(Day 5) General Debate – General Assembly, 79th session: afternoon session

Summary

This transcript covers the general debate of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly, featuring speeches from various national representatives. The central themes included international peace and security, climate change, sustainable development, and UN reform.

Many speakers emphasized the importance of multilateralism and adherence to international law, particularly in light of ongoing conflicts like the war in Ukraine and the situation in Gaza. There were calls for immediate ceasefires and peaceful resolutions to these conflicts. Several nations, including Saudi Arabia and Zambia, stressed the need for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Climate change was a major focus, with countries like Azerbaijan, which will host COP29, calling for urgent action and increased climate finance. The challenges faced by small island developing states due to climate change were highlighted by nations like Trinidad and Tobago.

Sustainable development and the implementation of the SDGs were discussed, with many countries noting the slow progress and calling for increased efforts and resources. The need for reform of the international financial architecture was emphasized by several speakers.

UN reform, particularly of the Security Council, was a recurring topic. Many nations advocated for a more representative and effective Council that reflects current global realities. The importance of inclusive governance and shared responsibility in addressing global challenges was stressed by countries like Japan.

Regional issues were also addressed, including the situation in Myanmar, Haiti, and various African conflicts. The debate also touched on topics such as nuclear disarmament, artificial intelligence governance, and the rights of marginalized groups.

Overall, the discussion reflected a shared concern for global challenges and a call for strengthened international cooperation, while also highlighting the diverse perspectives and priorities of UN member states.

Keypoints

Major discussion points:

– Calls for UN Security Council reform to make it more representative and effective

– Concerns about ongoing conflicts, especially in Ukraine, Gaza/Israel, and other regions

– Climate change and the need for climate action, including financing for developing countries

– Strengthening multilateralism and the UN system to address global challenges

– Economic development, poverty reduction, and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals

Overall purpose/goal:

The overall purpose of this General Assembly debate was for countries to present their views on major global issues, call for international cooperation to address challenges, and outline their national priorities and positions on key topics.

Tone:

The overall tone was formal and diplomatic, with countries advocating for their interests while emphasizing the need for multilateral cooperation. However, there were moments of tension and sharper rhetoric, particularly around territorial disputes and ongoing conflicts. The tone became more confrontational during the right of reply segment at the end, with countries directly rebutting each other’s claims.

Speakers

– President: President of the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly

– Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud: Minister for Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia

– Mulambo Hamakuni Haimbe: Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Zambia

– Maxim Ryzhenkov: Minister for Foreign Affairs of Belarus

– Thórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörd: Minister for Foreign Affairs of Iceland

– Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi: Foreign Minister of Oman

– Lars Løkke Rasmussen:

– Maris Sangiampongsa:

– Jeyhun Aziz oglu Bayramov: Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan

– Amery Browne: Minister for Foreign and Caricom Affairs of Trinidad and Tobago

– Francis Fonseca: Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Belize

– Olushegun Adjadi Bakari:

– Yamazaki Kazuyuki: Chair of the delegation of Japan

Additional speakers:

– Antonio Guterres: Secretary-General of the United Nations

– Alicia Barcena: Secretary of Foreign Affairs of Mexico

– Dennis Francis: President of the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly

Expanded Summary of the 79th Session of the UN General Assembly General Debate

The 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly general debate brought together representatives from nations worldwide to discuss pressing global issues and present their countries’ perspectives on international affairs. The debate covered a wide range of topics, with several key themes emerging throughout the discussions.

International Peace and Security

A primary focus of the debate was the ongoing conflicts and security challenges facing the international community. Many speakers emphasised the importance of peaceful conflict resolution and adherence to international law. The situation in Gaza and the broader Middle East received significant attention, with Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister, Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud, calling for an immediate ceasefire and peaceful resolution. He notably stated, “The world is seeing a high pace of crises and unfortunately we are just looking at managing these crises rather than finding concrete solutions,” highlighting the need for more effective international responses.

The war in Ukraine was another significant point of discussion, with Denmark’s representative, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, strongly condemning Russia’s aggression. In contrast, Belarus’s Foreign Minister, Maxim Ryzhenkov, advocated for peaceful resolution of conflicts through dialogue, potentially indicating a different stance on the Ukraine situation.

Zambia’s Foreign Minister, Mulambo Hamakuni Haimbe, stressed the need for strengthening UN peacekeeping efforts. Nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation were addressed by Japan’s delegation chair, Yamazaki Kazuyuki, underscoring the continued relevance of these issues in global security discussions.

UN Reform and Multilateralism

A recurring theme throughout the debate was the need for reform within the United Nations, particularly concerning the Security Council. Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister, Jeyhun Aziz oglu Bayramov, explicitly called for reform of the UN Security Council, a sentiment echoed by representatives from Zambia and Thailand. These calls for reform reflect a widespread desire for a more representative and effective Security Council that better reflects current global realities.

Speakers consistently emphasised the importance of strengthening multilateralism and the UN system as a whole. Iceland’s Foreign Minister, Thórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörd, expressed support for UN Charter principles and multilateral cooperation. Japan’s representative stressed the importance of inclusive global governance and the need for international cooperation on emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence.

Sustainable Development and Climate Change

Climate change and sustainable development featured prominently in the discussions. Azerbaijan, which will host COP29, called for urgent action on climate change and increased climate finance for developing countries, highlighting their own initiatives in this area. This call was supported by other nations, including Denmark, which emphasised the need for equitable climate action.

Zambia’s representative highlighted national efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and combat climate change, while Benin advocated for sustainable development in Africa. The challenges faced by small island developing states due to climate change were brought to the fore by Trinidad and Tobago’s Foreign Minister, Amery Browne.

Many speakers noted the slow progress on implementing the SDGs and called for increased efforts and resources. The need for reform of the international financial architecture was emphasised by several speakers as crucial for supporting sustainable development in developing countries.

Human Rights, Equality, and Cultural Heritage

Several speakers addressed human rights and equality issues. Iceland’s Foreign Minister advocated for women’s rights, gender equality, and the rights of LGBTQI+ persons. Japan’s representative emphasised the importance of protecting human dignity. Belize’s Foreign Minister, Francis Fonseca, called for self-determination for Palestinians and expressed support for Palestine’s full UN membership.

Trinidad and Tobago’s representative discussed the rights of people of African descent and called for reparatory justice for the history of chattel slavery. Benin’s representative, Olushegun Adjadi Bakari, spoke about pan-Africanism and their initiative to grant nationality to people of African descent.

The importance of protecting cultural heritage and the rights of indigenous peoples was also highlighted by some speakers, reflecting a growing awareness of these issues in the international community.

Regional Issues and Governance

The debate provided a platform for nations to address specific regional issues and bilateral relations. Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister discussed the normalisation of relations with Armenia, while representatives from China and the Philippines addressed the ongoing South China Sea dispute, revealing continuing tensions over the 2016 arbitration ruling.

Trinidad and Tobago called for the lifting of the embargo against Cuba and discussed the situation in Haiti, highlighting the diverse regional concerns brought before the General Assembly. Ethiopia raised the issue of Nile River water rights, underscoring the complex nature of regional water management challenges.

Conclusion

The 79th session of the UN General Assembly general debate reflected a shared concern for global challenges and a call for strengthened international cooperation. While there was broad agreement on the importance of multilateralism, peaceful conflict resolution, and sustainable development, specific approaches to these issues and regional concerns showed more divergence. The debate highlighted the complex nature of international relations and the differing priorities of nations based on their geographical, economic, and political contexts. It also underscored the ongoing need for dialogue, negotiation, and collective action in addressing the world’s most pressing challenges, including UN reform, climate change, human rights, and regional conflicts.

President: The 16th Plenary Meeting of the General Assembly is called to order. The Assembly will continue its consideration of Agenda Item 8 entitled General Debate. I now give the floor to His Highness Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia.

Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud – Saudi Arabia: In the name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate. President of the United Nations General Assembly, ladies and gentlemen, may the peace of God and the blessing of God be upon you. Please allow me to congratulate, first of all, His Excellency Mr. Philemon Yang upon his election to head up the 79th session of the UN General Assembly. We also congratulate Mr. Dennis Francis for the efforts that he made during the previous session. I also wish to seize this opportunity to thank the United Nations Secretary General, Mr. Antonio Guterres, for the tireless efforts that he’s making in order to achieve the goals and aspirations of the UN Charter. President, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, since we participated in the creation of this organisation, has been striving to make efforts to make the promises of the UN Charter an absolute reality, establishing the respect for international law, achieving international peace and security, and supporting channels for international multilateral actions in many different areas. In this regard, the Kingdom participated in the drafting of the Pact for the Future that was agreed on by the leaders of the world this week. We believe that this pact and the summit for the future in general is an opportunity to renew our collective principles to strengthen cooperation, to achieve peace and security and sustainable development for future generations. In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia we are seeking to strengthen the role of international financial institutions to ensure an economic recovery. President, the world is seeing a high pace of crises and unfortunately we are just looking at managing these crises rather than finding concrete solutions. This is a situation of laxism in international efforts and also a situation of selectivity in the application of international law and international humanitarian law which has led to an exacerbation of violence and conflicts and is threatening the principles of the UN Charter and undermining common actions to find peaceful solutions. Peaceful solutions that will enable us to spare the lives of civilians and to put an end to fighting and ensure peace and international and regional development. In this context of tensions between countries we wish to warn against political polarisation. We need to open up dialogue and strengthen dialogue and cooperation between states, enabling us to strengthen international peace and security. In this regard we categorically reject all crimes perpetrated by Israel against the kindred Palestinian people. The most recent crimes committed against civilians, defenceless civilians, is just one chapter in the story of suffering by this brother people who have been suffering for decades now. These barbaric Israeli practices that started last year has cost the lives of tens of thousands of Palestinian civilians, in particular women and children. We are seeing bombing, murder and destruction. This is a real humanitarian catastrophe and it is continuing to get worse. It is necessary to halt this aggression. For this reason, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia hosted the joint Arab-Israeli summit in November 2023. We saw the participation of heads of state and government of member countries of the Arab League and the Organisation for Islamic Cooperation. We worked to adopt resolutions and decisions that reflect the will of Arab and Muslim people and to stop the bloodshed, to ensure unhindered humanitarian access and to realise the legitimate demands of the Palestinian people, in particular the creation of an independent state. The ministerial committee tasked by this summit to engage in visits has called upon the international community to put an end to Israeli aggression and protect civilians. That’s why we welcome the adoption by the General Assembly on the 10th of May 2024 of a resolution that states that the state of Palestine fulfils all the conditions to become a fully-fledged member state of our organisation and we welcome the decision of Norway, Spain, Ireland, Slovenia and Armenia who have recognised the brother country of Palestine. We call upon other states to bilaterally recognise the state of Palestine and to act together in order to recognise the state of Palestine as an independent state. That’s why we announced with our partners and ministerial committees with Norway and the European Union, we have announced the creation of a coalition to promote the two-state solution. We call upon all states to join us in this initiative. Mr President, we have provided more than five billion American dollars in aid to the kindred Palestinian people since the bombing of the Gaza Strip with the King Salman project. We have committed to even more, several million dollars in humanitarian aid and we are working with many different international and UN humanitarian aid agencies to bring in humanitarian projects. to the tune of $106 billion. We are also working with UNRWA to provide services, to provide food, medications, and meet other needs of the brother Palestinian people. The support provided by the Kingdom to UNRWA has gone above $1 billion. We welcome the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice regarding Israeli practices in occupied Palestinian territories that has confirmed the illegal nature of Israeli presence in occupied Palestinian territories for now 75 years. It’s essential to find a fair solution to the Palestinian crisis based on resolutions of international equality and enabling the Palestinian people to establish an independent state with pre-1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital. The prevalence of impunity, the lack of respect of legal obligations is encouraging Israel to continue its escalation. This escalation will have no positive impact on any party at all. It also risks having negative repercussions for the entire region. That’s why we affirm the fact that it is necessary to preserve the stability of Lebanon and to respect its sovereignty in line with international law and in line with relevant UN Security Council resolutions. We are aligning with international efforts to bring in an immediate ceasefire and to find a lasting diplomatic solution. We call upon all parties to show wisdom and to show restraint in order to avoid a true war from breaking out in the region. Mr. President, the Kingdom has taken key measures in order to ensure appeasement and development in our region. We have concluded an agreement with Iran to restore our diplomatic relations based on the respect of sovereignty and non-interference in internal affairs, also on the respect of the UN Charter. working with the Organisation for Islamic Cooperation also to establish peace and security in our region. We hope that Iran will cooperate with the international community, in particular vis-à-vis its nuclear programme and its ballistic missile programme. We have also resumed relations with the Syrian Arab Republic to strengthen our cooperation on common issues, because we are convinced that finding a solution to this crisis will enable us to entrench peace and stability in our region. We also reaffirmed the need to preserve the security of Syria, its stability and the integrity of its territory. Furthermore, in Yemen, we are supporting all efforts to find a solution to this crisis and to appease the human suffering of the brotherly Yemeni people. It’s essential to find political solutions to reinstall peace and stability in the region. We reiterate our initiative that seeks to find a just and lasting solution. When it comes to the situation in the Red Sea, this is a situation that is undermining security of shipping routes, and in response to that, we need to show a sense of wisdom and support international efforts to establish peace and stability in that area. In Sudan, we reaffirm our staunch position to preserve peace and stability in Sudan and to strengthen the state and its institutions and avoid its breaking down. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia hosted the Sudanese peace talks in Jeddah to this end. We call to appease the situation, put an end to military operations and to provide humanitarian aid. We are working to continue the Jeddah talks, engaging in Jeddah talks three, the third round. In terms of peace and stability in Afghanistan, Afghanistan cannot be left by the wayside of its region and the international community or be prey to terrorists. That’s why it’s necessary to put an end to the humanitarian and security situation in Afghanistan that is providing fertile ground to different groups and militias to continue their activities. Now moving on to the Russian-Ukrainian crisis, we must put an end to this crisis and contain its repercussions. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, may God protect him, is continuing to work to this end and we have announced the freeing of several prisoners of different nationalities. We hosted a meeting of different officials from different countries with the participation of several different states and international organizations. We stand ready to continue our mediation efforts between the parties to the conflict. President, drawing on our vision 2030, we aspire to fulfill the needs of future generations to empower women and youth and to build bridges with the world. Through our development approach, we aspire to achieve global development, focusing on people, preserving their rights, their dignity, and allowing them to achieve their aspirations. Mr. President, on the energy front, we are working to achieve energy security and to guarantee access to energy at reasonable prices and to mitigate the effects of climate change. We seek to ensure stability in international markets, the international oil markets, and to guarantee access to this energy and guarantee security in the supply chains in order to ensure a prosperous international economy. We are also fighting against climate change, in particular by adopting a holistic approach to the energy transition. In that regard, we seek to respect the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement, making the most of all the techniques we have available to us in order to limit our greenhouse gas emissions. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is one of the best placed countries according to carbon and methane emissions, and we are working to set up a carbon transfer and storage facility in the city of Al-Jubeirah. This has the capacity to store 9,000 tonnes within a few years and 44,000 tonnes by 2030. We are working with the international community to fight climate change, and that’s why in the summit between Saudi Arabia and Africa, we announced a participation of $50 billion to support these efforts. We have also launched initiatives such as the Green Saudi Arabia Initiative, the Green Middle East Initiative, and we are also investing in techniques to reduce carbon density and to strengthen electricity and green hydrogen production. The Kingdom furthermore supports projects to optimise the consumption of energy. and to preserve sea life and water. That’s why we celebrated the International Environment Day in 2024 and we will soon be hosting the COP16 of the United Nations Convention Against Desertification, which is reaffirming our commitment to preserve the future and fight against desertification. We also intend to host the International Water Forum in 2027. The Crown Prince, may God protect him, announced the creation of an international organization for water resources last September to fight against the challenges we face when it comes to water resources. Mr. President, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is working to create a world free of nuclear weapons. For this reason, we call upon all states to preserve the non-proliferation regime while protecting the rights of states to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. We support efforts being made to fight against terrorism and it’s necessary to bolster our joint actions by continuing cooperation with our international partners in order to fight against this threat. It’s necessary to make more effort to fight against the campaigns being launched by terrorist groups. It’s further necessary to continue our work to fight against the financing of terrorism. Mr. President, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was chosen to host the 2030 Global Exposition. This exposition is allowing us to focus on the Sustainable Development Goals. This is an event that is an opportunity to find political solutions when it comes to sustainability and also to honour our commitments to developing countries. By way of conclusion, we hope that the efforts being made will enable us to establish a common principle with mutual respect to build a better future for the whole of humanity, and may the peace and blessing of God be upon you.

