Guinea.<\/p>\n \u201cPortugal is a maritime country:\u00a0 97\u00a0per\u00a0cent of our territory is ocean,\u201d he emphasized, supporting the development of a \u201cnew sustainable blue economy\u201d in line with the 2030\u00a0Agenda and calling for a joint effort to finalize an ambitious treaty to eliminate plastic pollution by the end of 2024.\u00a0 \u201cWe want to incorporate 47\u00a0per\u00a0cent renewables into final energy consumption by 2030,\u201d he went on to say, adding that technological development needs to be conceived through a human-centred lens and based on international law.\u00a0 Speaking in Portuguese, the fourth most spoken language in the world as a mother tongue which unites over 260\u00a0million people on all continents and which is an official and working language in 33\u00a0international organizations, he expressed hope to have Portuguese recognized as an official language of the United Nations, as this idea was recently supported in New York by the President of Brazil.<\/p>\n WESLEY W. SIMINA,\u00a0President of the Federated States of Micronesia<\/u>, reporting that his country is currently in a state of emergency due to extended drought, underscored:\u00a0 \u201cFor us, every degree, every inch of sea-level rise and every delay matters.\u201d\u00a0The 1.5\u00b0C goal is \u201cthe safety limit\u201d for small islands, he added, as beyond that lies a \u201cdanger zone\u201d of \u201cdeadly heat that will cost lives, impact our food and water systems and drown many of our low-lying islands\u201d.\u00a0 The world must cut emissions.\u00a0 However, as carbon dioxide remains in the atmosphere for hundreds of years, the benefits of those cuts will not be felt until later this century.\u00a0 \u201cWe need to control temperatures now,\u201d he stressed, calling on large emitters to prioritize reducing other pollutants such as methane, fluorinated gases and black carbon.\u00a0 And, as the world acts towards this end, all countries must also agree on a plan to transition away from fossil fuels in a fair, just and equitable manner.\u00a0 \u201cIn this connection, I am announcing that Micronesia endorses the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative,\u201d he stated.<\/p>\n He went on to emphasize that, while sea-level rise threatens the livelihood, well-being and security of communities and ecosystems in small island nations, \u201cthis climate crisis does not jeopardize our Statehood or sovereignty, nor does it diminish our rights under international law\u201d.\u00a0Leaders from the Pacific Islands Forum and the Alliance of Small Island States have affirmed that their maritime zones, as recognized by the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, will remain valid despite physical changes due to climate change.\u00a0Further, he said that his country joins others in emphasizing the necessity of comprehensive knowledge, data and scientific understanding of the marine environment and the impacts of deep seabed mining before any exploitation occurs.\u00a0 And, welcoming the adoption of the Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction, he recalled that he was the first leader to sign that instrument and urged others to do so.<\/p>\n He also noted that the international community is set to adopt a legally binding treaty to end plastic pollution in Busan, Republic of Korea, later in 2024.\u00a0 This agreement, he stressed, \u201cmust address plastic pollution at its source\u201d \u2014 plastic production, particularly primary plastic polymers derived from fossil fuels.\u00a0Spotlighting his country\u2019s \u201cBridge to Busan\u201d declaration, launched earlier in 2024, he said this calls for international support to regulate plastic production in the treaty.\u00a0 If the unsustainable production of primary plastic polymers is not addressed, \u201cthe global goal of ending plastic pollution by 2040 and limiting the average temperature rise to less than 1.5\u00b0C cannot be achieved\u201d, he underscored.\u00a0 Stating that his country is dedicated to reducing and preventing the causes and impacts of climate change and sea-level rise, he spotlighted its commitment to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.<\/p>\n For its part, he said that the UN system \u2014 particularly the Security Council \u2014 must adapt to address the challenges posed by the climate crisis in a comprehensive, coordinated manner.\u00a0 As that organ \u201cstruggles to effectively tackle major peace and security issues\u201d, he emphasized that reform must make it more effective, inclusive, transparent and accountable:\u00a0 \u201cIt must reflect the realities of today, rather than those of 1945.\u201d\u00a0Therefore, permanent membership must be expanded to include Japan, India, Germany, Brazil and representation from Africa, and the voices of underrepresented regions \u2014 such as small island developing States \u2014 must be amplified.\u00a0 Further, such States must be supported by an increase in climate finance and investment, and he called on developed countries to fulfil their commitments in this regard.\u00a0 \u201cLet this Assembly be remembered not for words spoken, but for deeds done, for promises kept and for the lasting legacy we leave for generations to come,\u201d he urged.<\/p>\n PRITHVIRAJSING ROOPUN,\u00a0President of the Republic of Mauritius<\/u>, said because the United Nations emerged from the ashes of war and untold sufferings, \u201cwe have a moral obligation to ensure that the ultimate sacrifice of millions of women and men was not in vain.\u201d\u00a0 He lamented that the international system is eroding in its once-embodied values of peace, justice, equity, respect for the rule of law and human dignity, with might taking over and impunity prevalent.\u00a0 \u201cThe dignity of the weakest is being shamelessly flouted, on a scale never seen before,\u201d he regretted, pointing out the heart-wrenching devastation and suffering in Gaza.\u00a0 The international community must work towards a just, lasting peace in the region, with a two-State solution guaranteed to uphold human dignity and equality for all.\u00a0 Mauritius welcomes the International Court of Justice\u2019s advisory opinion on the legal consequences arising from Israel\u2019s occupation of the Palestinian Territory and urges renewed commitment to diplomacy and constructive dialogue, he said.<\/p>\n On the \u201cunprecedented technological revolution\u201d the world has witnessed in a short time, he advised that for humanity to benefit from its transformative power, the regulation of artificial intelligence must be anchored on international law.\u00a0 He therefore welcomed the adoption of the Pact for the Future, \u201cwhich is a renewed testimony to our collective resolve for the betterment of our world.\u201d\u00a0Additionally, the configuration of global multilateral and financial institutions should reflect today\u2019s realities and be more representative and responsive to the realities of all countries.\u00a0\u201cThis is the only way to pave for a more equitable and resilient world, where human dignity is upheld,\u201d he said, going on to highlight his Government\u2019s efforts to deepen economic, social and cultural inclusivity as well as improve education, healthcare and infrastructural development.<\/p>\n Because no country can singularly overcome multiple crises, the climate emergency is one of the most pressing global threats, he observed.\u00a0It is particularly disheartening that small island States like his, which have contributed the least to global emissions, are affected the most.\u00a0 A multilateral approach to confront these threats is therefore \u201can absolute necessity\u201d.\u00a0 \u201cWe must achieve the highest possible ambition while ensuring equity, common and differentiated responsibilities,\u201d he implored, emphasizing that \u201cthis target is a lifeline for all of us, especially SIDS.\u201d\u00a0 He therefore called for an agreement on a fair, ambitious New Collective Quantified Goal on climate and welcomed the recent advisory opinion of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea on Climate Change, describing it as a \u201cjuridical lighthouse, compelling all States to chart a new course, guided by science and the moral imperative of inter-generational equity\u201d.<\/p>\n Mauritius is committed to the implementation of the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for Small Island Developing States adopted earlier this year and welcomes innovative approaches and the use of the multidimensional vulnerability index for enhancing the effectiveness of access to concessional finance.\u00a0 He described Africa as a land of untapped potential with its youth ready to contribute to global solutions and called upon the international community to participate in the continent\u2019s transformative journey. Optimistic that the Pact for the Future \u201cwill serve as the guiding star leading us to an improved world for tomorrow\u2019s generations\u201d, he expressed confidence for a better, brighter and more equitable world.<\/p>\n CHARLES MICHEL,\u00a0President of the European Council of the European Union<\/u>, highlighting the major conflicts of the day that together form \u201can explosive cocktail\u201d, pointed to the wars in Ukraine, Gaza and the Middle East and Sudan.\u00a0 It is a permanent member of the Security Council that has launched an illegal war in Ukraine, he said, adding that \u201cthis war is a threat to each and every one of us.\u201d\u00a0The Union will support Ukraine for as long as necessary, he said, reaffirming commitment to a comprehensive, just and lasting peace, based on the UN Charter.