President: I now give the floor to His Excellency Mulambo Hamakuni Haimbe, Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Zambia. Mulambo Hamakuni Haimbe, MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION

Mulambo Hamakuni Haimbe – Zambia: Your Excellency Philemon Yang, President of the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, distinguished Heads of State and Government, Honourable Ministers, Heads of Intergovernmental Organizations, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, I congratulate you, Your Excellency, on the assumption of the Presidency of the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly and assure you of Zambia’s cooperation during your tenure. We extend Zambia’s sincere gratitude to His Excellency, Mr. Dennis Francis, for the exemplary work exhibited during the 78th Session. Leaving no one behind, acting together for the advancement of peace, sustainable development and human dignity for present and future generations, presents an opportunity for us to re-examine our priorities, redefine our mission and sharpen our vision as we approach the 80th anniversary of the United Nations. Namibia therefore joins the UN Secretary General in congratulating Member States for successfully adopting the Pact for the Future, which includes the Digital Global Compact and the Declaration on Future Generations. We further appreciate the work of Namibia and Germany in co-facilitating this process. It is our hope that the implementation of the Pact for the Future will address the multiple crises facing the world today. Mr. President, Zambia firmly believes that multilateralism is the only viable approach to solving regional and international challenges. In this regard, the creation of the United Nations almost 80 years ago provided new hope for the international community in the maintenance of international peace and security, promotion of justice and improvement of living conditions for all people. However, this ideal is rapidly slipping away as global peace is increasingly threatened by the growing and sustained geopolitical tensions. As Member States that share the ideals upon which the United Nations was founded, we must resolve to correct this course and uphold the principles enshrined in the UN Charter. The impact of conflict in some parts of the world has been felt across Africa through disruption, soaring prices of key commodities such as energy and other inputs of trade and production, resulting in increased cost of living. Zambia, like many other developing countries which are predominantly import dependent, has not been spared. It is therefore crucial that we address the root causes and structural drivers of conflict and promote peace building efforts. We call for all warring parties to exercise restraint and flexibility for the sake of millions of civilians who are casualties of war and conflict. This call is particularly relevant for the raging conflict in the Sudan, the Middle East and Ukraine. Mr. President, at regional level, Zambia held the chairmanship of the Southern Africa Development Community, SADC, Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, for the period August 2023 to August 2024, and therefore played a crucial role in the region in that capacity. Overall, the security and political situation in the region remains stable. However, there are still pockets of security challenges in some of our member states, such as the situation in the eastern parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the DRC, and in the Cabo Delgado province in Mozambique, which SADC remains seized with. We implore the international community to support the various peace building efforts in the DRC. We further call for support to the Government of Mozambique in order to ensure that the exit of the SADC mission in Mozambique does not result in reversal of the gains made by the DRC. by that mission. Furthermore, Zambia recognizes the efforts of His Excellency Mr. João Manuel Lourenço, President of the Republic of Angola, as the African Union mediator in the facilitation of the Rwanda process aimed at restoring peace and security in the Eastern DRC, as well as the Nairobi process that equally aims at fostering peace in that country. Mr. President, climate change and extreme weather conditions threaten the very existence and balance of the world as we know it. It is clear that efforts to raise the standard of living for the world’s poor are being adversely affected by the effects of climate change. For instance, this year Zambia experienced the worst drought in recent times. This led the government to declare the drought as a national disaster and emergency to save the lives and safeguard livelihoods. We take this opportunity to thank our bilateral and multilateral partners who graciously responded to the clarion call to support Zambia’s drought response strategy. This and similar scenarios in our region underscore

President: the need to build local resilience and climate adaptation through various interventions, including, among others, climate financing from both private and public sources. In this regard, the need for the full actualization of the loss and damage fund to help developing countries cope with climate-related disasters and extreme weather events cannot be overemphasized. We urge member states to focus their energies on achieving measurable outcomes at the forthcoming COP 29 accordingly. Mr. President, it is becoming increasingly apparent that the SDGs

Mulambo Hamakuni Haimbe – Zambia: may not be met by 2030. Furthermore, Zambia joins other SADCG member states in the call for a review of the use of unilateral economic instruments that curtail developing countries’ access to development finance. Aggressive tax avoidance and tax evasion have a corrosive effect on public trust, financial integrity, the rule of law and sustainable development across the globe. International tax cooperation could significantly reduce illicit financial flows, a scourge that deprives economies, especially those in the developing world, of funding for development. Zambia therefore calls for the urgent conclusion of negotiations on the proposed UN Framework Convention on International Tax Cooperation. This will enable developing countries to enhance their domestic resource mobilization. As co-facilitator of the negotiations of the outcome document for the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development in the coming months, we look forward to actively engaging with member states in the reform of the international financial architecture. Mr. President, science and technology are critical to achieving the SDGs. Developing countries’ lack of access to technology has hindered the implementation of sustainable development practices, thus perpetuating the cycle of poverty and inequality. Hence, there is a need to bridge the gap in digital technologies, including artificial intelligence, to promote efficiencies in health, climate, sustainable infrastructure, energy, agriculture and other global development priorities. In this regard, we call for enhanced international cooperation to support developing countries to integrate technology through capacity building, technology transfer on mutually agreed terms, information exchange and investment in research and development. Alongside the Pact for the Future, Member States adopted a Global Digital Compact. Zambia was honored to partner with Sweden in leading negotiations of this historical document. Mr. President, as part of its efforts to accelerate the attainment of the SDGs by 2030, Zambia has been implementing policies and programs aimed at creating a strong and resilient health system, reducing inequalities, eradicating poverty and empowering women and girls. This is also consistent with the implementation of the International Conference on Population and Development Program of Action. Zambia welcomes the Declaration on Future Generations, which seeks to secure the well-being of future generations, in particular their participation in decision-making. To reap the demographic dividend, Zambia continues to call for significant investments in the growing youth population, currently standing at 82 percent below the age of 35. Increased investments are needed in education, health and empowerment of young people, so that they can meaningfully contribute to the achievement of the SDGs. Mr. President, child and early forced marriage is a harmful practice that disproportionately affects girls, hindering their education, health and overall well-being. In this regard, Zambia continues to make strides in the campaign to end child marriage. Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation However, more needs to be done. We call on all partners to join efforts and raise our voices to protect our children to end this harmful practice by 2030. Mr President, In the face of the present geopolitical realities and calls to strengthen multilateralism, the need to reform the UN Security Council cannot be overemphasized. Reforms are necessary to make the Security Council better equipped and strengthened in its capacity to discharge its responsibilities of monitoring and safeguarding international peace and security. The representation of African states in the permanent category would correct this historical injustice that has marginalized Africa’s voice and would provide a vital perspective to the Council. Time has come for the Security Council to be representative, democratic, and accountable to all member states, irrespective of status. This is essential for its integrity as the custodian of international peace. Given that Africa constitutes the second largest block of the UN membership, proposals to reform the Security Council should heed Africa’s core as espoused in the Common Africa position as enshrined in the Ezulwini Consensus. and the CETA declaration. In this regard, we are pleased to note that the African Union Committee of 10, the C10, and the five permanent members, the P5, of the United Nations Security Council held a meeting during this session of the United Nations General Assembly. Such interactions should be encouraged in order to narrow the gap on the Security Council reforms. Finally, Mr. President, I wish to reaffirm that Zambia remains committed to strengthened multilateralism as a means of addressing the numerous global challenges affecting our people, including ending poverty and creating wealth in a sustainable manner. To this end, Mr. President, we should not remain indecisive and indifferent to this serious issue, nor should we forgo this opportunity to make the world a better place for all humanity. In conclusion, I would like to reiterate the need for us to seriously consider the call for massive investment and scaled-up action if we are to make meaningful progress in achieving the SDGs, including implementation of the Pact for the Future. I thank you, Mr. President.

President: I thank the Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Zambia. I now give the floor to His Excellency Maxim Ryzhenkov, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Belarus.

Maxim Ryzhenkov – Belarus: Mr President, distinguished delegates, colleagues, for 79 years now, our countries have met in this chamber in order to speak their own truth, to exchange best practices and to support important initiatives. And we do this with the motto of making the world a better place. But is the world becoming a better place? Is it more predictable, safer? Is it more stable? There are some veterans in the room who probably remember the time when the UN did have a special role to play. Us less seasoned participants only heard about this or read about this in textbooks. Back then, many years ago, the UN Chamber, the UN Charter was something unshakable, a true guarantor of compromise, forward-looking solutions. We remember the horrors of World War II. No one wants a repetition of that tragedy. That’s why we created a singular instrument for collective dispute settlement and for strengthening the architecture of international cooperation. Indeed, history has shown us that the instrument we came up with is not perfect, just like we’re not perfect. But without a doubt, it’s the best we have and the best we had back then, the best we have now. Not all issues which were decided on equivocally were implemented, and blood continues to spill as a result. For instance, Palestine, what’s unfolded there is a truly, a true humanitarian catastrophe, and tens of thousands of civilians continue to die. But this does not diminish the achievements of the past century. We shattered the colonial system. Many people finally got the right to develop themselves, and new hubs, economic, industrial, and financial, appeared across all continents. Entire regions came out of the shadows of hunger and epidemics. The UN’s peacekeeping activities helped to prevent bloody conflicts or to put an end to them. UN Blue could be seen everywhere where development problems were being resolved. But what’s happening now? Why did we have to establish a group of friends in defense of the UN Charter? Why today are we compelled to defend this document, the Charter, which should be of overriding legal importance for all of us? Why can we not use the entire UN toolkit to put the world in order? The answer is patently obvious. Because a number of countries do not abide by the norms enshrined in the Charter, nor do they want to. Because for them, abiding by international law is equivalent to slowly being extinguished. Of course, when they speak from this rostrum, they do recall the Charter, but not universally so, but only to serve their egotistical interests and claims. And often they claim that others are flouting the Charter. Let me remind you, the UN law is universal. It gives everyone equal rights to develop and the rights to various benefits and technologies and resources on a non-discriminatory basis. Is this approach acceptable to the West? Clearly no. What they’re interested in is maintaining their dominance and the prosperity of their elites. In order to achieve this, they’re exploiting entire nations and the resources of others, holding the rest of the world back. They’re employing that principle, which is as old as the world itself, divide and conquer. It’s one of the roots of many of modernity’s conflicts. All of the UN’s principles are being put at the bottom of the pile, in the interests of the vital interests of the US and their closest satellites. But if a state dares to enact their own policy to protect their people, if they try to throw off the yoke of external control over their resources, the West all of a sudden remembers all of these conventions, these paragraphs, and even the tiniest references at the bottom of them. And what’s most important Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and many people have been living under such conditions for decades, whereas peace-loving Cuba has been in this situation for over half a century. This instrument is one that flagrantly violates entire sections of the UN Charter and international law. It scuppers sustainable development, undermines food and energy security, restricts access to world markets, and violates the right to the freedom of movement. It also has a boomerang effect on the countries who impose these measures. We’re seeing in neighbouring EU countries, people complain about ever-higher prices on food prices, energy prices, as well as concomitant social upheavals. What do we have as a result? From the point of view of the collective West, and here I have some information taken from US sources, 72% of the world’s people live in what the West calls autocracies. Twenty years ago, this figure stood at 46%, again, according to their data. So has the West managed to force humanity to live according to their templates? Clearly no. We see a clear trend. Free countries in the global South who do not accept sanctions will see others meddle in their domestic affairs and so-called democratisation will be foisted upon them. They want to develop on the basis of their own social traditions, their vision of the world, to protect their people. And today we have a global majority within which new ideas and new projects are springing up. They’re strictly peaceful. They’re in the interests of the entire global community, and they do not seek to restrict anyone’s interests. The Chinese initiative, the Belt and Road Initiative put forward by Xi Jinping, the initiative on global security and globalization, the Russian and Belarusian initiative of multi-polarity and diversity in the 21st century, the Indian Voice of the Global South initiative, and many others. All of these projects are geared toward establishing an entire, a unified international community in which the fate of all of the people of our planet is united, not just the fate of the golden billion. The planet united and all of its diversity, it enriches all of us. This is the way forward. This is the way chosen for the president of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, for our people. It’s underpinned by respect, trust, sincerity, reliance and responsibility. And in fact, when a new package of illegal sanctions was imposed on Belarus, we responded with openness and transparency, unilaterally waiving visas for EU citizens. Thousands of Europeans have used this right coming to Belarus, and they were not disappointed. If we place more trust in the UN, most peace-loving initiatives would be born and would grow within the organization, not outside it. At the same time, the world would not be threatened by fragmentation into political and economic blocks. A few words about the conflict of potential of our planet. It might be somewhat unusual what I’m about to say. We’re all used to third-rate series and YouTube videos. We’re being taught to receive information in this simplistic way, forcing us to forget the truths which many humanists and great authors penned in the past. Therefore, I’d like to cite three Western authors. and I’d like to draw parallels with what’s going on right now. A quote from Kings and Cabbages, O Henry, The little opera-booth nations play at government and intrigue until someday a big silent gunboat glides into the offing and warns them not to. An American ship. Next example, Graham Greene, The Quiet American, written not that long ago. A CIA undercover operative working as a staffer at the U.S. Embassy in Vietnam sought to enact terrorist acts so as to achieve a coup d’etat in that state, in Vietnam, and install a government loyal to the U.S. And last but not least, Kurt Vonnegut. Roughly 50 years ago he wrote this, A Man Without a Country. He did not understand why the U.S. and the U.K. at the very end of World War II, when everything was already over, why they had to carpet bomb Dresden, raising it to the ground and burying in the rubble, under the rubble, roughly, in fact, several hundred thousand people, children, women, and the elderly. We know why they did this, to make them fear the future. And this is very similar to what we’re seeing these days. Meddling provocations, however, we now see real American warships, and not just one but many. This is why we need a strong and impartial universal international organization which can guarantee that a balance is struck in our world in which no one country or group of countries can do as it fits, imposing its will on the U.N. to stoke its egotism at the expense of the global majority. A strong organization wouldn’t allow transnational capital to benefit the collective West. It wouldn’t allow for Ukraine to fight to the last Ukrainian. And if everyone, like Belarus today, understood what’s actually happening in the conflict zone, what risks we’re running, when, well then we’d want to put an end to this bloody confrontation between these two brotherly nations. Long ago, Ukraine and Russia would be sitting around the negotiating table, not out on the battlefield. There are many timely initiatives, such as the Brazil-China peace plan, and yet without Russia’s participation, they won’t be successful. A new security architecture in our region is also impossible without Belarus’s participation. NATO is bolstering military capabilities at our borders, many times over. Tens of thousands of soldiers, thousands of units of military equipment, and we’re seriously disquieted by the fact that these games might get out of control, resulting in the conflict spreading throughout the region and throughout the world, which would have catastrophic repercussions for us all. Europe has its share of nuclear weapons. Thus, escalating these tensions is a path straight to World War Three. Ten years ago, in Minsk, fruitful agreements were penned so as to resolve the conflict in Ukraine. Today, we continue to propose our efforts as we understand Russians and Ukrainians best of all, and we’re doing everything we can to achieve peace in long-suffering Ukraine. We’re very much interested in this, more than anyone. And just for your general edification, since the start of the conflict, over 250,000 Ukrainians crossed the border into Belarus. Of the last few months, 12,000 to 15,000 a year have been entering Belarus. These are official figures. So we’re seeing people running away from prosperous Europe. And in fact, these figures are much greater than the number of refugees who have gone to the EU across our border. Shameless efforts are being made to push migrants into Belarus. This is a dirty page in the book of European democracy on our border with the EU. soldiers from certain EU countries are beating and torturing refugees from Asia, Africa and the Middle East with impunities. Dozens have died. This has been reported by independent sources. Some have been buried without identification. In fact, the Council of Europe recently condemned such actions and criticized a new Polish law which broadens the legal scope for Polish soldiers using firearms against refugees. This is what so-called enlightened Europe is doing to welcome those fleeing the horrors which resulted from the policies of intervention of the collective West, intervention in the sovereign affairs of other countries. These actions are flagrant violation of the 1951 Convention on the Status of Refugees. All of the facts have been recorded and will be sent to the relevant bodies for investigation, although these bodies should have started investigating them of their own accord long ago. That’s why we’re concerned. We’re concerned by how we see the path towards strengthening the UN. First, the UN should throw off the diktat of a number of states, states who are doing as they see fit, feeling themselves to be exceptional. The UN is all of us. Secretariat staff should remember that when they become secretariat staff, they should serve the interests of the organization as a whole, not of their fellow nationals. They should be objective, impartial and independent. Second, the organization should support regional processes, because regionalism is a key reality in today’s times. We constantly see regional integration bodies going from strength to strength, and this across the world. We’re seeing the global majority, regional projects, rising BRICS, SCO, CIS, the Eurasian Economic Union, the African Union, ASEAN, many others. I talked about this earlier. The UN must align itself with these processes, helping them to interlock and develop. Third, last year, Western countries waged a dirty campaign to prevent Belarus being elected to serve on on the Security Council. That’s what we saw, that they fear our honest voice being represented on the Security Council. However, we’ll continue speaking openly and directly about a whole host of global issues. We’ll continue insisting that Security Council reform is enacted, that this reform is fair, because the voice of the Global South on the Security Council, it’s our voice. This is why we believe what’s necessary is Security Council reform by including developing countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America. These countries are at the heart of global problems. They know better than anyone else how to resolve wars and conflicts in the developing world. Their weight in global affairs is much greater than it was 80 years ago as well. Fourth, the UN should adopt a principled stance regarding the unacceptability of unilateral measures. We can expect, we should expect the organisation to take serious and objective measures to assess the negative impact of sanctions on sustainable development. What’s more is the UN’s work to counter illicit sanctions should be systematic. A principled objective assessment of all instances of their use needs to be given. Fifth, we need to use the UN as a platform for effectively resolving growing transboundary threads. Belarus has always been in favour of a collective approach to these global problems, such as migration, pandemics, natural disasters, human trafficking, the list goes on. Outside this chamber, there is a counter which shows how much is being spent on arms in real time, trillions of dollars. And that’s only the money that the UN knows about. We think the golden billion countries should use these trillions of dollars not to fuel yet more wars and conflicts, but to resolve vital problems. Many global problems would be resolved in a flash. The UN would get the resources to help development, which it currently lacks. It keeps saying that President, this year is a special year for the Republic of Belarus. Recently we marked the 80th anniversary of our liberation from the Nazis. This marks the start of a new chapter in our history. We stand proud that we created a people-centred state where people are at the core of our national policies. Next year we’ll mark the 80th anniversary of the United Nations. We’ll do this together. How will the world approach this milestone? Will it be entangled in disagreements and conflicts? This is why the President of the Republic of Belarus, Mr Lukashenko, put forward the initiative of a global dialogue on security, and it very much dovetails with the proposals put forward by many delegates from this rostrum today. We will continue knocking on the doors of peace and constructive action, the doors of security and development. Starting last year, we began holding an international conference on Eurasian security in Minsk, the goal being to consolidate political, economic and other processes in greater Eurasia for the benefit of our states and people. This year it will be held on the 31st of October. We invite all of you to attend. We must breathe the spirit of San Francisco into the UN’s lungs. After all, that is the spirit that gave life to our organisation. We stand convinced that this is absolutely necessary right now. It’s necessary to secure the interests of all people on our planet. I thank you for your kind attention.