\u00a0 Also condemning the terrorist attacks by Hamas and demanding the release of all hostages, he stressed that Israel has the right to defend itself.\u00a0 Calling for an immediate ceasefire, in line with the International Court of Justice ruling, he added that every civilian life counts.\u00a0 Condemning indiscriminate attacks that hit civilian populations, he expressed support for the two-State solution.\u00a0 Dragging Lebanon into this spiral is irresponsible, he said, adding:\u00a0\u201cI say this to the Government of Israel:\u00a0trying to achieve security while neglecting peace is an illusion.\u201d<\/p>\n Turning to the civil war in Sudan, he said this massive humanitarian catastrophe has seen 20,000 deaths to date, with 25\u00a0million people in emergency situations, including about 8\u00a0million displaced people.\u00a0 External actors are involved in this war, including supplying weapons, he noted, adding that the entire Horn of Africa risks descending into chaos.\u00a0 \u201cThe life of a child killed in a school bombing is precious \u2014 be it in Ukraine, Gaza or elsewhere,\u201d he said, adding \u201cour outrage is only sincere if it is universal\u201d.\u00a0 Stressing the need for a representative Security Council, he said it must free itself from the paralysis caused by the veto.\u00a0 \u201cThe Security Council is increasingly stillborn, like a zombie,\u201d he said, adding that Africa and Latin America must have permanent seats, and regional organizations must be more integrated into decision-making processes.<\/p>\n \u201cClimate change and pandemics have opened our eyes to the necessity of solidarity,\u201d he said, drawing attention to his idea for an international pandemic treaty and negotiations towards this.\u00a0 It is also crucial to ensure that the digital revolution \u2014 and its flagship product, artificial intelligence \u2014 drive progress and not inequality and war, he said.\u00a0 Healthy technological competition must take place within a commonly agreed framework of fair play and global dialogue.\u00a0 Highlighting the importance of strategic partnerships, he said that the Union is seeking to rebalance its economic relations with China and diversify its supply chains.\u00a0 \u201cWe ask China not to support Russia, either directly or indirectly, in its illegal war against Ukraine,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Also stressing the importance of global financial equity, he said:\u00a0\u201cWhen Kenyan farmers do not have access to microcredits at affordable rates to develop their farms and adapt to climate change, it is not a sectoral issue; it is a global development challenge.\u201d\u00a0The Bretton Woods system needs reform, he said, calling for more ambitious debt restructuring and special drawing rights (SDRs) reallocation.\u00a0 Solidarity is not only about financial or technological transfers, he said, calling for improved governance to better the business environment, strengthen legal security, combat corruption and mobilize domestic resources in developing countries.\u00a0\u201cEveryone must look in the mirror,\u201d he said, calling on States to work towards a multipolar world with a multilateral framework.<\/p>\n TIEMOKO MEYLIET KONE,\u00a0Vice President of C\u00f4te D\u2019Ivoire<\/u>, said the general debate is taking place amid a worrisome global context as the world faces security, economic and political problems.\u00a0 He called on Member States to \u201cmake a collective leap forward\u201d as geopolitical tensions fuel conflicts around the world and rampant terrorism in many regions, such as the Sahel, aggravates insecurity.\u00a0 \u201cThese conflicts are gradually wiping out years of progress and development,\u201d he said, calling on the international community to \u201cmobilize for the people of the Sahel, who are paying a heavy price in the war against terrorist groups.\u201d\u00a0 C\u00f4te d’Ivoire is hosting several thousand nationals fleeing violence by several armed groups in neighbouring Sahelian countries.\u00a0 \u201cThis violence is threatening West Africa and could spread beyond the African continent if effective measures are not taken,\u201d he said.\u00a0 C\u00f4te d’Ivoire has made the expertise of the International Academy for the Fight Against Terrorism available to help other countries strengthen their counter-terrorism efforts.<\/p>\n The progress countries have made in the development and human security are now being undermined by the effects of climate change \u2014 accentuating inequalities, poverty \u2014 and leading to the forced displacement of millions of people every year.\u00a0 \u201cThe relentless increase in the number of climate refugees is a tragedy of our time that challenges us all,\u201d he said.\u00a0 C\u00f4te d’Ivoire calls on the United Nations and its partners to increase and intensify their humanitarian assistance for these hard-hit populations.\u00a0\u201cBut we must move further on the climate issue and wholeheartedly implement measures that will reverse the allow us to reverse the dangerous curve of global warming and its consequences on our societies,\u201d he said. C\u00f4te d’Ivoire reiterates its call on developed countries to honour their pledges on climate finance, and support for the energy transition.\u00a0 The Loss and Damage Fund must be rapidly filled to provide relief for the populations in climate distress, he stressed.<\/p>\n The world is also coping with enormous technological changes and AI holds great promise yet can also hold a range of threats due to the lack of international regulations governing its use.\u00a0 \u201cIt falls to us that these developments do not lead to a digital downgrading of some and that it serves the progress and well-being of all,\u201d he said.\u00a0 He welcomed the Global Digital Compact, which should be used by all nations.\u00a0 As no single country can deal with global issues, collective action should be firmly rooted in the unique multilateral framework of the United Nations.\u00a0 \u201cThe world needs an effective and dynamic United Nations that represents the people and has the consensus of nations,\u201d he said, adding:\u00a0 \u201cThe United Nations inherited from the twentieth century must undergo reform.\u201d\u00a0 The Council particularly needs reform and must open up to Africa, in all categories, to reflect the new reality.<\/p>\n Reform will allow the Organization to make a real contribution to resolving conflict, based on respect for international law, he said, pointing out that the fight against global warming also depends on the Organization\u2019s ability to mobilize Member Sates around this priority.\u00a0 Global governance reform also must extend to multilateral financial institutions, so they can better support efforts to finance the SDGs in developing countries and address the debt issue.\u00a0 \u201cThese institutions must be more inclusive in the way they operate and their decision-making,\u201d he said.\u00a0 \u201cThese deep-rooted transformations are inevitable and must be accelerated, so that the institutions are truly at the service of all our countries, in the service of our fight against poverty, and insuring development,\u201d he said.\u00a0 He recognized the Secretary-General\u2019s courageous initiatives in the areas of preventive diplomacy, maintenance and peacebuilding.\u00a0 \u201cTogether we have the tools to meet the challenges that disrupt the world, and to give our young people and women the ability to flourish and contribute, more than in the past, to the development of our countries,\u201d he concluded.<\/p>\n DICK SCHOOF,\u00a0Prime Minister of the Netherlands<\/u>, addressed \u201canticipating an unknown future\u201d and the need for \u201cresponsibility that goes beyond the scenarios we want to imagine\u201d \u2014 beyond national borders, and above all, beyond short-term solutions.\u00a0 This includes reforming a Security Council that must be divided better geographically, \u201cwith permanent African representation at the very least\u201d.\u00a0 He further noted that the manner in which war and conflict are waged is changing, with more countries developing offensive cyber programmes that pose a growing threat to critical infrastructure, security, earning capacity and intellectual property.\u00a0 Further, the Declaration on Future Generations, co-facilitated by Jamaica and the Netherlands, represents \u201ca shared desire to work towards a fair and secure life for everyone\u201d.<\/p>\n Turning to climate change, he noted that from flooding to drought, the effects are impacting people around the world \u2014 including parts of the Netherlands, \u201cand not least the small island developing States\u201d.\u00a0 All the problems caused by climate change amplify each other, and every country is directly affected, requiring cooperation \u2014 including committing to the climate targets of the Paris Agreement, and the measures to be agreed upon at the twenty-ninth session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29).\u00a0The Netherlands, he noted, has a long history of managing water, and uses that experience around the world.\u00a0For Sudan, where 25\u00a0million people are facing acute hunger, he recalled that earlier this year his Government made an extra \u20ac10\u00a0million available, bringing its contribution to the crisis response to \u20ac80\u00a0million.<\/p>\n In Europe, he stressed that the victims of the Russian Federation\u2019s war are not limited to Ukraine alone.\u00a0 Since the global food supply has been deployed as a weapon of war, millions of people have been pushed back into hunger and poverty.\u00a0 The Charter of the United Nations is clear on this subject:\u00a0 no State may use force against the territorial integrity of any other State.\u00a0He called for challenging those countries who support Moscow\u2019s defence industry or help it circumvent sanctions.\u00a0\u201cAnd it means calling Russia to account for its actions,\u201d he said, pointing to the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice \u2014 \u201ctwo pillars of accountability, based in my own city, The Hague\u201d.<\/p>\n On the subject of collective responsibility, he recalled that almost a year has passed since the terrorist organization Hamas committed its atrocities, and war broke out in Gaza.\u00a0 The suffering since then has been extreme.\u00a0 In the past few days there have been a large number of civilian casualties in Lebanon.\u00a0 \u201cA major regional war must be prevented at all costs,\u201d he stated \u2014 \u201cand so must any new attack on Israel\u201d.\u00a0 This begins with supporting international diplomatic initiatives, such as the proposal by the United States and France for a temporary ceasefire.\u00a0 It is urgent to \u201cbreak the endless cycle of violence and help them see \u2018the other\u2019 for who they are\u201d, he stated, and the first steps are obvious:\u00a0 an immediate ceasefire; the immediate and unconditional release of all remaining hostages; rapid, large-scale aid for the people of Gaza; and compliance with international law.\u00a0 \u201cI know that simply wanting something is not the same as making it happen,\u201d he said, \u201cbut, as Nelson Mandela said, \u2018It always seems impossible until it\u2019s done\u2019\u201d.<\/p>\n NIKOL PASHINYAN,\u00a0Prime Minister of Armenia<\/u>, noting that his statement today will be \u201csignificantly different from the previous ones\u201d, said:\u00a0\u201cPeace between Armenia and Azerbaijan not only is possible, but is within reach.\u201d\u00a0 Recalling that both countries signed an agreement relating to the delimitation of the border between them on 30\u00a0August, he emphasized that this is the first bilateral legal document signed between the parties.\u00a0In it, both agreed to set the 1991 Alma-Ata Declaration \u201cas the basic principle of border delimitation between the two countries\u201d, he said.\u00a0 \u201cThis means that Armenia and Azerbaijan\u00a0de jure<\/em>\u00a0reconfirm the principle of recognizing each other\u2019s territorial integrity and inviolability of borders that existed during the Soviet Union,\u201d he pointed out, stressing:\u00a0 \u201cNow it is\u00a0de jure<\/em>\u00a0reconfirmed that the two countries have no territorial claims on each other.\u201d<\/p>\n Now, he said, both parties must take the next step and sign the agreement on establishing peace and inter-State relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, of which \u201cat least 80\u00a0per\u00a0cent\u201d has been agreed upon \u2014 as he and Azerbaijan\u2019s President have \u201cstated many times\u201d.\u00a0 To avoid a deadlock, he proposed \u201cto take what has already been agreed in the draft agreement, sign it, have a peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan and then go on with negotiations on pending issues\u201d.\u00a0 Armenia is \u201cready to do this right now\u201d, he underscored, as regardless of how comprehensive an agreement is, many important issues will need to be further addressed.\u00a0Therefore, signing the peace agreement as it stands \u201cwill significantly facilitate the resolution of the non-agreed issues\u201d, he stressed.\u00a0 The existence of\u00a0de jure<\/em>\u00a0peace between the two countries and the establishment of diplomatic relations \u2014 achieved through signing the agreement at hand \u2014 \u201cwill result in changing the overall atmosphere and the perception of our Governments and peoples, which will significantly facilitate the solution of the remaining issues\u201d, he emphasized.<\/p>\n He said that Azerbaijan, however, insists that Armenia\u2019s Constitution is an obstacle to the peace agreement due to its alleged inclusion of territorial claims against Azerbaijan.\u00a0 \u201cThere is nothing of this kind in our Constitution,\u201d he underscored; rather, it is Azerbaijan\u2019s Constitution that contains such claims against Armenia.\u00a0 He stressed, however, that his country does not consider the other\u2019s Constitution as an obstacle to the peace accord, as that instrument provides that neither party may invoke \u201cinternal legislation\u201d as justification for failure to perform.\u00a0\u201cTherefore, the signing of the agreement will address the concerns of both Armenia and Azerbaijan, and will create legal guarantees for addressing them fundamentally,\u201d he concluded.\u00a0Detailing the Constitutional procedure for ratifying international agreements, he noted that \u2014 if the proposed peace agreement is indeed ratified \u2014 then its provisions would supersede any contrary ones in domestic law.\u00a0 He added:\u00a0\u201cThe same logic would apply to Azerbaijan, of course.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAs you can see, here is peace so close to us, and all we need to do is reach out and take it,\u201d he said.\u00a0 While it is not easy for either country \u2014 \u201cbecause each of us has our own truth, and the debate over those truths has led to enmity, casualties and wars\u201d \u2014 he urged a focus on peace, \u201cbecause peace is the only truth understandable to the people of Armenia and Azerbaijan\u201d.\u00a0 That truth, he added, will \u201copen our eyes and shut down the sources of enmity, and we will all look to the future\u201d.\u00a0 Detailing his Government\u2019s \u201cCrossroads of Peace\u201d project \u2014 \u201calso dedicated to that future\u201d \u2014 he said this will open transport routes between the two countries, provide communications between Armenia, Azerbaijan, T\u00fcrkiye and \u201cthe whole region\u201d, create opportunities for the passage of pipelines and cables and \u201ceventually provide opportunities for people-to-people contacts, which is a key and critical factor for peacemaking\u201d.<\/p>\n MOHAMMED SHIA’ AL SUDANI,\u00a0Prime Minister of Iraq<\/u>, said this year\u2019s debate happens in a period when the global order is not easily able to achieve the goals for which it was created, with all rules of international law and international humanitarian law being violated.\u00a0Important principles like sovereignty, territorial integrity, responsibility to protect and right to self-determination are all ignored while the Security Council is powerless in the face of enduring challenges.\u00a0 \u201cIgnoring these institutions threatens to revert the international community to chaos,\u201d he warned, adding that putting an end to the violations in Palestine and the region is the responsibility of everyone, particularly the Security Council.\u00a0In the Occupied Palestinian Territory today, he continued, there is public talk of mass starvation and the use of nuclear weapons to exterminate the population, who have been denied their rights amid a \u201cshameful global paralysis\u201d.\u00a0 International law and Security Council resolutions are now \u201cmere ink on paper\u201d and are dangerous precedents that can result in dire consequences for all of humanity.<\/p>\n He declared his country\u2019s solidarity with Lebanon as it faces a new phase of brutal aggression that seeks to plunge the region into crisis, promising to provide support to enable it to withstand the attacks.\u00a0 He further lamented the deliberate targeting of international and relief organizations, together with the harm of their personnel, including UNRWA staff.\u00a0 These abuses not only disrupt humanitarian action but violate international law.\u00a0 He called for urgent international cooperation to spread tolerance and combat hate speech, violence and rising Islamophobia, stressing that the UN should double down on efforts to promote understanding among people of diverse views.<\/p>\n In Iraq today, he announced, a comprehensive plan for reconstruction and development is being witnessed.\u00a0 With many challenges ahead, his Government has made great strides in security, with its victory over terrorism soon to be crowned.\u00a0 Now, in the process of organizing elections in the country\u2019s Kurdistan region, efforts are under way to strengthen Iraq\u2019s democratic process.\u00a0 He said his Government\u2019s priority is to spread justice and preserve diversity, \u201cwhich we consider as our most important assets\u201d, adding that the Administration is also focused on enforcing the rule of law and diversifying sources of income, managing the energy transition and quelling political unrest.\u00a0 All these are a tough call, he said, due to paucity of funds occasioned by an \u201cexcessive dependence of oil revenues\u201d, misappropriation and corruption.<\/p>\n Nevertheless, he was optimistic that e\u2011governance and the digital transformation will help achieve good governance and stem the tide of corruption, also calling on the international community to assist in recovering stolen funds.\u00a0 Iraq looks towards cooperation for regional security and plans to launch economic integration initiatives, particularly the Development Road project to link the Middle East to Europe.\u00a0 This project, he said, represents the most important step for regional cooperation.\u00a0On climate and environmental challenges that Iraq seriously experiences, especially in desertification, he called for international solidarity, particularly in raising awareness about water resources.<\/p>\n KYRIAKOS MITSOTAKIS,\u00a0Prime Minister of Greece<\/u>, noting that his country is an incoming member of the Security Council, said its tenure will be guided by three words \u201cof Greek origin but universal meaning:\u00a0 dialogue, diplomacy and democracy\u201d.