President: Thank you, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus. I now give the floor to Her Excellency Thórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörd, Guildford Auteur, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Iceland.

Thórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörd – Iceland: Mr. President, Excellencies, First, I would like to once again thank all those whose daily work is dedicated to the United Nations and its ideals. All across the globe, people work in the name of the United Nations, wearing the colors and emblems of the UN, giving their effort to make our world a better place, often doing work that only the UN is capable of doing. And in these headquarters and other UN offices, hundreds of people show up every day to ensure that the nations of the world can count on this organization to be the forum where the biggest challenges facing humanity can be discussed, debated, and hopefully set on a path of resolution. Thank you. Mr. President, next year will mark the 80th anniversary of the United Nations. The UN emerged out of calamity, holding the promise of a brighter future, a promise of peaceful settlements of disputes, universal human rights, and the opportunity for all to enjoy peace and prosperity. Despite setbacks, wrong turns, and many bad decisions, these past 80 years have indeed been the most peaceful and prosperous that humankind has experienced. For my own nation, 1944 also marked a new beginning, with Iceland becoming a republic. Iceland’s status as an independent nation has been defended not primarily by weapons or alliances, but by a robust system of international law, mutually beneficial cooperation, and strong and universally respected international institutions. For us, it is paramount to safeguard this multilateral system. When the US was founded, it was a time of change and a time that demanded decisions. It was also, it seems to me, a time of creativity in the face of destruction, a time of determination despite despair, a time for hope to triumph over horror. By founding the United Nations, the leaders of the world’s nations set a path guided by a shared vision for a peaceful and prosperous world, a faith in fundamental human rights and the equality of nations, large and small. But as Secretary General Antonio Guterres recently stated when speaking about the Summit for the Future, we cannot build a future fit for our grandchildren with systems built for our grandparents, or in the case of a person my age, a system created for my great-grandparents to build a future fit for my own generation and my children. Mr. President, these are also times of profound change. All around the world, technology is fundamentally changing how people experience reality. And to quote Mr. Guterres again, these technologies are being developed in a moral and legal vacuum, without governance or guardrails. This is no small thing. And it is not something that leaders and politicians can treat as trivial or unconnected to other policy issues. While elected representatives and leaders debate how to address challenges that we face, while we attempt to guide our societies towards a better future, there is an ongoing battle for people’s attention, convictions, and beliefs being weighed through increasingly addictive technologies, often self-guided by overwhelmingly powerful and completely unprincipled algorithms. And this battle will not necessarily be won by those who share a belief in peace and prosperity, or have faith in fundamental human rights. and the equality of nations, large and small. As these staggering changes are taking place in our information environment, the world is facing the greatest number of armed conflicts since World War II. And democratic institutions worldwide are facing a loss of trust. These developments are not happening in a vacuum. In her address accepting the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo in 2021, Philippine journalist Maria Ressa pointed out that without facts, you cannot have truth. And without truth, you cannot have trust. Ressa continued, without trust, we have no shared reality, no democracy, and it becomes impossible to deal with our world’s existential problems. Sadly, to an ever more obvious extent, this prospect of a lack of shared reality has now become fact. Malign actors are actively undermining social order across the globe. They are spreading suspicion and fear, fueling despair and rage. They may use technology, but their target is always the very essence of what we are as human beings. The individual rights that have proven vital for the functioning of democratic societies are being subverted. This is why I said in my address to this body one year ago that human rights are for human beings, and that freedom of expression is not for programmed bots that spread hate, lies, and fear. This is a challenge that we have not yet solved. Freedom cannot exist without accountability. And to paraphrase American historian Timothy Snyder, it must always involve some risk. We know that sacrificing individual rights because of these risks is an unacceptable act. proposition akin to burning down the house to kill a spider. An individual, even one with questionable and dangerous opinions, has the right to be heard. In a true democracy, we accept these risks, associated with freedom of speech, but we must be careful not to let our freedom be hijacked by those who evade accountability and take no risk. The current danger does not come from free individuals who advocate for their own misguided, crazy or evil ideas, but vast networks of both paid and unpaid agents, made-up trolls hiding in the shadows, entirely unaccountable for their poisonous contribution to public discourse. This sort of speech is no more a manifestation of the freedom of expression than a forced gathering to salute a dictator is an example of freedom of assembly. Mr. President, these are issues that exemplify the urgent need for a strong multilateral system. However, this system cannot be left to provide answers to how to maintain itself. The real power lies with national governments and leaders across the world. All of us who are entrusted with positions of authority and influence in our own societies must shoulder our responsibility to maintain and strengthen a multilateral system based on the UN Charter. For this, we need more interaction, more humanity, and much more unscripted interactions at the highest level. Mr. President, Russia’s full-scale aggression against Ukraine, southern civil war, and the devastating conflicts in the Middle East all rage on while other longer-running conflicts grow protected. One thing that all have in common is that innocent civilians bear the highest cost. By invading Ukraine and violently seizing its territory, the Russian Federation has committed a flagrant breach of the UN Charter and derogated from its primary obligations as a permanent member of the Security Council to uphold international peace and security. The Russian Federation’s repeated threats of using nuclear weapons are reckless and dangerous. In the case of the Russian Federation’s actions, there should be no doubt who is in the right and who is in the wrong. It is Mr. Putin who has concocted a false narrative around his invasion of Ukraine’s territory. It is he who started this senseless war, and it is in the Kremlin’s power to end it at any time by withdrawing its forces from all the territory that is internationally recognized as belonging to Ukraine. The Russian Federation’s disdain for the principles of the UN Charter is on full display in Ukraine, but it is also pervasive in many other parts of the world with ongoing insidious efforts to subvert democratic norms and incite violence and chaos. Mr. President, Israel’s right to exist is beyond debate. Iceland condemned in the strongest terms the horrific attack on Israel on October 7. We continue to call for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages. But no country is above the law. And the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination is also beyond debate. In the current conflict, the world has witnessed limitations of humanitarian aid, water, and power to Gaza. This is simply unacceptable. There have been reports of civilian infrastructure and hospitals being used for purposes that can deprive them of their protection under international Humanitarian Law. This is also unacceptable. And we have witnessed unacceptable losses of civilian lives, children, aid and health care workers, journalists and UN staff. And journalists are being denied access to the war zone and silenced. Iceland condemns all violation of international law, including international humanitarian law. International law provides states with rights and obligations. Both are sacred. Again, we call on all parties to agree to an immediate ceasefire and avoid any action that could lead to further escalation. A clear political path to peace must follow a ceasefire, entailing the establishment of two states living side by side in peace and security. With that aim, and as confirmed by the International Court of Justice, Israel must immediately cease all new settlements activities and bring its unlawful presence to an end. Our worst fears of an escalation have now been realized with the bloodiest days that Lebanon has seen in years. And still, we must brace ourselves for even worse, with the conflict spiraling further out of control. The parties have been warned of the cost and the danger of this development. It must stop. For the sake of humanity. Mr President, in ten days, the General Assembly will convene to elect 18 new members to the United Nations Human Rights Council for the term 25 to 27. Iceland is a candidate in these elections, hoping to serve for a second time on this important body. We submitted our candidature out of a deep conviction that respect for human rights and and the rule of law, justice and fairness are key to a prosperous society. Mr. President, in his opening address to this Assembly on Tuesday, Secretary General Guterres pointed out that less than 10% of all speakers this week would be female. In our estimate, I am one of only 19 women speaking from this podium during the opening session. I thought we had come further than this. But of course, I am truly one of the lucky ones. Mr. President, it is beyond my comprehension that there exist in this world, in these enlightening times, societies of human beings where little girls and women are not allowed to go to school. But there exist in this world of ours a society where little girls are not allowed to laugh in public, and women are not allowed to take part in conversations outside the confines of their homes. A teenage girl in Afghanistan who sings a happy song in public runs the risk of being arrested, of being humiliated, of being ostracized, of being beaten, or even worse. Mr. President, how has the world come to this? And this is why Iceland supports the cross-regional action announced this week here in New York to hold the Taliban to account for their grave violations of SITO. Mr. President, those whose sexual orientation differs from the common norm are suffering backlash too. While we have thankfully seen a significant shift towards decriminalization of consensual same-sex relations, we are also witnessing laws adopted to establish or expand criminal sanctions contrary to the basic universal norms that all states have agreed. I do not understand why people should not be allowed the freedom to love and be loved for who they are. Increased individual freedom and happiness should never worry politicians or governments that have real problems to solve. I am proud to confirm that if elected to the Human Rights Council, Iceland will include LGBTI plus rights among a list of priorities during our term on the Council. Mr. President, Iceland strongly emphasizes global actions against climate change, both mitigation and adaptation. Climate change is not a distant threat. It is a reality already impacting the lives and livelihoods of millions of people. Climate change threatens the health of the ocean, which Iceland is highly dependent on. A healthy ocean and a healthy planet are matters of economic prosperity and well-being. One of the main meetings I attended this week was a high-level meeting on sea level rise, which strongly indicates that our ocean’s environment is destabilizing. This is yet another challenge we must address, and we believe that only through more determined climate change mitigation can we limit the effects of sea level rise. Taking on this challenge, as well as ensuring that respect is shown for rules and regulations that we have agreed to abide by concerning our behavior at sea, is of great importance to a nation like Iceland that relies heavily on the ocean around us. The United Nations has proven record in this arena, primarily with the Convention for the Law of the Sea. a particularly important agreement in our view, and all maritime nations. Therefore, it is of great concern that the law of the sea is being challenged and undermined, including in the South China Sea. We call on all Member States to honour their commitments and act in accordance with the law of the sea. Mr. President, we must work together for a more stable and prosperous world, and Iceland is set on contributing to more sustainable development. Our recently adopted policy for international development cooperation supports this, with the overarching goals of poverty eradication, respect for human rights, and improved living standards. It foresees a significant increase in official development assistance. Given our experience, we will continue our firm focus on gender equality, women’s empowerment, sexual and reproductive health and rights, and eradicating gender-based violence. Crucially, we will increase our efforts to strengthen civil rights and improve social and legal protection of LGBTQI plus persons. It falls on all of us to support the vital work of the United Nations and other partners in addressing the dire status of humanitarian affairs. The number of refugees and internally displaced persons has never been higher as increasing levels of fragility know geographical boundaries. Mr. President, we are meeting at a time when the multilateral system is under the greatest pressure it has faced since the establishment of the United Nations. Meanwhile, it is abundantly clear that without multilateralism, without international cooperation, and without respect for international law, the downward spiral of crisis and conflict and International Law, or we succumb to a world of might makes right, which surely will only lead us to disaster. So the choice is clear. We must work together to protect and promote the fundamental principles and values underpinning the vision of the UN’s founders and on which this great organization is built. We must ensure that the UN system, including the Security Council, keeps up with the times and reforms and adapts to changing realities. Taking this step will require courage and strong political will. Mr. President, over and beyond, we must recognize that the world needs the United Nations more than ever before, and we cannot and must not fail to make our organization the best possible version of itself. The multilateral system deserves to be defended in the same spirit of creativity, under the same promise of hope, and with the same steadfast determination that guided the hands of those who brought this organization into existence almost 80 years ago. I thank you.

President: I now give the floor to His Excellency. Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi, Foreign Minister of Oman.

Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi – Oman: His Excellency Philemon Yang, President of the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, it’s a pleasure to extend to you and your friendly country, the Republic of Cameroon, our sincere congratulations on your election as President of the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly. We also express our deep appreciation for the efforts made by your predecessor from the friendly nation of Trinidad and Tobago during his tenure. We take this opportunity to also express our deep appreciation to His Excellency Antonio Gutierrez, Secretary General of the United Nations, for his tireless efforts in leading the United Nations and his unwavering pursuit of upholding and implementing international law and the pursuit of justice and peace, reflecting the United Nations vision of a world where security, stability, peace and prosperity prevail for all. The Sultanate of Oman reaffirms its full support for your endeavors and those of the United Nations in promoting international peace and security. We express our strong commitment to the UN Charter, recognizing the importance of the United Nations in embodying the people’s hopes and aspirations for development and a dignified and prosperous life. Mr. President, Oman’s foreign policy is founded on a steadfast vision that embraces dialogue and tolerance as a means to address all challenges and issues. This vision aims to achieve peace and build relations based on mutual respect, positive cooperation and harmony among nations. The leadership, government and people of the Sultanate of Oman believe in the legitimate and peaceful means to resolve conflicts. Accordingly, Oman calls for an immediate ceasefire and cessation of hostilities in the Gaza Strip, Lebanon and the Red Sea region. We emphasize the need to address the root causes of these conflicts by ending the illegal Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories. and achieving justice for the Palestinian people based on a two-state solution and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital along the 1967 borders. Oman underlines the need to grant Palestine full membership in the United Nations and the genocidal policies carried out by the Israeli occupation forces against the Palestinian people and alleviate their humanitarian suffering. We believe in the importance of stepping up efforts to de-escalate tension and end bloodshed by adhering to reasonable dialogue, the rules of international law, the UN Charter and international legitimacy resolutions, respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states, and non-interference in their internal affairs ensures that all nations and peoples can live in peace, security, and dignity. Mr. President, Oman continues to advance its social protection programs through a comprehensive system that supports various segments of society, including women, children, the elderly, and people with disabilities, in addition to social insurance and job security programs. This reflects the progress we have made in sustainable development and our ongoing efforts to develop these programs in line with the global best practices while continuing to provide educational, health and social care for all members of society. Our nation remains committed to supporting and empowering youth, whom we consider the cornerstone of the future and the key to sustainable development. We believe that young people are the driving force behind innovation, growth and progress. We are dedicated to creating opportunities that enable them to apply their skills and contribute effectively to building a brighter future. Mr. President, Oman underscores the importance of promoting respect and peaceful coexistence among peoples. We call for fighting all forms of discrimination, racism, hatred and violence. Oman also exerts significant efforts in addressing climate change challenges, reducing emissions and scaling up investment in renewable energy projects. Our net zero carbon strategy for 2050 is driven by clean energy projects, green hydrogen initiatives and nature-based solutions. This commitment stems from our belief in the importance of protecting the environment and preserving natural resources for future generations while balancing economic development and environmental sustainability. Mr. President, Oman’s development efforts are in line with our national vision Oman Vision 2040, which serves as the foundation for achieving economic and social development goals and addressing future challenges. In this context, Oman has submitted a second voluntary national report reflecting its deep commitment to the global principles and objectives of sustainable development, highlighting the progress made in various developmental areas. In this regard, we welcome the adoption of the Pact for the Future this year. We commend the collective international efforts that led to this achievement, which outlines a road map for the world to enhance international cooperation and effectively address global challenges. Therefore, we urge all Member States to commit to implementing this pact, its vision and goals through fruitful cooperation and joint efforts. and Knowledge Exchange as a path towards achieving a better, safer, and more prosperous future for generations to come. Thank you for your attention. We sincerely hope that this session will be successful and fruitful. Peace, mercy, and blessings be upon you.