\u00a0 Its six priorities will be the peaceful settlement of disputes; respect for international law; women, peace and security; climate, peace and security; children in armed conflict; and \u201cof course, as a seafaring nation, maritime security.\u201d\u00a0 Stressing the importance of Council reform, he said \u201cit is a relic of a world that no longer exists.\u201d\u00a0 Nearly one third of UN Member States have never sat on the Council, he pointed out, calling for its enlargement in both permanent and non-permanent categories.\u00a0Noting that Greece will do its utmost to be a stabilizing actor, he said \u201cthat work begins in our immediate neighbourhood.\u201d\u00a0 His country is a gateway to Europe, North Africa and the Middle East, he said, noting that Greece sits less than 900\u00a0miles away from both Gaza and Ukraine.<\/p>\n Expressing concern about the ongoing violence in the Middle East, he called on all parties, including Iran, to back away from perpetuating the current destructive cycle.\u00a0 People on both sides of the southern Lebanon border have a right to live peacefully, he said, supporting the proposal for an immediate 21-day ceasefire.\u00a0Greece will always support Israel’s legitimate right to defend itself, \u201cbut how it does so matters\u201d, he stressed, reaffirming support for a two-State solution.\u00a0 Since February 2022, the Russian Federation has brought violence, misery and destruction back to the European continent, he said, expressing solidarity with the Ukrainian people who are fighting for their freedom and independence.\u00a0From the first hours of the Russian Federation’s aggression, the European Union rose to the occasion, providing every possible support to Ukrainians.\u00a0 \u201cThe war in that country is not simply another local European conflict,\u201d he said.\u00a0 It is a brutal challenge to the rules-based order that the UN stands for.<\/p>\n Turning to his country\u2019s \u201cat times, tense relationship with T\u00fcrkiye\u201d, he noted the signing of the Athens Declaration and reaffirmed willingness to work towards resolving the delimitation of the continental shelf and the Exclusive Economic Zone in the Aegean and the eastern Mediterranean.\u00a0However, he also noted that this year marks the fiftieth anniversary of T\u00fcrkiye\u2019s illegal invasion and occupation of over a third of the territory of Cyprus, and reaffirmed commitment to that country\u2019s sovereignty and territorial integrity.\u00a0 A two-State solution cannot and will not be acceptable, he said, calling upon T\u00fcrkiye and the Turkish Cypriot community to come to the negotiating table.\u00a0 Turning to the western Balkans, he said the countries of the region must leave behind the traumatic legacy of the past and embrace their European future.\u00a0 Calling on them to improve democratic governance, pursue difficult internal reforms and commit to good neighbourly relations, he cautioned that \u201cthere are disrupters who would like nothing more than to cause new divisions in this sensitive corner of Europe.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLike steam or electricity before it,\u201d he said, artificial intelligence presents a huge opportunity to transform human life and drive solutions across science, climate change and medicine.\u00a0 However, unchecked and in the hands of malign actors, it could become a weapon of control in an uncertain world order.\u00a0 Noting that technology companies are transnational actors with more economic muscle than most countries at the United Nations, he pointed out that there is no framework to govern their actions or ensure accountability.\u00a0 Highlighting the adverse effects of digital technology and algorithms on the mental health of children, he noted that \u201cthe brains of our children are being rewired at an almost unimaginable scale, yet we do nothing.\u201d\u00a0 Technology companies must come to the table and take tangible action to prioritize safety over profits.\u00a0 If they don’t, pragmatic solutions such as banning devices in schools \u2014 which his country implemented this year \u2014 should be complemented by harsher regulatory responses, he underscored.<\/p>\n KEIR STARMER,\u00a0Prime Minister of the United Kingdom<\/u>, said that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which had a profound effect on him as a student, still inspires him as Prime Minister.\u00a0 \u201cBecause it speaks about our inherent dignity and the very essence of what it is to be human \u2026 of equal and inalienable rights based on a foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world,\u201d he said.\u00a0The international community must not lose hope of these ideals even as conflicts touch more countries around the world and 20 years of gains in tackling poverty, disease and ill health are stalled.\u00a0 \u201cWar is one of the major reasons that progress has now stalled.\u00a0 This is a catastrophe made by human hands,\u201d he said, adding that the international community has turned the geopolitical dial away from the rule of law towards brute force and aggression.\u00a0 This matters to everyone, including the British people, who want change, he said, adding that the United Kingdom is returning to responsible global leadership.<\/p>\n The international community must turn away from the sense of fatalism that has taken hold.\u00a0 \u201cOur task is to say no.\u00a0 We won\u2019t accept this slide into greater and greater conflict, instability and injustice,\u201d he said.\u00a0 \u201cThis is the moment to recommit to the UN, to internationalism, to the rule of law.\u201d\u00a0The international community must use its diplomatic tools to address the increasing conflicts.\u00a0 It must prevent a regional war in the Middle East and achieve a long-term political solution that delivers the long-promised Palestinian State alongside a safe and secure Israel.\u00a0 It must achieve peace in Sudan and develop a proper response to the world\u2019s worst humanitarian crisis.\u00a0 It must also stand up for international law.\u00a0 \u201cThat\u2019s why we are so resolute in our support for Ukraine.\u00a0 They are exercising their rights to self-defence, as provided for under the UN Charter,\u201d he said.\u00a0 The United Kingdom will stand with Ukraine for as long as necessary.<\/p>\n Turning to climate change, he said his Government has reset its approach to the existential threat of climate change.\u00a0 This includes lifting the de facto ban on onshore wind in England, ending new oil and gas licenses and creating Great British Energy.\u00a0 The United Kingdom will become the first major economy to transition to clean power by 2030, he said.\u00a0 The country will meet its net zero target and will support others by being a leading contributor to international climate financing.\u00a0 This includes supporting nature and forests, as they are vital for biodiversity and reducing emissions, and funding for climate adaptation. \u201cBecause those who did not cause this crisis should not be left to cope with the consequences,\u201d he said.\u00a0 The United Kingdom also remains committed to development and believes public finance should be used as a multiplier to unlock much greater levels of private investment.\u00a0 It has created a new facility, British International Investment, to work with the city of London to develop funding.<\/p>\n The international system, including the Council, must be made more representative so it can respond to people in need and produce fairer outcomes.\u00a0 \u201cIt has to change to become a more representative body \u2026 willing to act and not be paralyzed by politics,\u201d he said.\u00a0 He supported Africa\u2019s permanent representation on the Council as well as Brazil, India, Japan and Germany as permanent members and more seats for elected members.\u00a0 The United Kingdom will change from \u201cthe paternalism of the past towards partnership for the future\u201d, he said.\u00a0 It will join the Paris Pact for People and Planet, pursue a new Global Clean Power Alliance and stand for a new term on the Human Rights Council.\u00a0 It also will work with other Member States to tackle the toughest challenges, including conflicts, climate change and poverty.\u00a0\u201cAnd reforming the international system so that it\u2019s fit for the twenty-first century,\u201d he said.\u00a0 \u201cWe can change direction from the dangerous, destructive path we find ourselves on and turn instead towards the rule of law, towards cooperation, responsibility and progress.\u201d<\/p>\n K P SHARMA OLI,\u00a0Prime Minister of Nepal<\/u>, stressed that \u201cthe world is at a watershed moment in history.\u201d\u00a0 However, the leaving-no-one-behind principle has long been the cornerstone of his country\u2019s approach to development across all sectors.\u00a0As a nation emerging from conflict, Nepal deeply understands the profound value of peace and political stability.\u00a0 Immediately after the formation of his Government, Parliament passed a transitional justice bill and while it is being implemented, will uphold victims\u2019 rights, and use reparations and reconciliation to heal the wounds and scars of conflict periods.\u00a0 As it drives economic transformation for inclusive and equitable prosperity, Nepal will be graduating from its least developed country status by 2026; however, it is confronted with a substantial financial gap of about $24\u00a0billion to attain the 2030\u00a0Agenda.\u00a0 He therefore strongly reiterated the call for enhanced, predictable, and sustained international support.<\/p>\n Climate change has emerged as the gravest threat to the planet, people, and prosperity, and \u201cmy own country, Nepal, is particularly hard hit\u201d \u2014 ranked as the twentieth most disaster-prone country in the world.