Lars Løkke Rasmussen – Denmark: Mr. President, Mr. Secretary General, Distinguished Delegates, Colleagues and Friends, The High-Level Week is a welcome reminder that the vast majority of nations, large and small, do seek global unity. That the division we talk so much about is only sought by the few, and this gives me great hope. Yet, as we open the 79th General Assembly, we cannot close our eyes for the fact that conflicts and war are raging across the world. Mr. President, It is utterly unacceptable that a permanent member of the Security Council continues to violate the most basic principles of the UN Charter. Wars of aggression and altering borders is, and should remain, a thing of the past. an imperial practice that has absolutely no place in the 21st century. Denmark will persist to stand by Ukraine, and we will do it as long as it takes, and we will support a just and lasting peace. The Summit on Peace that was held in Switzerland in June clearly showed that there is strong global support for peace based on the UN Charter. Therefore, we must all use our influence to further the cause of peace. But it must be a peace that does not reward the aggressor for his brute use of force. Otherwise, we set a very, very bad precedent. Otherwise, we undermine the very principle on which the UN was founded. Mr. President, almost a year has passed since Hamas’s horrendous attack on Israel the 7th of October. The cruelty and barbarity we witnessed that day was shocking, and I think none of us are able to really comprehend the shock and trauma this day has caused upon Israel, and which will forever symbolize the darkest chapter of the country’s history. The terrorism of Hamas sparked a downward spiral of human suffering and regional instability. The humanitarian situation in Gaza is catastrophic, and the human suffering unbearable. Hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced all over the region, and there is a very, very real risk of an all-out regional war. which would affect not only the people in the region, but all of us. This must end. And this must end now. A ceasefire is urgently needed. All parties should exercise restraint and contribute to de-escalation. And then we should start thinking about tomorrow, thinking about the future. Not tomorrow. Not next week. But right now. The current horrible situation may also contain the seeds of a new beginning. A new beginning leading to a just and lasting peace for all. Unleashing the potentials of the whole region. Allowing everybody to see a future for themselves and their children. Breaking with the vicious circle of violence that has lasted much too long. Such a more promising future can only be based on the two-state solution. And we all need to work together to create the conditions for that two-state solution to materialize. By building the capacity of the Palestinian Authority to take on the role of legitimate and effective government in the future Palestinian state. By stabilizing the West Bank. And by already now start preparing for early recovery and reconstruction of Gaza. I call on all parties to make such a development possible. To the benefit of the people of Israel. To the benefit of the people in Palestine. and thereby to the benefit of the whole region and the world at large. Mr. President, we often talk about Ukraine and Gaza in these halls. But sadly, people are dying and people are suffering from conflicts in many other countries. I am deeply concerned with the continued fighting in Sudan and the humanitarian consequences for the civilian population. More than 10 million people have been displaced. In Sudan, there is an urgent need for political dialogue and for putting a halt to the conflict. As there is in Yemen, in Haiti, Syria, Afghanistan, Myanmar, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the list tragically goes on and goes on. And in the wake of our collective inability to stop the wars, the respect for international law is slowly undermined. Mr. President, as a small country, Denmark is conscious that our safety and security depend on international rule of law. The respect for basic UN principles – sovereign equality, territorial integrity, and political independence – for all states is fundamental to international peace and security. And as we uphold these principles, the respect for human rights and international humanitarian law must be at the core. Denmark is a strong supporter of the international justice system and the work and independence of the ICC and the ICJ. The ICJ has an important role in the peaceful settlement of disputes and in the peace and security of the world. And the ICC is crucial for the global fight against impunity. Without respect for international law, we are looking at a world where might makes right and brute force rules. And this is very, very dangerous. Mr. President, I began by stating that the vast majority of nations, luckily, seek unity and international cooperation. Earlier this week, in the Pact for the Future, we all reaffirmed our commitment to the UN Charter. And we outlined a clear direction towards a transformed system of global governance. The existing system has enabled nations to lift people out of poverty, millions of people, to eradicate diseases, and to advance better education for children around the globe. This is indeed big, big achievement. But after almost 80 years of service, that system is in need of a serious update. Mr. President, it is urgent to reform the international financial architecture. It needs to be more representative. It needs to be more effective. Denmark supports a stronger representation of African countries in the Bretton Woods institutions. We agree that global financial safety nets must support all countries, including the poorest, when a major crisis hit. This should not be dependent on voluntary donors’ contributions. We agree that all countries, on an equal basis, must be subject to independent, transparent, and accurate credit ratings. And we agree that we need to find sustainable solutions to the high levels of debt faced by many countries. Debt treatment through the Common Framework needs to be accelerated. All creditors and all lenders should act transparently. And concessional financing be made available. The multilateral development banks have mobilized billions already through reforms. But reforms need to deepen to move from billions to trillions. Looking forward towards the Financing for Development Conference in Spain next year, the COP29 and beyond, reform tracks must be made tangible. Solutions should be developed not just for the future, but also for the present. So I wish to take this opportunity to praise Barbados for suggesting concrete actions to help fix some of the more systematic errors of the international financial architecture. We are happy to support the Bridgetown Initiative, and we are proud to work alongside Barbados on greening international financing. We encourage others, including the UN and the international financial institutions, to work together, to be bold, and to achieve the necessary progress on the reform of the international financial architecture. Mr. President, while we reform for a more just financial architecture, we need to sustain levels of development assistance to the poorest countries. So therefore, Commitments made should be honoured. Denmark remains a member of a club that is absolutely far too exclusive. The club of countries that meet the UN targets of providing 0.7% of our gross national income for official development assistance. It is a good club, but we have too few members, so we invite others to join. In April this year, African heads of state met in Nairobi to call for an ambitious replenishment of the World Bank’s International Development Association’s IDA. And we have decided to respond to that call. Denmark intends to increase our contribution to IDA with 40%. For the IDA 21 replenishment, we will contribute with 479 million US dollars. And we encourage all, whether it’s current or new donors, whether they are big and small, to help us reach an ambitious replenishment. Mr. President, in June this year, Denmark was proudly elected to the UN Security Council for the term 25-26. I was personally present and voting here in this Grand Hall that day. And I wish to thank member states for their strong show of confidence and support. It will be an honor to serve on the Council. As we look forward to our membership, I cannot help but wish that the Council were in better shape, more accountable, more effective, more transparent, and above all, more inclusive and representative. The world needs a Security Council that reflects the world of today, that is able to respond to the security concerns of people all around the globe. To Denmark, it is evident that this calls for an expansion of the Council. We wish to see both more permanent and more elected members. And we wish to limit the use of the veto. Both aspects are long overdue. Mr. President, time is of the essence. The year 2030, that once seemed like a distant dot on the horizon, is now only six years away. Yet only 70 percent of the SDGs are on track to be realized. And we are far, far from on track to fulfill our climate targets. The accelerating climate crisis must be met with accelerating climate actions. We need more ambitious reductions. We need more support for climate change adaption. And we need to speed up, and we need to scale up, climate financing. No country can solve these global challenges alone. But no country is too small or too big to contribute. Everyone is needed. As a longstanding and dedicated supporter of global cooperation, I am confident that we will succeed. Denmark, I can assure you, will continue to do our part. We will deliver on promises made and we will push for more ambitious targets and for concrete actions. And we will do that for the present and for the future. Thank you very much.

Maris Sangiampongsa – Thailand: Mr. President, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, allow me to begin by congratulating His Excellency, Mr. Philemon Yang, on his election to preside over the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly. I am here today representing Thailand’s new government, led by Prime Minister Phaethongtharn Chinnawat, to reiterate Thailand’s determination to continue our people-centered, economic-oriented policies to achieve stability and sustainable development for our people. Mr. President, in an increasingly fragmented and complex world, Thailand reaffirms our support for a rule-based, multilateral system, with the United Nations at its core. When the United Nations was founded seven decades ago, we did not envision challenges. from technological disruptions, pandemics and climate crisis. In view of present reality, the United Nations must step up and respond to the evolving challenges of our time to remain relevant. It must be agile and adaptable to new and emerging threats and to ensure that multilateral system is fit for purpose. Global governance and the United Nations must undertake comprehensive reforms, including that of Security Council. With this year’s Summit of the Futures and General Debate, Thailand looks to the United Nations we all need. A United Nations with increased convenient power to sustain and strengthen international peace and security. A United Nations that effectively address global challenges. A United Nations that improve the life, equality and dignities of people around the world. And a United Nations that speaks for the aspirations and interests for all nations, not just the most powerful. Mr. President, Thailand believes that in order for the United Nations to truly sustain and strengthen international peace and security, member states must uphold their disarmament and non-proliferation obligations to rebuild trust and ensure a safe and secure world. Moreover, various flashpoints around the globe continue to challenge the credibility of the United Nations to resolve conflict. We are deeply concerned about increasing armed conflict in Ukraine and different parts of the world, as well as the escalations, violence and worsening humanitarian situations in Gaza. These situations have far-reaching implications on any smallest nation. Therefore, it is incumbent upon us to find peaceful solutions that respect the United Nations Charter and human rights. In our own neighbourhood, Thailand faces challenges from the situation in Myanmar. As Thailand shares the longest land border with Myanmar, we are directly affected by the spillover effect of the situation in the country. We wish to see a peaceful and prosperous Myanmar, which will also bode well for peace and prosperity in the region at large. We believe that the peaceful political solutions in Myanmar must be Myanmar-led, Myanmar-owned. This is why we are engaging with all sides, and we will continue to work closely with ASEAN and international communities to facilitate dialogue among different parties to drive forward the five-point consensus. As part of this effort, we are stepping up humanitarian assistance to the people of Myanmar through various channels, including the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management and relevant United Nations organisations. Thailand will continue to support a peaceful and prosperous Myanmar, not just because of its pragmatic approach. but it is the right way forward. Mr. President, sustainable peace, security and development are closely linked. And to secure a sustainable future, we must accelerate the attainment of the sustainable development goal. On Thailand’s part, we have been sharing our locally driven people-centered development approach known as Sufficiency Economy Philosophy or SEP. To advance implementation of the SDGs, the SEP for SDGs partnership is known widely and as a best practice on SDGs localization. We are concerned with the slow pace in the implementation of SDGs goal at the global level, which is only 17 percent on track. We must ensure that countries have adequate means and resources to achieve the SDGs, especially through financing for development. The Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development next year provides a key opportunity to address the large and growing SDGs financing gap. In this regard, Thailand reiterates the call for a reform of the international financing architecture. In addition to ensure a just and inclusive financing system, we must also strengthen trade, investment and development cooperation, especially through South-South and triangular cooperation. Thailand is committed to forging stronger partnerships, particularly with least-developed countries, landlocked developing countries, and small island developing states. Moreover, Thailand’s aspirations to become a member of BRICS and OECD is driven by our desire to build bridges to promote north-south development cooperation, which is also critical in addressing urgent challenges such as climate change. Indeed, Thailand is among the top 10 countries most affected by climate change. Earlier this month, Thailand and many countries in Southeast Asia were faced with destructive floods caused by Typhoon Yangi. We therefore advocate a balanced and equal emphasis on both mitigations and adaptations for climate action. To achieve concrete results, we must scale up climate finance. Thailand looks forward to the COP29 in Baku this November, where member states will commit to a new collective quantified goal, grounded on the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities. At the same time, we hope to see the full operationalization of the lost and damaged funds soon. Climate disasters have taught us that failure to address this matter will delay the achievement of the SDGs and have a widespread impact on human rights and human security. For these reasons, the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Reduction is crucial. Mr. President, the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was an achievement that met the highest aspirations of the people. And today, amid rising inequalities and vulnerability, Thailand believes that the United Nations must remain the bedrock of fundamental truth enshrined in declarations to protect the life and ensure the equalities and dignity for all. For Thailand, protecting and promoting human rights for all does not only mean guaranteeing basic human dignity, but it also aims at providing opportunity to advance social justice and equality. With our longstanding policies to protect all persons and groups, especially the most vulnerable, we have made concrete progress in ensuring equal rights for all, those living in Thailand, regardless of their origins, belief, sex, or gender. Based on this commitment, Thailand is presenting our candidature to the Human Rights Council for the term 2025 to 2027. At the council, we will serve as bridge builders to connect different perspectives and work with all stakeholders. We will ensure that all countries are equipped and supported in their human rights actions through experienced sharing and technical cooperation. Moreover, we will also continue to push for the creation of a safe and secure society for all. Recently, we adopted the Marriott Equality Act. On health, we will continue to advance the right to health by advocating for universal health coverage and the conclusions of the pandemic treaty, as well as steer forward the foreign policies and global health agenda, which Thailand serves as chair this year. On crime prevention, we will work closely with our partners to combat increasing drug trafficking and transnational crimes in the regions and beyond, especially those enabled by digital technologies and underground economies. Mr. President, Thailand welcomes the successful conclusions of the Summit of the Future. In the next step, we have to work together to make the Pact for the Future high on impact and high on action by translating the Pact into tangible outcomes. And to realize this, I outline Thailand’s vision to achieve this future through what I call the Four Ps, whether it will be building a future where all are protected, where all can prosper, and which is promising for all. It is essential that we give our collective political will. This means harnessing our political will to promote the power of technologies to help accelerate the SDGs and taking steps to close the digital divide among countries through the Global Digital Compact. We support technology cross-flow and transfer. capacity building, as well as digital literacy development to enhance the ability of countries to promote people-centered and planet-centric development. This also means giving importance to the declarations of future generations. For our actions or inactions of today will determine a future for them. Everywhere, youth and future generations deserve to have big dreams and even bigger doors of opportunities. Mr. President, 78 years ago, Thailand looked towards the United Nations as a guarantor of a more peaceful and prosperous future. And at present, Thailand carries onward the same belief of the United Nations that is pioneers of the prevailing peace and drives our peacekeepers and aid workers to serve in remote regions of the globe. And in this very same spirit, Thailand pledges to continue to serve as a bridge builder, fostering dialogue and trust among nations. We may be nations with different and diverse culture and traditions, but we are united by our common humanity and aspirations for the future we want. And for that, we must together build the United Nations we need.

President: Jeyhun Aziz oglu Bayramov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan.

Jeyhun Aziz oglu Bayramov – Azerbaijan: Mr. President, Mr. Secretary-General, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen. I congratulate His Excellency Mr. Philemon Yang on assuming the presidency of the 79th session of the General Assembly, and thank the outgoing President, His Excellency Mr. Dennis Francis, for his outstanding efforts in leading the previous session. I also thank His Excellency Mr. Antonio Guterres, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, for his continuous efforts to achieve the noble objectives of the UN. Ladies and gentlemen, the world continues to grapple with a wide range of challenges that no single country can overcome alone. The worsening global climate crisis, rising inequalities, emerging divides, and heightened tensions affect us all, irrespective of background or location. It is high time to demonstrate that multilateralism works and can deliver, with a unified voice leaving no one behind. The current state of international politics is divisive, with universally accepted fundamental norms and principles of international law being disregarded and misinterpreted. In the face of continued erosion of multilateralism, it is paramount that the United Nations continues to foster international solidarity and cooperation. The UN Charter principles and purposes constitute the foundational normative framework in international relations and must be applied consistently, not selectively. The UN is mandated to ensure that every nation has an equal voice. and it treated on the same footing. In this regard, Azerbaijan advocates for a re-immigrated and reformed multilateral system with the UN at its core, underpinned by strict adherence to and non-selective application of the universally accepted norms and principles of international law. Urgent progress is needed on the UN Security Council reforms, based on the work done and the gains achieved in good faith and a spirit of flexibility, constructiveness, and cooperation. We view the pivotal summit of the future held a week ago as a renewal of our common commitment to international law, the UN Charter, multilateralism, and international cooperation. The Pact for the Future, its negotiated outcome, is a blueprint for building a better, more sustainable and prosperous world for everyone. It is time for our collective commitments to turn into real and decisive action. Ladies and gentlemen, The global climate crisis threatens decades of progress, imperils humanity’s future, and disproportionately affects vulnerable countries. Growing divisions in international relations should not distract us from the imperative to address climate change, the greatest transnational challenge of the century. What has been done so far remains insufficient to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 Celsius. For the sake of the future, the time has come for urgent, concerted, and sustained efforts to give effect to our commitments to a global vision for sustainable development. In November 2024, Azerbaijan will host the 29th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Guided by the call in solidarity for a green world, Azerbaijan will spare no effort to bridge developed and developing countries and foster a collaborative spirit to tackle climate challenges as a common commitment and moral. The confidence placed in us by the international community to host and precise over COP29 this year is a testament and recognition to Azerbaijan’s readiness to lead the climate agenda and contribute to global climate action. As the incoming presidency, Azerbaijan reaffirms its commitment to delivering COP29 in a transparent, impartial, inclusive and party-driven manner. We have presented our vision based on two parallel pillars to enhance ambition and enable action, with climate finance as our top priority this year. These pillars are mutually reinforcing. Progress on each sends a strong signal supporting the other. The primary expectation for the COP29 presidency is an agreement on a fair and ambitious new collective quantified goal on climate finance. This will be the first major climate finance goal after adopting the Paris Agreement, and we have been working tirelessly to support the parties in landing a deal. The COP29 presidency made it clear that agreeing on a fair and ambitious NCQG that is adequate to the urgency and scale of the problem and takes into account the needs and priorities of developing countries is the ultimate test of the parties’ commitment to the Paris Agreement and climate action in the years ahead. We need to continue to work constructively on the NCQG and steer the process to a successful outcome at COP29. COP29 presidency also works with the parties to deliver an outcome on the carbon market this year. Fully functioning carbon markets will be a significant step in implementing nationally determined contributions, cost-effectively and bolstering ambition in mitigation. Moreover, we have put forward 14 initiatives covering topics such as the link between climate action and sustainable development goals, green energy zones and corridors, energy storage. Harmony for Climate Resilience, Agriculture, Green Hydrogen, Metal Reduction from Organic Waste, Green Digital Action, and more. One of the initiatives under COP29 Action Agenda includes the establishment of the Climate Finance Action Fund, an innovative source for climate finance to be voluntarily supported by fossil fuel-producing countries and companies. COP29 will also be an opportunity to set differences aside and contribute to global peace and the climate agenda. Given the intersection of conflicts and the increasingly challenging climate crisis, Azerbaijan introduced a flagship COP29 Truth Initiative embedded in the joint Solon appeal announced a few days ago. More than thousands of NGOs, faith leaders, and prominent personalities, as well as many parties have already joined this appeal. We call on everyone to transcend political divergences, stand in unity, and respect the truth during the months of COP29. Excellencies, Azerbaijan has always been at the forefront of promoting international peace and security, inter-religious and inter-cultural dialogue, contributing to the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, and fostering global solidarity and multilateralism. Azerbaijani chairmanship of the Non-Allied Movement in 2019-2023 has marked by the movement’s enhanced role and increased contributions to a collaborative spirit in international relations. Under visionary leadership of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, His Excellency Mr. Ilham Aliyev, decisive steps were taken to enhance international solidarity and galvanize collective response to global challenges at a time of erosion of multilateralism. Guided by a noble call to leave no one behind, Azerbaijan continues to lend its support to developing countries in need. Since 2020, we have provided humanitarian, economic, and technical assistance. U.S.$330 million to over 140 nations. Ladies and gentlemen, As we pass the halfway mark of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, we observe stagnation in the implementation. With only 17% of SDG targets on track, we need an urgent and accelerated progress. At a national level, we are taking necessary measures to implement the SDGs and setting an example for others to follow. We have fully embraced the SDGs nationally, prioritizing 17 goals, 88 targets and 119 indicators. This has been achieved through a collaborative and inclusive process involving civil society, the business community youth and other key stakeholders. Azerbaijan’s GDP has risen four times in less than two decades’ span. Poverty has gone down from 49% to 5%. The external public debt is expected to be some 7% of the GDP for 2024, one of the lowest globally. Clean environment and green growth became one of five priority areas of our new national development strategy. In line with this, Azerbaijan is looking into ways of further greenhouse gas emission reduction and working on its 1.5 Celsius aligned NDC. A few months ago, we have joined the 2030 Global Methane Pledge. We will also establish green energy zones and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 in the Karabakh and eastern Zangezur regions. Azerbaijan will continue to play an essential role in global energy security, contributing to sustainable development, eradication of poverty and helping millions to transition to clean energy in the region and beyond. Share of renewables of the total installed electrical capacity in Azerbaijan will reach 30% by 2030. This high target is established primarily to improve energy efficiency and introduce innovative solutions in urban environment, transport system and industry. The projected increase in renewable electricity production in the coming years will allow Azerbaijan to become an exporter of green electricity to European countries through the landmark transregional Black Sea submarine cable project. Mr. President, In the face of increasing challenges, coming together in unity and solidarity and fostering dialogue and mutual understanding is an absolute necessity. With a centuries-long tradition of diversity and multiculturalism, Azerbaijan firmly believes in a dialogue and collaborative spirit, mutual understanding and respect among different cultures and religions. Azerbaijan put particular focus to the promotion of a culture of peace and encouraging intercultural and interreligious dialogue worldwide, including through the Baku process and Peace for Culture initiatives. Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, The end of the armed conflict with Armenia and restoration of Azerbaijan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity created a substantially new environment in the South Caucasus. For the first time since decades, stability has been achieved on the ground, de facto peace is established. By putting an end to military occupation, it is Azerbaijan that created conditions for both parties to eventually turn the page of enmity and embark on good neighborly relations. This process was launched by Azerbaijan in the immediate aftermath of its victory in the 44-day Patriotic War. This offer was made despite unhealed wounds of the conflict, still persists today in the form of razing to the ground of dozens of cities and hundreds of towns and villages. the destruction and desecration of each and every piece of historical and cultural heritage and barbaric pillage of natural resources. Azerbaijan demonstrated political wisdom and will by offering Armenia peace on equal terms, fully in line with norms and principles of international law on the basis of mutual recognition of and respect for each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Over the past year, Azerbaijan and Armenia have registered significant progress in the normalization process through direct bilateral negotiations, in particular with respect to drafting a bilateral agreement, the limitation and demarcation of state border, as well as elaboration of a set of confidence-building measures. Azerbaijan will continue to take this process forward, acting with strong sense of responsibility for not only its national security and well-being, but also for ensuring a better future for the entire region. Our commitment and determination remain intact to bring this process to its logical conclusion. For the finalization of the normalization process, Armenia has yet to legally abandon territorial claims against Azerbaijan once and for all through implementing constitutional amendments. Armenia’s negligence with respect to implementation of constitutional amendments, combined with its dramatic increase in military budget, acquisition of a large amount of offensive weaponry from both traditional and new suppliers, and attempts to maintain obsolete conflict-driven narratives and structures derails the normalization process. Establishment of peace and good neighborly relations cannot be sustainable and irreversible if recognition of sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan remains in legal limbo, is contingent on domestic legal or political scenarios. Partial peace is not an option after so much pain and sufferings. inflicting by irredentism and territorial claims against neighbors. At this critical moment, Azerbaijan calls for expeditious steps to address remaining impediments for finalization of the normalization process with full sense of responsibility. Along with Armenia’s responsibility to honor its international obligations and previously undertaking commitments, it is also incumbent on the entire international community to encourage the sites for the establishment of genuine, sustainable, and irreversible peace. Such a peace should outweigh any dividend that might be expected by manipulating one side against another or building dividing lines between them. Practices that brought devastations in other parts of the globe must be ceased to be projected to the South Caucasus by feeding revanchism. Excellencies, ensuring justice with respect to serious war crimes and crimes against humanity is of vital importance in terms of healing the wounds of the past conflict. While accountability and redress serve to ensure the rights and interests of the victims, they are also key prerequisites on the path to genuine post-conflict normalization and reconciliation. In this regard, it is of paramount importance to shed light to the fate of about 4,000 Azerbaijanis who went missing due to the conflict. Resolving this issue is essential not only in terms of accountability and the rights of the victims and their families, but also for post-conflict reconciliation and normalization. Around 300,000 Azerbaijanis expelled from Armenia continue to be deprived of their ancestral homeland in blatant violation of international law. Despite repeated calls by the Western Azerbaijani community to launch a dialogue and ensure a safe and dignified return to the homeland, the government of Armenia denies them exercising their fundamental right of return. Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the United States of America. I am pleased to announce that we are officially signing an agreement with the United States to temporarily and eventually exercise their violated right to safe and dignified return to their homes. Thanks to the tireless efforts taken by the government, life now returns to the territories that have witnessed unprecedented destruction during military occupation. Regretfully, the massive contamination of territories of Azerbaijan with landmines and other explosive devices remains a significant obstacle to the smooth progress of rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts. Since the end of the conflict in 2020, 377 individuals, among them civilians, have fallen victim to landmines. With this in mind, Azerbaijan has introduced a national goal, SDG 18, focusing on mine action. Given the scale of the problem, there is an urgent need for increased international support to strengthen Azerbaijan’s humanitarian mine action capacity. Taking this opportunity, I thank all countries and other stakeholders who have generously contributed to humanitarian demining in Azerbaijan and reiterate our call for increased international support and solidarity. Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen, in conclusion, I wish to reaffirm Azerbaijan’s commitment to further contribute to international peace and security through promoting respect for international law and investing in international solidarity and cooperation. We remain to be a strong proponent of combined efforts to overcome challenges and pave the way for a brighter future for ourselves. and the generations to come. I thank you.

Amery Browne – Trinidad and Tobago: To first extend to you congratulations on behalf of the government and people of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago on your election as President of this session of the United Nations General Assembly. We are confident that you will be equal to the task, and I assure you of Trinidad and Tobago’s full support and cooperation. Allow me to also extend, on behalf of the proud people and government of Trinidad and Tobago, our sincerest appreciation to your predecessor and our fellow countryman, His Excellency Dennis Francis, for his astute and exemplary leadership as President of the 78th session. which was underpinned by the principles of peace, prosperity, progress and sustainability. Mr President, I applaud you on your chosen theme for this 79th session, as our global community finds itself at an inflection point which will determine the fate of future generations. Our planet rarely should have been in better shape in the year 2024. But instead, we are deeply disturbed and dismayed by fresh divisions, the flouting of international law, gross violations of human rights and the flourishing of illegal settlements and oppression, which threaten peace and security around the world. Further, the alarm bells on the climate crisis have long been sounded, and yet we race toward a point of no return. The dream of ending persistent inequality remains a challenge to the global community, and hard-earned progress on gender equality appears to have stagnated in some parts of the world. It is for these reasons, Mr President, that Trinidad and Tobago welcomed the convening of the Summit of the Future and joined with the international community in the adoption of the Pact for the Future. The adoption of this pact represents a renewal of our commitment as Member States to multilateralism. as the best way forward. Mr. President, since the dawn of civilization, humankind has endeavored to become an improved version of itself in the pursuit of a better quality of life, human rights, equality, dignity, and prosperity. Our ingenuity as human beings has paved the way for some of the world’s greatest inventions and advancements. Regrettably, in our quest to find the best version of ourselves, we have discovered some of the worst aspects of humanity. Our planet and its people have been subjected to misuse and abuse, the effects of which have placed the majority of the global population facing some version of a doomsday scenario. Now more than ever, we must summon a spirit of cooperation and collectively put our shoulders to the wheel for the benefit of all humanity. We used to say that our future depends on it, but now we have to say that our existence depends on it. It is very well established and accepted that there can be no sustainable development without peace. If we fail to find credible solutions to the global challenges, humanitarian crises, and conflicts around the world, the international community would have squandered its responsibility and would have perpetuated a vicious downward cycle of repression. One example is the Russia-Ukraine war, which is still ongoing almost three years after Russia’s initial invasion, which we condemned, with profound implications to the world order. Mr. President, Trinidad and Tobago is deeply troubled by the escalation of conflict and tensions in the Middle East. We remain distressed by the ongoing war on Gaza and by the chilling flashpoints of expansion that are being deployed on a daily basis. Only someone absolutely bereft of humanity would think that it is lawful and just and even godly to respond to atrocities committed on one awful day of terror by in turn committing atrocities after atrocities. How else are we to describe the killing of over 200 UN staff members, the highest death toll in United Nations history, and the deaths of tens of thousands of civilians, including women and children? And this is not being done in secret. The entire world is watching, and the global south in particular is appalled. The question remains, If innocent civilians, including women, children and United Nations staff, were being killed at this record rate in the developed world, how would the world’s big powers have reacted? Not likely with euphemisms and platitudes. The double standards and continued resourcing of these ongoing violations of international law send a chilling message to the global south. And that message is this. There are some powerful people in this world who are of the view that a Palestinian child is less worthy of defence, protection, food, water and life than another child. I am not of that view. The people of my country are not of that view. Karakum is not of that view. And decent people all over the world, including in Israel, are not of that view. International law is not a tool of mere convenience to be muted for friends and trumpeted against enemies. Mr President, international law is not a tool of mere convenience to be muted for our friends and trumpeted against our enemies. In this regard, Trinidad and Tobago has joined the call for an immediate, full and complete ceasefire, and for the unconditional release of every single hostage. The truth is, there is no military solution to this conflict, as peace will only be achieved through negotiations in good faith and constructive dialogue among all concerned parties. Trinidad and Tobago has consistently expressed our support for a two-state solution, where Israelis can live without the daily threat of terror, and Palestinians can live without the daily weight of occupation, coexisting side by side as responsible members of the international community. We firmly believe that this is the only credible pathway to end this cycle of violence, culminating in the establishment of a sovereign and peaceful State of Palestine, alongside a sovereign and peaceful State of Israel within secure borders. Rooted in this belief, Trinidad and Tobago took the decision to recognize the State of Palestine in our contribution to the two-state solution, and in support of the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people for self-determination. I can report that just six days ago, Trinidad and Tobago and the State of Palestine officially established diplomatic relations. We look forward to the day when the State of Palestine would be welcomed to take its seat in the General Assembly as a full member of the United Nations. Mr. President, I now turn to the issue affecting the International Criminal Court. Despite its detractors, the evidence before us clearly shows the value and effectiveness and necessity of the International Criminal Court. As a country that advocated for the establishment of the ICC via the tireless work of our former Prime Minister and President Eanor Robinson, Trinidad and Tobago remains resolute in our support of the Court’s mandate to help put an end to impunity for the perpetrators of the most heinous crimes, and to provide a glimmer of hope to all victims of those crimes seeking justice within the jurisdiction of the Court. To this end, we continue to encourage all states that have not yet done so to ratify and fully implement the Rome Statute of the ICC. It was the late Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. who once said, It is not possible to be in favor of justice for some people and not be in favor of justice for all people. For this reason, Mr. President, Trinidad and Tobago condemns, rejects, and repudiates any and all attempts to impede, intimidate, or improperly influence the court and its very courageous officials. Mr. President, we are mindful that the illicit trafficking in small arms and light weapons in our own region poses an intolerable threat to national security and to the lives of our citizens. The proliferation of illegal arms and ammunition has contributed to unacceptable increases in the level of gun-related violence and fatalities in our small society and indeed across CARICOM. In addition to our own efforts domestically, we continue to work with regional and international partners to free our citizens from the horrific human cost associated with the easy access to small arms and light weapons and their vicious use against citizens and families. Following the hosting by Trinidad and Tobago of our first regional symposium on crime and violence as a public health safety issue in 2023, CARICOM heads met in Guyana earlier this year to further elaborate innovative strategies on this matter of grave regional concern. Trinidad and Tobago welcomes the renewed efforts of our partners, including the United States of America in particular. to work with us constructively to help solve this deadly challenge which respects no borders. Mr. President, we also remain deeply concerned by the humanitarian and security crisis affecting the nation of Haiti. Earlier this year, from this very rostrum, Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, Chairman of the CARICOM Reparations Commission, stated, and I quote, We are calling for justice for the people of Haiti, who should have been held aloft for being the first nation to end the evil of slavery. They should have been held aloft for being the most noble exemplars of freedom and the celebration of democratic possibilities in Western modernity. Instead, for their audacity of action, they were punished by the Western world and demonized rather than deified. End quote. We acknowledge that the path toward a stable and secure Haiti requires indigenous, Haitian-led, Haitian-owned solutions that are ably supported by the United Nations and the international community. In this regard, we welcome the news of the appointment of an interim Prime Minister and Cabinet. We believe that these are important steps in confronting the political, security, and humanitarian challenges in Haiti. And I salute the role of CARICOM. its hard-working Secretariat and the Eminent Persons Group in helping the Haitians to achieve some of this progress for themselves. Trinidad and Tobago also joins in commending the Kenyan government for its deployment and leadership of the Multinational Security Support Mission, and we extend our appreciation to all states that have contributed to that operation, including Jamaica, the Bahamas, and several others in our region. But an essential component for the success of this Multinational Security Support Mission is funding. In this regard, the Government of the United States of America has led by example and has contributed the lion’s share. And Canada has stepped up as well. But some relatively wealthy countries have either contributed drips and drabs or nothing at all. We appeal to the international community to contribute the necessary funding to support this crucially important venture. Mr. President, our quest to achieve human dignity within the context of sustainable development cannot be divorced from the legitimate calls for reparatory justice for the history of chattel slavery and native genocide in the Caribbean and elsewhere. The brutality of our colonial experience, the trauma of which still affects us to this day, has contributed significantly to underdevelopment. All four parents were rooted out and dehumanized, and their blood and sweat and tears and labor were extracted to build empires and beautiful castles and bridges and treasures, which some of us pay money today to visit and photograph and admire. Mr. President, we have been leveraging our collective voice to call for restitution for the historical evil injustices and crimes against humanity committed against our four parents, crimes which still affect us today. In reaffirming our commitment to this regional campaign, the Government of Trinidad and Tobago appointed last year a reconstituted National Committee on Reparations to provide additional energy and support to the CARICOM Reparations Commission and its work with the African Union and other like-minded bodies. And on a related note, we wish to join with those who are committed to and would welcome the proclamation of a second international decade for people of African descent. Mr. President, it is indeed troubling that as we approach the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Platform of Action, women and girls in some parts of this world are still being denied basic human rights and freedoms. And in some quarters, there have been erosions of gains previously made. Trinidad and Tobago continues to be a strong advocate for the meaningful participation of women and girls in all aspects of society as we recognize and value their critical role in the promotion and protection of human rights and the building of peaceful and sustainable societies. This is important to us and as we have done biannually since the year 2010, Trinidad and Tobago will table in the first committee this year our resolution on women, disarmament, non-proliferation and arms control and we encourage member states to support this forward-looking resolution. Mr. President, the fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States was held in Antigua earlier this year and underscored the critical nature of the next decade for SIDS. We are very proud of what our fellow CARICOM member state achieved in successfully hosting that impactful conference. Trinidad and Tobago anticipates that the robust implementation of the Antigua and Barbuda agenda for SIDS will bring us closer to sustainable development with the necessary means of support from the international community. Mr. President, we all acknowledge the adverse effects of climate change. We anticipate decisive outcomes regarding the new collective quantified goal at the upcoming COP 29. Baku, Azerbaijan, which should catalyze much-needed reform of the international financial architecture. Effective climate finance mechanisms are essential for the provision of accessible, adequate and predictable funding, and this requires the operationalization and capitalization of the Loss and Damage Fund. Climate finance goes well beyond project funding. It is an investment in the resilience and sustainability of the most vulnerable nations. The future beckons, a future in which SIDS have the capacity and resources to build infrastructure that can withstand severe climate events. That future would enable a just transition to renewable energy sources and the full protection of our natural ecosystems. Mr. President, like many others, Trinidad and Tobago has long called for the application of new multidimensional parameters for decision-making on access to financing. In this regard, we welcome the recent adoption by the General Assembly of the Resolution on the Multidimensional Vulnerability Index. We encourage the international community and the relevant financial and development institutions to utilize the MVI as it takes into account the realities that undermine sustainable development. and Tobago stands in full solidarity with the people of Cuba, who have been subjected to an unjust embargo for more than six decades. This embargo severely undermines Cuba’s prospects for attaining economic stability, growth and sustainable development. Whatever the objectives may have been 60 years ago, these measures have clearly not achieved any desirable results, only the pain and suffering of ordinary Cuban people. The collective punishment of an entire citizenry through unilateral, coercive measures is not only unconscionable, but also inconsistent with international law and the Charter of the United Nations. Trinidad and Tobago therefore renews its call for the unconditional lifting of the economic, commercial and financial embargo against Cuba. Additionally, we have seen no justification for the designation of Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism. We call for the removal of that unjust categorization as well. So Mr President, I conclude as I started. This world, our world, is at a point of inflection. With tension and division rising to a crescendo, small states have to be clear-eyed about their future. Trinidad and Tobago is small, but we are proud of that which makes us unique and special. We may not be a superpower, but we have super powers. And these are our creativity and our diversity. Our cultural milieu is indescribably vibrant, as our people are drawn from the first peoples of our hemisphere, as well as the best of India, the best of Africa, the best of China, and yes, the best of Europe, too. We are blessed beyond measure. Some of you had a taste of it at the reception when we introduced our President of the last session, and you enjoyed some of our delicacies, including our delicious doubles and bacon shark, and you were delighted by performances on our national musical instrument, the steel pan, and by the magical rhythms of our tassel drums. We have proven that we can be great leaders, including leaders of this very assembly, and we will continue to give more value to this world than we extract from it. We are strong, proud, staunch advocates of the UN system and multilateralism. In the end, unity and togetherness is the key. for these United Nations, as well as for my own society. Om Shanti Shanti Shanti. Assalamu alaikum. Shalom alaikum. And may God richly bless you and your families. Mr. President, I thank you.