\u00a0 He voiced utmost concern at \u201cthe alarming rate at which the pristine Himalayas, often referred to as the Third Pole, are losing their vast snow reserves.\u201d\u00a0 This loss threatens water availability for billions of people living downstream.\u00a0Given their significance, it is essential that the mountain agenda should receive due attention in climate negotiations.\u00a0 Nepal is steadfast in its commitment to the Paris Agreement and aims to achieve the net-zero target by 2045, five years earlier than the global target.\u00a0 As climate change is a global challenge, he called for global action, with adequate climate financing including the Loss and Damage Fund, crucial to support climate-resilient measures and infrastructure for adaptation in developing countries.<\/p>\n Expressing dismay over a world increasingly distressed by division, suspicion, hatred, and enmity, he emphasized the primacy of dialogue and diplomacy, including in Ukraine and the Middle East.\u00a0 \u201cIt is through love and compassion that hostility and hatred can be overcome, paving the way for lasting peace,\u201d he said, affirming support for a two-State solution, where Israel and Palestine coexist peacefully and securely within internationally recognized borders.\u00a0However, he also pointed to worsening humanitarian crises in regions such as Libya, Syria, Sudan, South Sudan, Yemen and elsewhere.\u00a0 Emphasizing the principles of sovereign equality, non-interference as enshrined in the UN Charter, he therefore staunchly opposed any form of unilateral intervention or sanctions.<\/p>\n Nepal, he observed, conducts its foreign policy with profound belief in \u2018Amity with All, Enmity with None\u2019, standing as the largest contributor of troops and police to UN peace operations.\u00a0 Echoing the call for substantial reform of the global financial system, as aptly described by Secretary-General Ant\u00f3nio Guterres as \u201cmorally bankrupt\u201d, he further insisted that the voices of least developed countries, landlocked developing countries and small island developing States must be heard.\u00a0 Prioritizing the protection of the rights of migrant workers including their safety, security, dignity, and wellbeing, he stated:\u00a0 \u201cLet me resonate the wisdom of our ancient text, the\u00a0Maha Upanishad<\/em>, from around the sixth century\u00a0B.C., \u2018Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam\u2019<\/em>, meaning: \u00a0\u2018the whole world is one family\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n WINSTON PETERS,\u00a0Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Racing of New Zealand<\/u>, emphasized that, from the earliest debates surrounding the creation of the UN Charter in San Francisco, his country has fought against the veto rights given to the great Powers.\u00a0He recalled then-Prime Minister Peter Fraser\u2019s warning that the veto, if retained and exercised, could be destructive not only of the Organization\u2019s main purposes, \u201cbut of the institution itself\u201d.\u00a0Power waxes and wanes, and so yesterday\u2019s great Powers \u2014 today\u2019s permanent Security Council members \u2014 are challenged by periods of competition.\u00a0 This has serious implications for all States as, while some permanent members exercise restraint in the use of the veto, others consistently and frequently abuse it.\u00a0 \u201cNot only does Russia lack the sincerity and moral determination required to make the United Nations work, but its delinquency should be a clarion call for long-overdue Security Council reform,\u201d he underscored.<\/p>\n Therefore calling for a Council \u201cthat looks more like today\u2019s world\u201d as well as veto reform, he stressed that \u201call States are equal\u201d and that their \u201cvoices matter as much as the more powerful States represented here\u201d.\u00a0He added:\u00a0 \u201cIt is the quality of our arguments and the principles of justice that inform them \u2014 not the size of our militaries \u2014 that should hold sway.\u201d\u00a0Small States need today\u2019s superpowers to talk more, seek better understanding and develop ways of compromising.\u00a0This \u2014 rather than partaking in a zero-sum game \u2014 only enhances global stability.\u00a0 \u201cAnd this is what we smaller nations seek,\u201d he said.\u00a0 Pointing out that the global geostrategic and security challenges faced in one era do not remain static, he observed:\u00a0 \u201cThe world has changed, and so must we.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOld truths give way to new ones,\u201d he said, underlining the need to now \u2014 as then \u2014 \u201chave one\u2019s eyes open about the fundamental shifts that are taking place and be nimble enough to adapt\u201d.\u00a0 He continued:\u00a0 \u201cAnd, since war and instability is everyone\u2019s calamity, diplomacy is the business of us all.\u201d\u00a0From understanding comes opportunity, and from diplomacy comes compromise \u2014 the building block of better relations between nations.\u00a0 He also underscored the need for political leadership to restore trust in institutions, forge unity and fill the gaps when the international community proves unable to do so.\u00a0 Recalling that displayed by former United States President Jimmy Carter, Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin \u2014 he said that the agreements reached then \u201creveal what is possible when leaders exhibit sincerity and moral determination\u201d.\u00a0 Contrasting that with the \u201ccatastrophic and ruinous path that has been followed in Gaza\u201d today, he asked:\u00a0 \u201cWhere is the sincerity and moral determination of today\u2019s leaders at the vortex of this unacceptable violence?\u201d<\/p>\n Noting that his country \u201chas sacrificed many of its young men to wars in faraway lands\u201d, he underscored that New Zealand never wants to experience the catastrophe of another world war.\u00a0 \u201cSo we must do more, demand more and deliver more,\u201d he stressed, rejecting and resisting those who seek to conquer and control.\u00a0 Humanity\u2019s lasting victories come from peace \u2014 not war \u2014 and, despite its frustration at the lack of political will required to adapt the Organization to fully meet the challenges of today, New Zealand\u2019s support for the United Nations remains unwavering.\u00a0 And so, true to its belief that \u201cmultilateral diplomacy means taking responsibility for our obligations as Member States\u201d, he announced his country\u2019s intention to campaign \u201cas a voice for small States\u201d for a seat at the Council\u2019s 2039\u20112040 term.<\/p>\n MBAE MOHAMED,\u00a0Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Comoros<\/u>, said this session of the General Assembly debate takes place at a delicate time with the war in Ukraine imperilling the balance of the world.\u00a0 He urged both countries to cooperate towards a ceasefire for peace, which is a prerequisite for peace in the entire world, particularly Africa.\u00a0 The war in Palestine, he continued, is the \u201cpurest form of genocide\u201d which Comoros entirely condemns.\u00a0 Reaffirming solidarity to the Palestinians, he beseeched the international community to act towards an immediate cessation of hostilities and resumption of humanitarian supply, also working quickly to arrive at a two-State solution based on international law and relevant Security Council resolutions.\u00a0 Further, he applauded the admission of Palestine as a full Member State of the UN.<\/p>\n On the situation in the West Bank, which, he said, the international community tends to forget, he echoed Cardinal Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, in his words that what is happening there \u201cis a palpable and concrete example of how hatred, resentment, contempt, have led to forms of violence that are more and more extreme and increasingly difficult to contain.\u201d\u00a0 Also highlighting the conflict in Sudan which \u201cholds our full attention\u201d, he called on both parties to exercise restraint and spare the population from the horrors of crises.\u00a0 Turning to Western Sahara, he noted that the autonomy plan submitted in 2007 by Morocco for that territory within the Cherifian Kingdom constitutes the \u201csurest means of achieving a lasting settlement of an anachronistic conflict\u201d, the protraction of which would be undesirable for both the people and economic development of the region.<\/p>\n Comoros therefore calls on the international community and all stakeholders to embrace this plan, even as it is also open to dialogue as well as committed to the rule of law with France on its sovereignty over the Comorian Island of Mayotte.\u00a0 He supported the adopted resolutions of the Summit of the Future and advocated for \u201creal international collaboration\u201d, for establishing legal guidelines guaranteeing the development and fair use of artificial intelligence.\u00a0 He looked forward to next year\u2019s Financing for Development conference which will enable States of the Global South to advocate for reforms of multilateral development banks and institutions to \u201cobtain for our countries a forwarding framework of sustainable, accessible and predictable resources.\u201d\u00a0 Affected countries should therefore work together on formulation of their proposals.<\/p>\n DOMINIQUE HASLER,\u00a0Minister for Foreign Affairs, Education, and Sport of Liechtenstein<\/u>, recalling that she was just about to enter high school when her country became a member of the United Nations 34 years ago, said a key motivation was the wish to safeguard its sovereignty.