President: I thank the Minister for Foreign and Caricom Affairs of Trinidad and Tobago. I now give the floor to His Excellency Francis Fonseca, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Belize.

Francis Fonseca – Belize: Mr. President, the self-determination of a people is sacrosanct. It is because of the exercise of that right to self-determination that each nation enjoys the privilege of sitting in this hall. Our nations exist by the will of our people, by virtue of their right to determine their political status and pursue their economic, cultural and social development. To borrow words from Nelson Mandela, our people are the real and others. Their participation in every decision about the future is the only guarantee of true democracy and freedom. If we look at the challenges that our people confront today, we must ask whether that sacrosanct principle of self-determination is in fact secure. Riz is a member of the Alliance of Small Island States, EOSIS, one of 39 countries that have been on the front lines of the climate crisis. The genesis of this crisis lies with the industrialized nations. Its perpetuation and acceleration rests with the wider membership of the Group of 20. Currently, the G20 accounts for some 80% of global emissions. EOSIS members contribute less than 1% of global emissions. This is the tale of two worlds, but we only have one planet to share. The extent to which G20 economies are advancing and contributing to global economic output and world trade is impressive and promising for their people. It is important that their growth should be calibrated to a world where SIDS also have a secure future. This is still possible, but it is urgent. As SIDS, our people’s livelihoods have long depended on traditional sectors such as agriculture, Biter, fisheries, and tourism which are climate-sensitive. Opportunities for diversification have been limited given our size, population, and location. Climate change is forcing us to break with tradition and to transition despite the limited options to do so. Each step forward is met with yet another hurdle to overcome, and with increasing probability we face the likelihood of setbacks as climate change impacts worsen. The costs are multiplying, fiscal space is shrinking, and the opportunities to equitably share in global prosperity are diminishing. The right of CIDs to define their own future must be protected and secured. The severe impacts of sea-level rise have irreversible consequences for CIDs. Our people have gone beyond their duty to protect and preserve our environment, yet some are being forced to relocate from their homelands. To this, we reiterate that no matter the physical changes that climate change may bring to our territory, our sovereignty and our right to self-determination remain intact. Mr. President, the perpetual suffering of a people can never just be a matter of national concern. The United Nations rose up from the ashes of war to restore faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person. in the equal rights of men and women, and of nations large or small, and to establish conditions under which justice and respect for the obligations arising from treaties and other sources of international law can be maintained, and to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom. All members of the United Nations have a duty to give effect to these words. Conflicts should not be allowed to fester. The war in Ukraine is now two years running, and we are concerned that the end is still not near. Haiti has seized our attention once again. For Belize, the international response must be enduring for long-lasting peace and security of our sister country. We are working through the Caribbean community to reinforce and strengthen Haiti, and we commend the Haitian people in their resolve to define their own pathway forward. We are pleased to be contributing personnel to the multinational security support mission. Belize is extremely worried that up to now, the international community has not fully delivered on its commitments for the MSS, nor the UN Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan for Haiti. This jeopardizes all the efforts towards establishing political stability, but more than that, puts the future at risk. and the United States of America. Mr President, Cuba should no longer be subject to an unjust and illegal economic embargo imposed by the United States. It is imperative that Cuba be removed from the list of state sponsors of terrorism. This arbitrary and unilateral designation has created an unnecessary barrier to global cooperation, constructive engagement, and the promotion of peace and stability in our region. Mr President, Belize rejects the continued denial of self-determination of the Palestinian people and calls for the eradication of the system of colonial domination and apartheid being imposed upon them. As Belize stated to the International Court of Justice in the recent advisory opinion, Israel cannot be permitted to continue flouting one of the most fundamental principles of international law, with impunity. Impunity breeds inhumanity. Just two weeks ago, this Assembly approved a resolution proposed by Palestine affirming the ICJ’s advisory opinion and called on members to act to reinforce the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination. The war, the oppression, and the inhumanity must end. Mr. President, Taiwan is a nation that espouses democracy, development and innovation. The challenges we are tackling as an international community requires Taiwan’s full inclusion and participation in the international system. Belize calls for this to be done immediately. The people of Western Sahara should be granted their long-overdue referendum to decide their own future. Belize continues its repeated call for the United Nations and the international community to take the necessary steps to allow the Sahrawi people to finally exercise their right to self-determination. Mr. President, I submit to you and this Assembly that the foundation of leaving no one behind requires that we actively promote and protect the right of self-determination in its most basic form, in the context of peace and security. Now we must also do so in the context of sustainable development. We have adopted a rescue plan to steer the SDGs back on course. We have a pact for the future. We must use every opportunity to put in place the systems and financing necessary to turbocharge our sustainable development and climate goals. In this effort, we must ensure equal opportunity for all to share. and others. Mr. President, the Declaration on Sea Level Rise and Statehood adopted by the leaders of the Alliance of Small Island States on 23 September affirms that the sovereignty or statehood of small island developing states cannot be challenged under any circumstances of climate change-related sea level rise. We invite all UN member states to support the implementation of this declaration and to use it as the basis of international cooperation. To further guarantee that SIDS will be spared the gravest climate threats, global warming must be limited to well below 1.5 degrees Celsius. Belize urges the G20 to enhance their emission reduction targets to achieve this temperature limit. For SIDS, adaptation is imperative, and loss and damage associated with climate change is inevitable. The new climate finance goal to be decided in Baku must contain specific recommendations for minimum allocation to SIDS in relation to grant-based and concessional finance for adaptation and grants for loss and damage. It must also give effect to the provisions of the Paris Agreement, which require enhanced access for SIDS and LDCs. and the United Nations. The Multidimensional Vulnerability Index should be incorporated into existing practices and policies for debt sustainability and development support to expand SIDS’ access to effective development finance. Belize is moving ahead. We are on a transformative development trajectory. We have dramatically improved our credit profile through the Belize Blue Bond Project, a debt for marine conservation swap. We are reforming and modernizing our legislative and policy frameworks for investments and activating our orange and blue economies, including beyond our national jurisdiction. In partnership with the United States of America, we have signed a five-year U.S. $125 million grant agreement with the Millennium Challenge Corporation, intended to help reduce poverty in Belize by addressing the country’s energy and education sectors. We are making targeted investments to ensure that every child has access to education. to quality education and opportunities. One key example is the Belize Education Upliftment Project, Together We Rise, which provides half of Belizean secondary school students with the resources they need to succeed, including free tuition, uniforms, school supplies and healthy meals. Belize has extended the compulsory school age to 16 years to improve school retention rates and increase the likelihood of transitioning to higher education. We are working tirelessly to expand vocational training, digital access and life skills development, ensuring that young people are prepared for the evolving job market and capable of driving innovation in sectors such as agriculture, climate change and technology. We are aggressively closing the digital divide as technology holds the promise of progress. But we depend on multilateral efforts to ensure that all nations, regardless of size or wealth, have the infrastructure and capacity to participate in the digital economy. Education and capacity building alone are not enough. Addressing inequalities and fostering inclusion are equally critical to achieving lasting change. The achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls is central to this effort. Belize has made important progress in this area, marked by the recent launch of its revised National Gender Policy Framework. 2024-2030, which aims to end discrimination and violence against women while promoting their full participation in all aspects of society, social, economic and political. Belize continues its work to ensure that every Belizean has access to high-quality, affordable and efficient health care services. By January 2025, we will achieve full national health insurance coverage. We are also strengthening our mental health support systems with the goal of improving and expanding access to quality care, addressing the stigma surrounding mental health, and enhancing outreach programs, particularly in rural and underserved areas. Mr. President, Belize is committed to the final settlement of Guatemala’s territorial, insular and maritime claim. We welcome Guatemala’s stated commitment to respecting and abiding by the ruling of the International Court of Justice. At the political level, we are actively engaged with Guatemala to strengthen our bilateral relationship. A definitive solution will bring greater opportunities for both of our nations in the areas of trade, investment and cooperation. Mr. President, Belize reaffirms its commitment to the United Nations as the central platform. for Coordinated Global Action. But its decision-making processes need to be more inclusive, more responsive and representative. Its institutions cannot be held back by the world as it was 80 years ago. Reform is urgent and necessary to reflect the world as it is. Mr President, the youth of today have given us a clear, undeniable mandate. They demand action, accountability and a future where they are heard, seen and respected. We ignore them at our own peril. We must not fail them. It is our responsibility to heed their calls for change. We must deliver on our commitments and build a world that present and future generations deserve.

Olushegun Adjadi Bakari – Benin: Ladies and Gentlemen, It is a great honour for me to speak to you today from this iconic rostrum of the United Nations, on behalf of His Excellency, President Patrice Talon, President of the Republic of Benin. I would like, at the outset, to reaffirm the unwavering commitment of the Benin people to democracy, to political stability and to the principle of the peaceful transfer of power. Since the historic national conference involving all stakeholders in February 1990, Benin has chosen the path of democracy. Under the successive leadership of our successive presidents and President Patrice Talon, we have been able to preserve and strengthen our institutions. Our defence and security forces, courageously upholding the values of our republic, continue to protect our territory and our institutions every day. Any attempt at destabilization, whether from within or without, will be overcome. Our journey towards development is now irreversible. Ladies and Gentlemen, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen, Today the world is confronted with growing tensions, and uncertainty becomes an everyday feature of our times. Each day we can see an increase in polarization, with crises that undermine social cohesion everywhere and mortgage off the future of our humanity, be this in the Sahel. in Sudan, in Ukraine, in the South China Sea or in the Middle East, conflicts which crop up undermine peace and global stability. These tensions bring but suffering and despair, causing waves of poverty that affect the most fragile economies and exacerbate people’s vulnerability. Although Africa is often far from the source of these crises, it nonetheless remains deeply affected by them. The Sahel region in particular is today the theatre of increasing tensions, exacerbated by tensions taken without the consent of African countries. This instability seriously compromises our sustainable development. Even more worrisome, some external forces are seeking to bring in their geopolitical rivalries into our region. Benin firmly condemns all attempts to make the Sahel into a new epicentre of geopolitical struggle. This type of interference provides fertile ground for terrorism. Terrorism is an abomination that we unreservedly condemn, be this in Africa or elsewhere. Terrorism is unacceptable. No cause can justify terror, suffering and the destruction that it causes. Today, we reaffirm our commitment to African unity. More particularly in our region, West Africa, we have the historic responsibility to preserve the centuries-old fraternal ties that link our people. Benin is ready to play its role in this fight against terrorism and in favour of development. Our unity of action is crucial. irrespective of which organizations we decide to belong to. This is also an opportunity for us to reaffirm our commitment to non-violence and it’s because of this attachment and commitment to non-violence that we condemn the war in Ukraine. It is because of this commitment to non-violence that we have condemned the terrorist attacks of the 7th of October and also the escalating violence that ensued in the Middle East and in the same way we condemn all forms of violence that each day plunge into mourning our brother and sister countries in the Sahel. We call on the international community to step up efforts to bring stability through dialogue, be this in the Middle East where the two-state solution is the only viable option or in Ukraine in the Great Lakes region, in Sudan, in Libya or in our sisterly Republic of Haiti. Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen, despite these hotbeds of tension we must never lose sight of another major challenge that threatens the future of our world, poverty in all its forms. Five years from the deadline of 2030 it is painfully clear that we will not achieve the sustainable development goals but we must not give up the fight. The fight against poverty is one of the major challenges of our time. Without this there will be neither real peace or lasting stability. Africa, ladies and gentlemen, is the future of the world. In just a few decades our continent will be home to a quarter of humanity. Our young people who are incredibly creative and our natural resources are an indispensable asset for the Moderator for the US Department of State for the Future of our Planet But for this potential to be truly tapped into, we need to eradicate poverty in our continent There is an urgent need to act, because each year of delay compromises this future In 25 years when our country, or our country’s rather, for the most part will be at least 100 years old Will we still have to discuss access to drinking water, to electricity, to healthcare and education? Or will we finally have turned the page which will enable each African to live in dignity? These are the essential questions that we need to respond to The time for action is now Since 2016, Benin has opted for progress under the leadership of President Patrice Talon We have taken our destiny into our own hands We’ve initiated major reforms, be this in the area of education, healthcare or infrastructure Today, we are focused on transformation and development It’s important for the world to recognize the efforts of African nations, just like mine, just like Benin Who are striving for the future and who are taking their future into their own hands Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen, for Africa truly to take off It should reconcile itself with its own history and its real inner identity Just like it’s impossible to understand Europe without taking into consideration the influence of the Christian Church And just like it’s impossible to understand the Middle East without striving to understand Islam It’s also impossible to grasp the essence of Africa without fully embracing its beliefs, its traditions and its civilization This is a spirit that guided Benin Benin, which is the motherland of the Wudang culture, that Benin took the initiative to correct negative perceptions of this culture, of our culture. We want to show the world the great richness and wealth of our civilisation. By understanding and respecting our history, our beliefs and our culture, the world will be able to understand who we are and why Africa is crucial for global balance and development. However, respect for Africa does not just stop at recognising its past, it also involves modern pan-Africanism focused on action. Pan-Africanism engaged in poverty reduction, in building a prosperous continent, a pan-Africanism that goes over and beyond words and moves into action. This pan-Africanism must be reflected by specific action. How can we promote African unity when it is easier for a European to travel throughout Africa than it is for an African, him or herself, to do so? Benin has made a bold, courageous pan-African choice by abolishing visas for all African citizens. This gesture is not simply symbolic, it also reflects our revolve to build an Africa where each African can feel at home throughout the entire continent. Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, more than ever, the respect for Africa involves recognising and acknowledging its children dispersed throughout the world, our brothers and sisters of the diaspora uprooted by force during the dark days of the transatlantic slave trade must find their place once again within the African community. It is high time to heal these wounds. to rebuild this sacred link with those who, albeit physically far away, carry Africa in their hearts. People of African descent are not just distant relatives of our family, they are our children, they are our brothers, they are our sisters, they incarnate an essential essence of our collective identity. By recognizing their right to return, we say to them, you have never ceased belonging to this land. Africa is your home and we are waiting for you with open arms. 2024 marks the end of the first international decade of people of African descent. On this occasion, Benin has taken a historic measure by adopting unanimously at the National Assembly a law which grants the Benin nationality to all persons of African descent who so wish. This is more than just a simple symbolic gesture. It is an invitation to a joint future, a vibrant call for unity and for solidarity. Together, Africans and people of African descent from the continent and the diaspora, we will meet the challenges of tomorrow. Together, we will build a strong, prosperous and respected Africa. Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen, Benin is ready to pave the way for a unified Africa, dynamic and open to the world, an Africa which takes itself into its own hand, engaged in addressing its own future. The century of Africa is within reach. It depends on our ability to seize this opportunity to build an Africa where each citizen, be he or she born on the continent or not, or part of the diaspora, plays a key role in our common rebirth. We stand ready. Thank you.