\u00a0 This theme resonates strongly among many small States today, she said, adding that the Organization has been a key foreign policy platform for her country.\u00a0 \u201cWe have made a significant political investment,\u201d she said, highlighting the veto initiative Liechtenstein put forward recently.\u00a0 The aggression against Ukraine by the Russian Federation has not only destroyed the European security architecture; it has undermined the international legal order.\u00a0 As a small State without armed forces, respect for international law is the guarantor of Liechtenstein\u2019s sovereignty, she pointed out, adding that its unequivocal stance in support of Ukraine is a commitment not just to the international order \u201cbut ultimately to our own security\u201d.<\/p>\n Two years of this brutal war of aggression has brought immeasurable human suffering, economic devastation and environmental damage, she said, many of these outcomes irreversible.\u00a0 Stressing the importance of bringing about a just peace, she said that it must be based on international law and must ensure criminal accountability for those who initiated this war of aggression.\u00a0 \u201cThis alone will give small States everywhere the confidence and belief that their sovereignty and territorial integrity will be protected and safeguarded here at the United Nations,\u201d she said.\u00a0 Expressing support for a strong Security Council, she said there is little indication that it will be able to come together in the way current challenges require.\u00a0 Instead of criticizing and lamenting what is a political reality, the international community must think about alternatives.\u00a0 This Assembly is the key platform in this respect, she said, noting that it has taken the lead on Ukraine and has adopted important decisions on the Gaza war.\u00a0 Under the terms of the veto initiative, the Assembly has been given the option to act whenever the Council is paralyzed by the veto, she noted.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have witnessed with horror that terrorist attack on the civilian population of Israel on 7\u00a0October, and we are shocked and appalled by the suffering of the civilian population of Gaza,\u201d she said.\u00a0 Reaffirming support for the two-State solution, she called for full respect for international humanitarian law and the immediate release of all hostages.\u00a0Expressing support for the efforts of the International Criminal Court to investigate according to its mandate, she said there is no other conflict where the UN has a clearer and longer-lasting responsibility.\u00a0 Calling on the international community to uphold international law, she said:\u00a0 \u201cIt is us in this room that have the power and means necessary.\u201d\u00a0 It is encouraging that small States are standing up for the rule of law and against the rule of might, she added, noting that the International Court of Justice has been consulted for guidance in challenges ranging from the applicability of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide to climate change.<\/p>\n The women of Afghanistan do not have a voice at all, she said, adding:\u00a0 \u201cI therefore want to speak up for them from this podium.\u201d\u00a0 The denial of even their most basic rights is unacceptable for this Organization, she said, adding that the UN must support action to fight this extreme case of gender persecution.\u00a0 Women across the world have been speaking up as agents of change for many years, and experience has shown that entrusting more leadership positions to women will get better results for everyone.\u00a0 Further, it is a credibility challenge for the United Nations that a woman has yet to lead this Organization, she said, adding:\u00a0 \u201cAfter decades of talking about gender equality, the United Nations should shine as an example of that.\u201d<\/p>\n MARIA MALMER STENERGARD,\u00a0Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden<\/u>, said:\u00a0 \u201cSweden\u2019s strong defence of international law, including the UN Charter, is based on the understanding that both our own security and that of other countries depends on it.\u201d\u00a0 Her country\u2019s steadfast support for Ukraine\u2019s efforts to restore its sovereignty and territorial integrity will continue for as long as it takes, she emphasized, noting that Sweden and Finland chose to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) as a direct response to the Russian Federation\u2019s full-scale invasion.\u00a0\u201cFor Sweden\u2019s part, this represents a truly historic change, ending 200\u00a0years of military non-alignment,\u201d she said, stressing that it is every State\u2019s right to choose its own security policy path.\u00a0 \u201cSweden\u2019s NATO membership gives us a new, crucial platform to defend the fundamental values of our foreign and security policy,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n Sweden has consistently supported countries struggling for liberty, independence and democracy, particularly in Africa, and will continue to be an engaged partner of African countries, she said.\u00a0Concerned about the situation in Sudan where over 10\u00a0million people have been displaced, \u201cwhich roughly corresponds to the entire population of my own country\u201d, she called for safe, rapid and unhindered humanitarian access, an immediate ceasefire and negotiations ensuring a return to civilian rule.\u00a0 Sweden remains a key partner and donor of UN humanitarian assistance, as well as of peacekeeping and peacebuilding efforts, including in Yemen.\u00a0 It is among the largest core donors to UN agencies and other organizations working to mitigate the immense suffering of Gaza\u2019s civilian population.\u00a0 She underscored Israel\u2019s right to defend itself and demanded that the hostages be released.\u00a0 A ceasefire would provide space for reaching a diplomatic settlement, she said, adding:\u00a0\u201cIn the longer term, Sweden \u2014 like the EU and the United States \u2014 believes in the idea of a two-State solution…\u201d<\/p>\n Also a generous donor of development assistance, Sweden is expediting implementation of the SDGs.\u00a0 To that end, she called for strong national ownership in partner countries, broader cooperation among donor countries and a stepped-up fight against corruption.\u00a0 Echoing the Secretary-General’s concern about rising global opposition to gender equality, she underscored that countries that stand up for women\u2019s and girls\u2019 rights are not only champions of freedom and human rights, but also benefit from broad labour market participation and economic growth.\u00a0 \u201cEveryone must be able to live safely and freely…,\u201d she emphasized, noting her\u00a0Government\u2019s<\/a>\u00a0work on an action plan for equal rights and opportunities for LGBTQI people.\u00a0 On the environment, she said that \u201cSweden aims to become climate neutral by 2045, at the latest\u201d and wants \u201cto show that it\u2019s possible to reduce emissions while maintaining economic growth\u201d.<\/p>\n Turning to multilateral system reform, she stressed:\u00a0\u201cWe need global governance structures that can withstand the challenges of our time and that are resilient against malevolent attempts to undermine the UN Charter.\u201d\u00a0 Adding new permanent and non-permanent seats in the Council, including for African countries, would better reflect current global political and economic realities.\u00a0 She also voiced support for the ongoing reform processes in multilateral development banks to increase the effectiveness and scale of SDG financing and to implement the Paris Agreement.\u00a0 Strengthened global governance in outer space is also essential, she added, with modern societies becoming increasingly dependent on space services and the space environment becoming congested and contested.\u00a0 As such, her country will continue to promote the development of norms and rules for responsible behaviour in space.\u00a0Proudly noting Sweden\u2019s work with Zambia as co-facilitators of the Global Digital Compact, she said:\u00a0\u201cThrough this framework, all Member States have committed to strengthen international cooperation to close digital divides between and within countries and to establish the governance required for a sustainable digital future, including on artificial intelligence.\u201d<\/p>\n ALEXANDER SCHALLENBERG,\u00a0Federal Minister for European and International Affairs of Austria<\/u>, said that since last year, the world\u2019s sense of being in a permanent state of emergency has only deepened.\u00a0The Russian Federation\u2019s relentless pursuit of its full-scale war of aggression against Ukraine is \u201ca violation of the UN Charter, of the most basic rules that we have set ourselves, that continues to shock,\u201d he said.\u00a0 As a militarily neutral country, Austria does not see neutrality as indifference.\u00a0 \u201cWe know very well that a world in which Russia succeeds in shifting borders with tanks and rockets is a world more dangerous to all of us,\u201d he said.\u00a0 The basic principles of international law enshrined in the Charter should be the bedrock of any negotiation leading to a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.\u00a0 \u201cAnd let me be very clear:\u00a0 there cannot be any negotiations about Ukraine without Ukraine,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n Turning to the Middle East, he said the barbaric terror attack of Hamas against Israel has brought a new dimension of devastation to a region not lacking in violence.\u00a0 \u201cInternational humanitarian law is non-negotiable.\u00a0 It applies all the time, everywhere.\u00a0 The protection of civilians is paramount,\u201d he said, adding a ceasefire is needed to get the hostages out and more humanitarian aid in.\u00a0\u201cWhat we definitely don\u2019t need is any side adding fuel to the fire,\u201d he said.\u00a0 \u201cIt is wishful thinking to believe that a full-scale escalation between Israel and Hizbullah could be controlled.\u201d\u00a0 The region has enough reasonable voices wanting to work towards a political solution that normalizes relations between Israel and the Arab world and finally realizes the two-State solution.\u00a0 The crises in Sudan and Haiti, which are equally disastrous, are not in the public spotlight.<\/p>\n The world is undergoing a time of uncertainty as the pendulum swings from global integration to global fragmentation.\u00a0 \u201cIsolationism, protectionism and nationalism are growing,\u201d he said, adding:\u00a0 \u201cA zero-sum mentality is spreading.\u201d\u00a0 Around the globe, there are forces at the fringes of the political spectrum capitalizing on people\u2019s anxieties and doubts.\u00a0 \u201cTheir business model is quick fixes and apparent easy answers.\u00a0 Their agenda is sowing discord,\u201d he said.\u00a0Austria is no exception, noting the country\u2019s upcoming Parliamentary elections this Sunday.\u00a0 A strong centre is needed to counter these voices and ensure the new era of anxiety does not become an era of fear.\u00a0 The international community must defend a rules-based international order, which is the best guarantee for mutual security, stability and prosperity.\u00a0 \u201cCountries like Austria are dependent on this system,\u201d he said, referring to systems that respect international law.\u00a0 \u201cIt is an illusion to believe anything can be gained by demolishing the rules-based international order,\u201d\u00a0 he stressed.<\/p>\n In the face of the upheaval of the past few years, societies based on freedom, pluralism and individual rights have proven themselves stronger, more flexible and resilient than expected.\u00a0 \u201cWhat we need most in this moment is trust and confidence.\u00a0Trust in our own capacities,\u201d he said.\u00a0Austria stands ready to defend its own interests and find the middle ground.\u00a0 Defending the multilateral system means reforming a system of global governance that is not inclusive enough.\u00a0 The Council, for example, now reflects a world that is long gone.\u00a0 \u201cIt is unacceptable that we are held hostage so easily by the will of a handful of countries,\u201d he said, adding that Austria is committed to making the Council more effective, inclusive and accountable, including through its candidature for a non-permanent seat at elections in 2026.\u00a0His country will continue to champion sensible and pragmatic multilateralism based on its genuine will for cooperation and for dialogue, he stressed.<\/p>\n ARNOLDO ANDR\u00c9 TINOCO,\u00a0Minister for Foreign Affairs and Worship of Costa Rica<\/u>, said Latin countries are faced with the growing presence of drug trafficking and international organized crime as well as the triple planetary crisis of increasing poverty, inequality and widening gaps and asymmetries within countries and regions.\u00a0 \u201cMeanwhile, our collective responses remain timid, delayed and insufficient,\u201d he said, adding that only multilateralism, as the central approach to cooperation, will allow the international community to confront and overcome these challenges.\u00a0 \u201cDemocracy is the political system that embraces everyone,\u201d he said.\u00a0 Venezuela cannot be considered a democracy as it expelled 8\u00a0million of its citizens and provoked an unprecedented migration crisis that affects the entire Western Hemisphere.\u00a0 In addition, thousands of people are crossing Costa Rica\u2019s northern border daily to flee the dictatorship in Nicaragua.\u00a0 He urged the international community to not be indifferent to the humanitarian crisis in Haiti.<\/p>\n Criminal networks have found fertile ground for growth in Latin America and the Caribbean, whether due to corruption, lack of opportunities for youth or limited police capacity to counter them, impacting the security and well-being of local communities, with global repercussions, he said.\u00a0 He urged a coordinated, multilateral approach that uses information-sharing and strong legal measures to combat the networks.\u00a0\u201cOnly through joint efforts can the structure of these organizations be dismantled, and ultimately, peace and security restored in the region,\u201d he said.\u00a0 Peace lies at the heart of multilateralism and there is no peace without justice. \u00a0He urged all parties to the many conflicts around the world to assume their obligations under international law, particularly international humanitarian law.\u00a0Actors must comply in good faith with all decisions from international courts and the Council \u201cbecause without justice, there will be no lasting peace\u201d.<\/p>\n Warning that the current global financial architecture is at \u201cimminent risk of becoming obsolete\u201d, he called for a new, transparent, inclusive and sustainable model.\u00a0 Financing must be sufficient and concessional with effective debt relief mechanisms for developing countries.\u00a0 He also advocated for urgent capitalization of multilateral development banks and greater use of new and innovative financing mechanisms, such as green and blue bonds and debt-for-ecosystem services swaps.\u00a0Middle-income countries and economies-in-transition, like Costa Rica, require flexible development financing tools suitable to their specific needs.\u00a0 He hoped the fourth International Conference on Financing for Development will generate concrete agreements through the necessary political will.<\/p>\n To ensure the well-being of future generations, \u201cmultilateralism must be blue\u201d.\u00a0 Costa Rica has developed a strong blue diplomacy that recognizes the crucial role of oceans in the planet\u2019s health.\u00a0 \u201cTo have a habitable planet, we need a healthy ocean,\u201d he said, noting the ocean produces 50\u00a0per\u00a0cent of the oxygen people breathe, is the world’s largest source of protein, the greatest carbon sink and a climate regulator.\u00a0 Its biodiversity supports the livelihoods of 3\u00a0billion people worldwide.\u00a0 It is urgent that the new Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction enters into force, he said.\u00a0The international community must also wrap up an ambitious plastics treaty and ensure no deep-sea mining begins until there are guarantees that it will not harm the marine environment.\u00a0 He invited all delegates to participate in the third United Nations Ocean Conference, which Costa Rica and France will co-host in June 2025 in Nice.<\/p>\n ANNALENA BAERBOCK,\u00a0Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs of Germany<\/u>, said the world currently is an ecosystem of quick headlines and slogans that paint it black and white, creating an \u2018us versus them\u2019 divide.\u00a0This division lies at the foundation of the \u201cworst extremes that humankind has ever seen\u201d \u2014 the world wars and the Holocaust.\u00a0 The United Nations, she continued, provides a countermodel through its Charter, urging the international community to accept the humanity of everyone.\u00a0 It also guarantees all countries the right to determine their own destiny, governed by an order void of divisive nationalism.\u00a0Living up to these principles, however, demands hard work, empathy, solidarity and a search for common ground.\u00a0\u201cIt also means that we have to face the dilemma that the values of the Charter can at times appear to contradict each other,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Recalling the 7\u00a0October\u00a02023 Hamas\u2019 attacks and persisting holding of over 100\u00a0hostages, including her countrymen \u2014 among them women and children\u00a0 \u2014 she encouraged that the situation should not only be looked at from individual perspective and collective history, but through the universality of humanity \u201cin order to overcome this vicious circle of hate\u201d.\u00a0Because the rights of Israelis and Palestinians do not cancel each other out, Germany remains committed to Israel\u2019s security and right to self-defence.\u00a0 At the same time, it is working tirelessly \u201cto end the hell for the children of Gaza\u201d, as lasting security for Israelis and Palestinians will only be possible with lasting security for one another.\u00a0 Hence, Germany\u2019s efforts for a hostage deal, represented by \u201cthe Biden plan which was endorsed by the Security Council\u201d, she said, announcing her recent participation with other countries to call for an immediate 21\u2011day ceasefire along the Blue Line.<\/p>\n \u201cBecause the ability to learn from past mistakes makes societies stronger\u201d, she noted, her country is addressing its colonial past more thoroughly, the restitution of artefacts being a crucial matter.\u00a0 This is what is influencing its important reconciliation process with Namibia with the aim of uniting for a better future.\u00a0On the Russian Federation\u2019s aggression in Ukraine, she urged Member States to call upon President Vladimir Putin to cease attacks and approach the negotiation table \u201cnot only for our security, but also in your own interest\u201d.\u00a0 She announced Germany\u2019s action towards a reform of the Security Council and the global financial architecture, lamenting that it is \u201ctotally unjust that at the two most important international financial institutions, there are only Europeans and Americans at the top\u201d.\u00a0 \u201cWe need our institutions to be accepted by all of us.