President: I thank the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Benin. I now give the floor to His Excellency Yamazaki Kazuyuki, Chair of the delegation of Japan.

Yamazaki Kazuyuki – Japan: Mr. President, allow me to deliver this statement on behalf of the Prime Minister of Japan, Mr. Kishida Fumio. Mr. President, Excellencies, the world stands at a historical inflection point. These extremely shifting histories have become distinctive features of the past three years and will continue to define the years to come. I have stressed that at times like these, we must overcome divisions and confrontations and promote international cooperation by going back to the basic foundations. In 2022, I have called for defending the principles of the UN Charter and the rule of law, and 2023, multilateralism with the United Nations at its core by shedding a light on human dignity. Russia’s aggression against Ukraine still rages on, and we are witnessing the dire situation in Palestine and Gaza. Unfortunately, divisions and confrontations are deepening. In these difficult times, Japan’s position remains unwavering. We should go back to the basic foundations to unite the international community and deepen solidarity. The rule of law and human dignity remain the key to international cooperation. Today I would like to highlight the importance of strengthening governance at both national and international levels as another foundation for uniting the international community to strengthen the rule of law and protect human dignity. At the Summit of the Future, we made a commitment to take action for the benefit of present and future generations. Building inclusive societies across the international community where youth, future generations and women can thrive and achieving the SDGs, leaving no one behind, are overarching goals that resonate with us. We believe the international community would also agree the role of governance is critical in achieving these goals. Such empathy among us provides a common ground for all members of the international community to share and fulfill their responsibilities. My message for this year can be summarized in a simple phrase, inclusive governance with shared responsibility. Mr. President, to address unprecedented crises and challenges and to protect and strengthen the rule of law and human dignity, Japan, as a member of the international community, is determined to play a role for stronger governance. First and foremost, we must strengthen the governance to work towards international peace and security, which is the foundation for a prosperous society. Next year marks the 80th anniversary of the United Nations. It is time to transform the United Nations to address the most pressing challenges in peace and security. and meet the needs of a new era. Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, which has continued for more than two and a half years, poses a blatant challenge to the international order based on the rule of law and shakes its very foundations. There are a host of issues that need to be addressed, including North Korea’s nuclear missile development, the situation in Gaza, and conflict and terrorism in Africa. The international community is in need of a United Nations, in particular the Security Council, that is credible and carries out its responsibility effectively. At the summit of the future, world leaders issued a clear and strong message on the urgent need to reform the Security Council. In order to respond in good faith, it is essential to begin the development of a consolidated reform model and text-based negotiations as soon as possible. In this regard, it should be underscored that the majority of member states, including African groups, are calling for the expansion of both permanent and non-permanent membership of the Council. Japan will work with others to achieve a Security Council that is more representative with developing countries included and effective, reflecting the realities of the international community. Japan also attaches great importance to the role of the General Assembly in the area of international peace and security. For the sake of future generations, it is necessary to maintain and strengthen a free and open international order based on the rule of law and to ensure peace, stability and prosperity in the world. It is with this conviction that I have promoted the Free and Open Indo-Pacific. The vision of the Free and Open Indo-Pacific is in line with the goals of the United Nations. Japan will continue to expand our circle of partners who share this vision and together we will address various challenges facing the international community in a spirit of cooperation. Strengthening domestic governance is also essential for international peace and security and prosperity. Japan has continued to spearhead human-centered international cooperation based on the concept of human security. We need to accelerate the efforts of the international community as a whole towards achieving the SDGs. It is also vital to address the root causes of conflict by interlinking humanitarian development and peace efforts in order to curb the deterioration of humanitarian situations due to protracted conflicts. In March this year, during Japan’s Presidency of the Security Council, Japan held an open debate on peacebuilding and conflict prevention. We should strengthen the functions of the Peacebuilding Commission, which has a unique convening power, and increase cooperation with the Security Council to further promote the humanitarian development peace nexus. In promoting these initiatives, the perspectives of women, youth and rural areas must be taken into account. The Women, Peace and Security Agenda seeks to achieve sustainable peace through women’s participation and leadership in peacebuilding and disaster recovery processes. When there is governance that enables women’s active participation, the WPS Agenda becomes even more meaningful. In order to build this type of inclusive society, it is important to nurture the future generation so that they can take a lead in various initiatives. To this end, Japan… To this end, Japan plans to launch a program to nurture the next generation of leaders in the field of gender. In order to achieve a flexible, resilient future society that is rich in diversity and able to respond to new challenges, Japan will work on promoting youth, supporting research and building networks for young researchers, and holding a forum for the next generation. Rural perspective is also important. Japan is trying to utilize the remarkable technology of companies and rural areas, including active and long-established companies and start-ups, to promote projects that can contribute to solving social issues and create a robust virtuous cycle in both the economies of rural areas and overseas. Domestic governance is the bedrock of sustainable development, as it underpins countries’ ability to mobilize private investment and domestic financing. At the same time, each country achieving sustainable growth would amount to the sustainability of the international community as a whole, a process which would then be supported by international governance. The focus should therefore be on governance at all levels. Second, we should all share the responsibility for responding to new challenges facing the international community and work together with a new approach. I’d like to start by addressing the challenge of nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation, my lifelong work as a politician hailing from Hiroshima. Secretary General Guterres put his challenge as the very first recommendation in his new Agenda for Peace, launched last year. Despite the extended efforts of the international community, the world is now on the cusp of a reversal. in the decreasing trend of a global number of nuclear arsenals. We must face up to the situation that nuclear weapons are once again becoming an apparent global risk due to changing geopolitical circumstances and deepening divisions and confrontations in the international community. With these serious concerns in mind, I have been steadily taking nuclear disarmament initiatives under the Hiroshima Action Plan to strengthen realistic and practical efforts to realize a world without nuclear weapons. In March this year, as President of the Security Council, Japan chaired the Ministerial Meeting of the Security Council on Nuclear Disarmament and Non-Proliferation. Following this effort, on the 23rd of this month, I hosted a high-level meeting to launch the Friends of FMCT here in New York. Next year marks 80 years since the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. As the only country to have ever suffered atomic bombings during war, Japan will further strengthen efforts to promote accurate understanding on the realities of nuclear weapons use as a starting point for all nuclear disarmament measures. Japan will also act to further advance nuclear disarmament as we head toward the 2026 NPT Review Conference. Japan will also work even more closely with the international community towards the denuclearization of North Korea, including through implementation of relevant UN security resolutions. Japan will continue to seek to normalize its relationship with North Korea in accordance with the Japan DPRK Pyongyang Declaration through comprehensively resolving outstanding issues of concern. such as abductions, nuclear and missile issues, as well as settlement of the unfortunate past. The rapid development of emerging technologies is bringing new challenges to disarmament and non-proliferation efforts. Focusing on the further development of emerging technologies, Japan intends to actively and constructively participate in international rulemaking on leader autonomous weapon systems through balanced discussions, taking into account humanitarian security perspectives so that a common understanding can be reached among the international community, including stakeholder states. In discussing new challenges, we must also include aspects of digital technologies, especially considering the global digital compact was just adopted at the Summit of the Future. Digital technologies have the power to transform the future of the world, thereby making digital cooperation an essential part of protecting and enhancing human dignity. Among such digital technologies, there is an urgent need to establish international governance on artificial intelligence in order to maximize the opportunities brought by AI while mitigating its risks. Japan has been working through the Hiroshima AI process to achieve safe, secure and trustworthy AI. We will continue to actively contribute to the discussions of AI at the United Nations. In tackling global issues, the evolution of multilateral development banks has emerged as a new issue. Japan will continue to further progress in the MDP evolution in a way that reflects the specificities of each institution and the discussions of their boards, increasing lending capacity to developing countries. Through utilizing existing capital and private capital mobilization, and addressing debt restructuring faced by those countries, are also pressing issues. Transparent and fair development finance, in line with international rules and standards, is needed now more than ever. Climate change is a common challenge to all humankind and a critical issue that the international community collectively needs to address. Japan has identified climate change as the greatest challenge that needs to be overcome by bringing about a new form of capitalism. We are steadily taking actions and are on track to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. It is important that all countries come together to achieve the common goal of net zero through various pathways that are compatible with economic growth and energy security. As an initiative to embody these areas, Japan has proposed the concept of Asia Zero Emission Community. We are working with other Asian countries to simultaneously achieve decarbonization, economic growth, and energy security in the region. What I would like to highlight this year is the importance of inclusive governance upheld by shared responsibility. This requires solidarity among diverse countries. At last year’s G7 Hiroshima summit, I said the strengthening of engagement with partners beyond G7 as one of the pillars of the summit. Since then, Japan has been supporting stronger domestic governance in developing countries to protect human dignity through the exchanging of opinions with ASEAN, India, Pacific countries, as well as with Latin American countries, including Brazil, which holds the G20 presidency this year. Africa is a region that is experiencing experience in dynamic growth, supported by a younger generation population, and the fruits of its efforts to strengthen their inclusive governance. At the same time, Africa continues to face challenges related to human dignity, such as poverty, job creation, and fragile economic and social infrastructures, as well as challenges related to peace and stability, such as conflict, terrorism, refugees, and displaced persons. Strengthening governance is important as a lever for change to achieve peace, stability, and sustainable development. Investing in human resources and mobilizing domestic and international resources for this purpose are essential for economic transformation that leads to growth. As a long-standing partner of Africa, Japan has been supporting the strengthening of equal systems and governance conducive to domestic and international resource mobilization, including through assistance for fiscal management and trade facilitation. Japan has also supported elections to consolidate and strengthen democracy, and assisted in the capacity building of administrative and judicial personnel. Furthermore, we have promoted international community dialogue to foster a shared future encouraged by participation of citizens, including youth and women, in the political and construction process, and supported the strengthening of their livelihoods. Next year, we will host TICAT 9 in Yokohama. Together with our African friends and the United Nations, we will find innovative solutions to Africa’s and global challenges. As a part of these efforts, Japan will consider further preferential measures in light of the WTO decision so that the least developed countries can achieve smooth and sustainable development under graduation from the LDC category. Mr. President, At this year’s UN General Assembly, let us all look towards the same vision for our future and joint forces to strengthen governance across the international community. Let us work together for inclusive society where the rule of law and human dignity are upheld. The United Nations has an important role to play and the international community is counting on it to fulfill its mandate. As a member state of the United Nations, Japan will also contribute to this progress. Thank you for your attention.

President: I thank the Chair of the Delegation of Japan. Colleagues, we’ve heard the last speaker in the general debate for this evening, but before you can all escape and enjoy your Saturday night, the exercise of the right of reply has been requested. May I remind members that statements in the exercise of the right of reply are limited to 10 minutes for the first intervention and to five minutes for the second intervention and should be made by delegations from their seats. The next speaker exercising the right of reply is Ecuador. You have the floor.

Ecuador: Gracias. Thank you very much, Mr. President. My delegation is taking the floor for the right of reply given the statement made by the Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the current Mexican government, Ms. Alicia Barcena, regarding the incident which took place in the Mexican embassy in Quito on the 5th of April, 2024. Ecuador is a country which respects international law and the principles and values enshrined in the UN Charter. In her statement, the Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the government of Mexico omitted to mention that this incident is the subject of a process before the ICJ. that the court has disregarded the request by Mexico for provisional measures to be taken regarding the protection of its embassy. As to the events prior to the 5th of April 2024, it has shed light on the exceptional circumstances under which the Ecuadorian authorities were obligated to enter the Mexican embassy to arrest a fugitive from justice, an isolated event, and we did so to combat impunity. That needs to be said. The current government of Mexico allowed a citizen of our country with two sentences against him for corruption and other crimes, including, one, gender-based violence, to enter and stay in the embassy in Quito as a guest. The government of Mexico, the current government of Mexico, despite the multiple diplomatic efforts by Ecuador, did not hand over this fugitive, as it was obligated to, to the Ecuadorian authorities and ultimately illegally gave that individual political asylum. In proceeding in that way, the current government of Mexico did not comply with international conventions, the 1933 Convention and the 1954 Caracas Convention, which clearly state that it is not legal to grant asylum to individuals who are charged with common crimes by competent courts, as is the case here. The government of Mexico also violated the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which imposes the obligation to respect the laws and rules of the host state and the obligation not to interfere in internal affairs of the host state. and not to use diplomatic premises in a manner incompatible with their functions. At the same time, the government of Mexico violated the principles of sovereign integrity, territorial integrity, and non-interference in the internal affairs of states, enshrined in the UN Charter and the Charter of the OAS and customary international law. The government of Mexico also violated its obligation to cooperate in corruption matters in accordance with the Inter-American Convention of 1966 on Corruption and the UN 2003 Convention. This violation of international law should not be normalized or accepted. And for that reason, Ecuador on the 29th of April this year submitted a case to the ICJ against Mexico. Thank you.

President: I thank the delegation of Ecuador. Next speaker on my list is China, followed by Pakistan, Ethiopia, and Armenia. I give the floor to China.

China: Mr. President, in response to yesterday’s statement by Australia and today’s statement by the Philippines, China exercises its right of reply. China always believes that the United Nations is not the appropriate place for discussing the South China Sea issue. However, it is necessary for us to make a solemn response, given that erroneous remarks have been made. The South China Sea Arbitration was unilaterally initiated by the Philippines, which violated the principle of state consent and contravenes international law, including UNCLOS. And the tribunal exceeded its authority and made unjust ruling, and the award is illegal and invalid. China does not accept or recognize the ruling, nor does it accept any claims or actions based on that. China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea are not affected by the ruling under any circumstances. China has indisputable sovereignty over the South China Sea islands and their adjacent waters, and a sovereign rights and jurisdiction over the relevant waters. China’s regular patrols, law enforcement and production activities in waters under its jurisdiction are compliant with international law, including UNCLOS. The recent escalation of the South China Sea issue between China and the Philippines is entirely the responsibility of the Philippines. China will continue to resolve the disputes in the South China Sea through negotiations and consultations with directly concerned parties, including the Philippines, on the basis of respecting facts and in accordance with international law. China will also continue to work with ASEAN countries to safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea. Thank you.

President: Thank you. I now call on the representative of Pakistan.

Pakistan: India, engaging in sponsoring terrorism abroad, is portraying itself as the victim. It is a familiar ploy of all occupiers and colonizers to paint legitimate struggles for freedom and liberation as terrorism. India is failing to grasp the enormity of the indigenous Kashmiri resistance against its strange hold and wrongly blaming it on cross-border terrorism. It must introspect and reflect and immediately implement the Security Council resolutions which provide for the Kashmiris to exercise their right to self-determination. which supports and finances terrorism against Pakistan using its proxies. Pakistan has provided irrefutable evidence to the UN Security Council of India’s involvement in terrorist activities against my country. India’s campaign to damage and destroy Pakistan’s economy is no secret, including by impeding the China-Pakistan economic corridor. Through the sponsorship of terrorist groups such as the Baloch Liberation Army and the Majid Brigade, India is also supporting terrorism in the Balochistan province of Pakistan. Mr. President, India’s assassination campaign against its dissidents residing overseas has been exposed in Canada and the United States, while its leaders publicly boast of murdering their citizens abroad. It is India which seeks expansion of territory through unilateral measures to consolidate its occupation of Jammu and Kashmir in gross violation of international law and crass threats to cross the line of control to take over the liberated territory of Azad, Jammu and Kashmir. India’s military buildup in nuclear, conventional, new and destabilizing weapons are mainly deployed against Pakistan. India is pursuing highly dangerous war-fighting doctrines to engage in a conventional military confrontation with Pakistan under the nuclear overhang. This, despite the humiliation suffered by India during its last ill-advised military adventurism against Pakistan in February 2019, with two fighter jets lost and a captured pilot, who was released by Pakistan after Indian pleas. Mr. President, India’s quest for regional hegemony is not limited to posturing against Pakistan only. but is also evident by its meddling in the internal affairs of Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Maldives. The hubris and the grandiose perception being harboured by India, coupled with its fast-growing aggressive military capabilities, are a clear and present danger for international and regional peace and security. India needs to be reined in before it’s too late. India must be held accountable for its violations of international law in occupied Jammu and Kashmir, for state terrorism in the occupied territory, and for sponsoring terrorism against Pakistan. I thank you.