\u00a0 And for that, they need to represent all of us,\u201d she stressed.\u00a0 She further called for the emergence of the first female Secretary-General of the United Nations.<\/p>\n ABDALLAH BOUHABIB,\u00a0Minister for Foreign Affairs and Emigrants of Lebanon<\/u>, stressing that his country is in a crisis that is threatening its very existence, said \u201cthis is a situation that requires international intervention on an urgent basis.\u201d\u00a0 Without such action, the crisis will \u201ctransform into a black hole that will engulf regional and international peace and security,\u201d he said, welcoming the initiative launched by the United States and France that offers the possibility of long-term calm, restoration of stability along the border as well as the return of displaced persons.\u00a0 \u201cWhat we are currently experiencing in Lebanon is the consequence of the absence of a lasting and sustainable solution,\u201d he pointed out, adding that the root cause is the occupation.\u00a0 \u201cTo claim anything else would be a loss of time,\u201d he said, underscoring that as long as the occupation persists, there will be instability and war.<\/p>\n Despite the inability of the United Nations to protect his country from the Israeli aggression so far, he said, Lebanon is committed to the Organization \u201cas a front line of defence in the face of occupation, violence, devastation and oppression\u201d.\u00a0 \u201cToday we desperately need the United Nations to play its role as a refuge for small countries that have been victimized by aggression.\u00a0 These countries include my homeland,\u201d he said, emphasizing that Lebanon has demonstrated its ability to be a reliable partner in consensus-building.\u00a0 Recalling October 2022, when the maritime borders between Lebanon and Israel were delimited, he added that his country has also proposed an integrated framework to achieve lasting peace along its southern border.\u00a0 Reiterating the call for a ceasefire on all fronts, he highlighted Council resolution 1701 (2006), which established a relative degree of stability in the south of Lebanon since the end of the 2006 war until 7\u00a0October\u00a02023.\u00a0 Calling on the international community to support his country in reinforcing its army, he reminded delegates that the text underscores that Lebanon\u2019s Government should have full control of that part of the country.<\/p>\n Despite the economic crisis that has been plaguing Lebanon, he pointed out, his Government has deployed 100,000 additional soldiers to the south of the country.\u00a0 This is a clear political message:\u00a0 Lebanon fully intends to implement resolution 1701 (2006), he said, adding:\u00a0 \u201cEven at the worst times, we are not standing idly by; we are mobilizing our efforts at the highest level to protect our people.\u201d\u00a0The text emphasizes the internationally recognized borders of Lebanon.\u00a0 Highlighting the role of United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon\u00a0(UNIFIL), he said it has significantly contributed to stability and peace in the region.\u00a0 Expressing concern about Israel\u2019s systematic destruction of Lebanese border villages, he said it is setting fire to agricultural lands with white phosphorus, thereby rendering these lands unusable for many years.<\/p>\n Condemning the detestable, repugnant transformation of telecommunications devices into ticking time bombs claiming the lives of dozens, including children and women, he said thousands have been wounded, hundreds of whom are in critical condition, in addition to hundreds who were disfigured and maimed.\u00a0 The Israeli occupying Power is attempting to extend the war, he said, adding that the return of displaced Israelis cannot be achieved by bombarding Lebanese people.\u00a0The shortest path for their return is a comprehensive, immediate ceasefire.\u00a0 \u201cHas Israel not had enough of the endless wars since 1948 \u2026 Will Israel not embrace the path of peace?\u201d he asked.\u00a0 Council resolution 1701 (2006) is Lebanon\u2019s primary line of defence, he said, stressing that it is not merely a document, it is a commitment on the part of the international community to safeguard regional peace and it is the best tool to break this cycle of violence.\u00a0 Once again reiterating support for the United States-French initiative, he called on the United Nations to generate momentum towards ending this crisis.<\/p>\n ELMER SCHIALER SALCEDO,\u00a0Minister for Foreign Affairs of Peru<\/u>, said that his country \u2014 \u201cjust like the rest of the world\u201d \u2014 has worked to mitigate the political instability and economic crisis caused by COVID\u201119.\u00a0 This has included efforts to recover the pace of economic growth, \u201cboost projects stuck in their tracks\u201d and attract investment to develop large infrastructure projects to create decent jobs, he said, adding:\u00a0 \u201cToday, I can say that we are seeing the first results of these efforts.\u201d\u00a0Yet, there is much ground to cover, and multilateralism is the best tool available, he said, to achieve \u201cthe conditions we require to achieve sustainable development\u201d.\u00a0 The first of these \u2014 \u201cwithout a shadow of a doubt\u201d \u2014 is peace, and he stressed that the current reality \u201cis testament to the fact that we are failing\u201d the Organization\u2019s fundamental aspiration to save future generations from war.<\/p>\n Condemning all use of force in international relations, he also said that paralysis in the Security Council \u201cwhen it comes to some conflicts\u201d requires reform and revision of \u201cthe prerogatives of its permanent members \u2013 mainly the right of veto\u201d.\u00a0 Exercise of that right, he added, is sometimes motivated by politics, rather than the need to address humanitarian matters.\u00a0 For its part, he said that Peru will continue to support disarmament, arms control and nuclear-non-proliferation initiatives, also appealing to nuclear-weapon States to \u201crenew their bilateral commitments to reduce their respective arsenals\u201d.\u00a0 Additionally, Peru will continue contributing to UN peacekeeping operations \u2014 \u201cas we have done since 1958\u201d \u2014 and he noted that more than 250\u00a0members of Peru\u2019s Armed Forces and national police are currently deployed in UN uniform.\u00a0 Further, a 200-strong rapid-response force is available for immediately deployment \u201cwhenever the United Nations requires it\u201d, he said.<\/p>\n He went on to state that the second condition required for development is a clean and healthy environment.\u00a0 This is why Peru, alongside others, called on the International Court of Justice to rule on States\u2019 international climate-change obligations.\u00a0Welcoming the UN system\u2019s support of Government actions to assist people affected by Cyclone Yaku in 2023, he reported that Peru has adopted a preventive approach for disaster-risk management in line with the Secretary-General\u2019s \u201cEarly Warnings for All\u201d initiative and the Sendai Framework.\u00a0 Further, the Government is working to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.\u00a0Emphasizing, however, that \u201cthese domestic efforts are not enough\u201d, he called for increased international cooperation according to the principle of \u201cshared but differentiated\u201d responsibility.\u00a0Developed countries must reduce their emissions and honour climate-finance commitments, which include \u2014 \u201cat a minimum\u201d \u2014 $100\u00a0billion per year for developing countries as well as implementation of the loss-and-damage fund agreed at the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference.<\/p>\n Turning to the SDGs, he noted a more than 10\u00a0per\u00a0cent increase in national resources allocated to their achievement and highlighted three priority areas in this regard \u2014 health, education and social protection.\u00a0 Specific efforts include swift action to reduce the lethality of a recent dengue epidemic; efforts to ensure that young people can access the labour market; and programmes supporting the most vulnerable through soup kitchens, canteens and shelters.\u00a0 The Government also works to guarantee the collective rights of Indigenous and Afro-Peruvian Peoples through the provision of services that recognize \u201cthat we are a multicultural, pluri-ethnic and multilingual country\u201d, he said.\u00a0 Noting again, however, that \u201cdomestic efforts alone are not enough\u201d, he called on developed countries to keep their promises to provide assistance and financing.\u00a0 He added that the international community must \u201crevise the way we measure progress\u201d, as GDP cannot measure inequality, well-being or environmental sustainability.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" 26 September 2024 Seventy-ninth Session, 11th & 12th Meetings (AM & PM) Palestinian President Urges International Community to Hold Israel Accountable for \u2018Full-Scale War of Genocide\u2019, on Day Three of Annual General Debate All-out Mideast War Must be Averted, World Leaders Implore, Also Calling for Greater UN Support, Intervention to End Widening Crises in Sudan, 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\n11th & 12th Meetings (AM & PM)<\/strong><\/p>\nPalestinian President Urges International Community to Hold Israel Accountable for \u2018Full-Scale War of Genocide\u2019, on Day Three of Annual General Debate<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
All-out Mideast War Must be Averted, World Leaders Implore, Also Calling for Greater UN Support, Intervention to End Widening Crises in Sudan, Haiti<\/h4>\n