Ethiopia: The extensive statement by Egypt’s representative can be summarised in short as categorically a rejection of our efforts to ensure dignified life to our people. While we share no border, Ethiopia is linked with Egypt through the Nile. We believe the Nile is a solemn nexus between our countries that ought to create shared peace and prosperity to the people of our sisterly countries. It’s never Ethiopia’s intention or conduct to create tension and hostility towards Egypt. The Speaker, as stated from his statement, and made it clear to this Assembly, Egypt’s position against the universally accepted principle of permanent sovereignty of states over their natural resource and their right to use it for the benefit of their people. The people of Ethiopia, using their own finances, built the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. The dam is built over the River Abbai, which, as correctly explained by the representative of Egypt, is a tributary to the River Nile. It is bringing light to millions of Ethiopians deprived of such basic necessity. It is bringing integration to our region through energy, trade, and connectivity. The River Abbai transverses two-thirds of Ethiopia’s territory and makes up 70 percent of Ethiopia’s water resource. While having the resource, the people of Ethiopia continue to live in food and energy insecurity. More than half of our 120 million population needs access to clean water and electricity. Ethiopia will not be told to hold its effort to alleviate this unacceptable circumstance. We will not be told our people do not deserve a dignified life. Ethiopia recognizes the River Nile is a transboundary water resource that must be used by all riparian countries based on the principle of equitable and reasonable utilization. Transboundary resources are also best managed based on basin-wide arrangements agreed to by riparian countries. When it comes to these principles of international law, we see paradox in the Nile Basin. Ethiopia, an upper riparian country that contributes 85 percent of the flow to the Nile, and the other eight source countries, seeks cooperation based on international law. Egypt, the lower riparian country that contributes no flow to the resource, relentlessly works against cooperation and undermines international principles. It advocates for monopoly based on colonial-era arrangements, seeks a veto over the water development efforts of the countries that originate the water. Ethiopia will continue pursuing its development on the river Abbai on the basis of equitable and reasonable utilization of the resource. It is our hope, through time, Egypt will reorient its colonial-based policy on the Nile and work on integrated development on the basis of equity. Time will also come for Egypt to realize its best interest is intertwined with and best served by cooperation with the riparian countries of the Basin. More importantly, the old playbook that seeks to secure unfettered flow of the Nile by preoccupying the source countries with conflict and insurgencies will not work. On this basis, Ethiopia calls on Egypt to immediately stop its destabilization efforts in the whole of Africa. Time to negotiate and find a win-win solution is now. We urge Egypt to choose the path of negotiation and the path of international law. The cooperative framework agreement on the Nile River is entering into force on 13 October 2024. Egypt has the golden opportunity to return to peaceful conduct of its relations with the Nile River riparian states. Egypt is thus encouraged to ratify the CFA and play a constructive role in regional development. I thank you, Mr. President.

President: Thank you. I now call on the representative of Armenia.

Armenia: Thank you, Mr. President. I requested the floor to exercise the right to reply to the delegation of Azerbaijan. We regret that despite the forward-looking call of the Prime Minister of Armenia to normalize relations, despite the recent round of ministerial negotiations that took place just two days ago, Azerbaijan used this august body not only to express reluctance on normalizing relations with Armenia, but opted to propagate its usual distortions and allegations. Dear colleagues, nevertheless, let me once again reaffirm that Armenia is committed to achieving a just and lasting peace in the region and has engaged in negotiations to normalize the relations with Azerbaijan based on the international law, including the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity. However, we are yet to see the same level of commitment and good faith from the Azerbaijani side. In response to all efforts toward the settlement of the long-term conflict, Azerbaijan continues to present new unsubstantiated and illegitimate claims to Armenia. The allegation that the constitution of Armenia contains territorial claims against Azerbaijan is entirely false and has been refuted on a number of occasions. It is strange to hear allegations on military build-up from a country that for decades has engaged in uncontrolled and unabated accumulation of offensive weaponry in violation of literally all its obligations under regional arms control treaties. The military build-up of Azerbaijan resulted in acts of aggression with heavy toll on the civilian population, atrocity crimes, mass displacement. and destruction of critical civilian infrastructure. Armenia is exercising its sovereign right to strengthen its defense capabilities in line with international law. We have stressed a number of times that we do not have territorial claims against any of our neighbors, and we do not plan any aggressive action against any of them. We regret that Azerbaijan continues to spread false allegations on mines as a sheer distortion and propaganda that was twice rejected by the International Court of Justice. Azerbaijan has consistently used the humanitarian demining activities to create a pretext to justify its aggressive actions against Armenia and numerous atrocity crimes. During the past four years, Armenia has unilaterally provided all available maps of mined areas in its possession as a humanitarian gesture. The Armenian side also has expressed readiness to support the decoding of the transferred maps in cooperation with international partners. By contrast, Azerbaijan continues to violate its obligations under the international humanitarian law and the orders of the International Court of Justice. The international community should be cognizant of the fact that the country hosting the COP-29 is yet to release the Armenian hostages held for more than one year in captivity and address the remaining humanitarian issues. At the same time, the issue of missing persons and enforced disappearances remains high on our agenda as well. There are more than 1,000 Armenians missing as a result of the conflict. We do believe that the issue of all missing persons should be addressed. The Armenian Relevant Commission on Missing Persons has numerously suggested to hold meetings to this end that were rejected by the Azerbaijani side. We call on Azerbaijan to abide by its illegal obligations under the international law and international humanitarian law, to release all the Armenian hostages held for more than one year in captivity, and to create a conducive environment for long-lasting regional peace and cooperation. We call upon the United Nations and its member states to firmly respond to the incompliance by Azerbaijan with its obligations, and ensure that the attempt of this country to whitewash gross violations of human rights and humanitarian law through holding international events will not be tolerated. Mr. President, The concept of so-called Western Azerbaijan reveals the territorial claims of Azerbaijan towards the sovereign territory of Armenia, including its capital. Through such fake historical contrasts and weaponizing history, Azerbaijan intends to create a pretext to continue its policy of use of force in the region. Through these manipulations, Azerbaijan attempts to distract the attention of the international community from the ethnic cleansing and forced displacement of 115,000 people, the entire indigenous population of Nagorno-Karabakh, from its ancestral homeland, one year ago. Interestingly, Azerbaijani ministers failed to mention that Azerbaijanis who left Armenia during the collapse of the Soviet Union did it voluntarily. Furthermore, they received compensations in comparison to 360,000 Armenians who were forced to leave their homes and property as a result of state-orchestrated pogroms in Baku, Sumgait, Kirovabad, and other cities of Azerbaijan. The baseless claims regarding cultural heritage are an attempt to divert attention from the destruction, desecration, appropriation of millennia-old Armenian cultural heritage. and acts of vandalism committed by Azerbaijan in Nagorno-Karabakh and prior to that in Nakhichevan. The delegation of Azerbaijan needs to be reminded that the International Court of Justice, in a legally binding order issued on 7 December 2021, mandated Azerbaijan to, and I quote, take all necessary measures to prevent and punish acts of vandalism and desecration towards Armenian cultural heritage, including churches and other places of worship, monuments, landmarks, cemeteries, and artifacts, end of the quote. Till now, Azerbaijan continues to deny the deployment of a UNESCO mission to conduct an inventory of the cultural property in Nagorno-Karabakh in an attempt to hide its state-led campaign of systemic destruction of the historic Armenian legacy of Nagorno-Karabakh. Following the ethnic cleansing and forced displacement of its entire indigenous population. And I thank you, Mr. President.

President: Thank you. I now call on the representative of the Philippines.

Philippines: Thank you, Mr. President. I wish to refer to the statement of a delegation referring to the South China Sea arbitration. We recall July 12, 2016, as the day that affirmed the community of nations that the role of law prevails and that stability, peace, and progress can only be attained when founded on a rules-based legal order on the oceans, as it should be everywhere else. The award and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, or UNCLOS, are the twin anchors of the Philippines policy and actions on the West Philippine Sea. UNCLOS sets out the legal framework within which all activities in the oceans and seas must be carried out. There is no recourse to general international law on matters comprehensively covered by the UNCLOS. Compliance with UNCLOS, which represents a delicate balance of the rights and obligations of all states’ parties in its entirety, is key to ensuring global and regional peace and the fair and sustainable use of the oceans. The award, an affirmation of UNCLOS’ dispute resolution mechanisms, not only sets reason and right in the South China Sea, but is an inspiration for how matters should be considered through reason and right by states facing similarly challenging circumstances. It authoritatively ruled that the claim of historic rights to resources within the sea areas falling within the nine-dash line had no basis in law and is without legal effect. It upheld the Philippines’ sovereign rights and jurisdiction in its exclusive economic zone. It affirmed that certain actions within the Philippines’ EEZ violated the Philippines’ sovereign rights and were thus unlawful, that large-scale reclamation and construction of artificial islands caused severe environmental harm in violation of international conventions, that the large-scale harvesting of endangered marine species damaged the marine ecosystem, and that actions taken since the commencement of the arbitration had aggravated the disputes. These findings are no longer within the reach of denial and rebuttal, and are conclusive and they are indisputable. Mr. President, the award is final. We firmly reject attempts to undermine it, nay, even erase it from law, history and our collective memories. At the same time, we welcome the support of countries for the award. The award benefits the world across the board. We do not see it as directed at any other country, near or far. We see it as it should be seen, as favoring all which are similarly situated, by clarifying definitively a legal situation beyond the reach of arms to change. It puts this aspect of international law beyond the limit of prescription. And so we say once again, the present that we need and the future that we want is a peaceful South China Sea. The Philippines is committed to do this for as long as it exists. Thank you, Mr. President.

Azebaijan: Mutual recognition by their country and Azerbaijan of territorial integrity and inviolability of borders is a fundamental factor for establishing peace. However, we have heard no apology from Armenia for its persistent denial of this very principle for 30 years, as a result of which tens of thousands of people lost their lives. The genocide in Hoxhali and numerous other atrocities were committed against the Azerbaijani civilians. More than a million Azerbaijanis were expelled from their homes. and deprived of their property, and thousands of cities, towns, and villages in my country, not in Armenia, were plundered and razed to the ground. Indeed, it is ironic to hear accusations from Armenia, which violated every norm and principle of international law, and whose agenda throughout the past conflict was to read the formerly occupied territories of their Azerbaijani inhabitants by force, to prevent their return and to replace them with ethnic Armenians, thereby seeking to colonize these territories by changing their demography and character. The international community condemned these actions, qualifying them as amounting to ethnic cleansing and a scorched-earth policy. The counter-offensive operation and the local counterterrorism measures carried out by Azerbaijan in the fall of 2020 and in September last year, respectively, put an end to the unlawful occupation of its territories and ensured the restoration of my country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Azerbaijan fought not against a fictitious entity of civilian residence, as Armenia falsely claims, but against the regular armed forces of Armenia, as well as terrorist and mercenary groups under its command and control deployed in the then-occupied territories of Azerbaijan. The common in all actions that Azerbaijan was compelled to take in response to Armenia’s repeated unlawful use of force was their compliance with international law. the UN Charter, and the relevant resolutions of the Security Council. As to the residents who decided to migrate to Armenia or other countries, it was their choice, although Azerbaijan, by all available means, encouraged them to stay. If Armenia is genuinely interested in finding out the reasons of this, then it should look for their roots in its notorious doctrine of ethnic incompatibility, which it sought to impose as a model for our peoples to live next to each other, but not together. Set against the claims made by the representative of Armenia, the United Nations interagency mission that visited the region refuted the allegations that the local residents and their property were targeted during the security measures or thereafter. Another false assertion is that Azerbaijan holds Armenian hostages. There are no Armenian hostages in Azerbaijan. While those held accountable for war crimes, terrorist activity, and other serious offenses committed during the conflict do not enjoy such status by definition, these measures are fully consistent with the legislation and international obligations of Azerbaijan. This feigned concern for cultural property is easily exposed by numerous facts of destruction, desecration, and appropriation of Azerbaijani cultural heritage, both in Armenia itself and in the territories of Azerbaijan when they were under occupation. Armenia’s allegations about Azerbaijan’s territorial claims against Armenia are equally groundless, as they totally ignore the simple fact that, despite the ruinous consequences of the aggression, occupation and mass atrocities endured by the people of my country, it was Azerbaijan that extended the hand of peace and initiated the process of normalizing relations with Armenia based on mutual recognition and respect for each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. It is due to Azerbaijan’s determined and consistent efforts that significant progress has been made in the bilateral negotiations on the draft peace agreement and the delimitation of the border between the two states over the past four years. The return of Azerbaijanis to their historical homeland in Armenia is a human right, not a territorial claim. Mr. Chairman, with the end of the conflict, the historical opportunity has indeed emerged for a long-awaited peace in our region. However, the challenges remain. During this High-Level Week, we have once again witnessed Armenia’s refusal to take practical steps at the national level to root out territorial claims from a number of its legal and political acts, and especially from its constitution, which laid the basis for the sustained denial of the principle of the inviolability of borders and ultimately underpinned the aggression against Azerbaijan in the past, and which constitute the main obstacle. to the normalization of interstate relations today. While the delegation of Armenians of view that there are no territorial claims against Azerbaijan in their constitution, the same constitution, however, proclaims that the Declaration of Independence of Armenia, which is based on the early act of annexation of part of the territory of Azerbaijan, enshrines the fundamental principles of the Armenian statehood and the nationwide objectives. If this is not a territorial claim, then what is it? Consequently, what Armenia is required to do as the main prerequisite for signing a viable and sustainable peace agreement is to bring its rhetoric about territorial integrity and inviolability of borders in conformity with general respect for these principles in its policies, practice, and laws, including in the first place by prior modification of its constitution. The unacceptable comments just made by the representative of Armenia, along with the ongoing anti-Azerbaijani smear campaign, including through some third countries, pseudo-experts, lobbyists, diaspora, and NGOs aligned with shared xenophobic aspirations, clearly contradict Armenia’s statements about its interests in creating an environment conducive to moving the peace process forward. Therefore, Armenia must demonstrate not only in words, but mainly in real deeds. that it is genuinely committed to international law and the peace agenda. Peace is indeed within reach. However, for this to happen, there is a pressing need to address the remaining issues responsibly and to legally ensure that a return to the past of irredentism and aggression is excluded forever. I thank you.

President: Thank you. I give now the floor to the representative of China for a second intervention.

China: Thank you, Mr. President. In response to a statement made by the delegate of the Philippines, China is compelled to make another response. China does not accept or recognize the so-called South China Sea Arbitration. This is precisely for the preservation of the international maritime rule of law. UNCLOS does not represent the entirety of international maritime law. The arbitration initiated by the Philippines boils down to the issue of territorial claims, which are not subject to regulation by the UNCLOS. The so-called arbitration award contains many grave fallacies with regard to issues such as historical rights, the outlying archipelago of continental states, as well as the regime of islands. For example, according to the ruling, the biggest island in Nansha Jundao, the Taipingdao, has been characterized as a rock. Such a fallacious ruling seriously undermines the credibility of the dispute resolution mechanism.

Philippines: With respect to the earlier intervention made, allow me to reaffirm. The 2016 South China Sea arbitration is a testament to the Philippines’ unwavering commitment to the rule of law and the peaceful settlement of disputes. Over the years, the Philippines has continued to demonstrate this commitment to peace even in the face of the unlawful actions which have caused serious incidents in the South China Sea, without ever diminishing our resolve to protect and promote our people’s interests and the full and responsible enjoyment of our legally settled maritime entitlements and its accompanying rights and jurisdictions. This determination has only been strengthened by the broadening affirmation of the legal value of the award as a positive and legitimate source of international law. We are encouraged by the expressions of support made by other states that confirm the final unbinding status of the award, including the G7’s consistent reaffirmation that it is a significant milestone and a useful basis for the peaceful management of and resolution of differences at sea. Thank you, Mr. President.

President: Thank you, colleagues. That was the last statement and the exercise of the right of reply. We will continue the general debate on Monday, 30th of September, at 9 a.m. in this hall. Have a good evening. This meeting is adjourned.

Agreement Points

UN Security Council Reform

Speakers

Mulambo Hamakuni Haimbe – Zambia

Jeyhun Aziz oglu Bayramov – Azerbaijan

Maris Sangiampongsa – Thailand

Arguments

Advocates for strengthening UN Security Council and peacekeeping

Calls for reform of UN Security Council

Advocates for strengthening multilateralism and UN system

Summary

Multiple speakers emphasized the need for reforming the UN Security Council to make it more representative, effective, and accountable to all member states.

Climate Change and Sustainable Development

Speakers

Lars Løkke Rasmussen – Denmark

Mulambo Hamakuni Haimbe – Zambia

Jeyhun Aziz oglu Bayramov – Azerbaijan

Arguments

Emphasizes need for equitable climate action

Highlights efforts to achieve SDGs and combat climate change

Calls for climate finance and support for developing countries

Summary

Several speakers stressed the importance of addressing climate change, achieving sustainable development goals, and providing support for developing countries in these efforts.

Similar Viewpoints

These speakers emphasized the importance of peaceful conflict resolution and adherence to international law in various global conflicts.

Speakers

Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud – Saudi Arabia

Lars Løkke Rasmussen – Denmark

Maxim Ryzhenkov – Belarus

Arguments

Calls for ceasefire and peaceful resolution in Gaza and Middle East

Condemns Russia’s aggression against Ukraine

Supports peaceful resolution of conflicts through dialogue

Both speakers stressed the importance of strengthening multilateral cooperation and inclusive governance at the global level.

Speakers

Thórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörd – Iceland

Yamazaki Kazuyuki – Japan

Arguments

Supports UN Charter principles and multilateral cooperation

Emphasizes importance of inclusive global governance

Unexpected Consensus

Recognition of historical injustices and their ongoing effects

Speakers

Amery Browne – Trinidad and Tobago

Olushegun Adjadi Bakari – Benin

Arguments

Discusses rights of people of African descent

Advocates for sustainable development in Africa

Explanation

While representing different regions, both speakers highlighted the need to address historical injustices and their ongoing effects on people of African descent and African development, showing an unexpected alignment on this issue.

Overall Assessment

Summary

The main areas of agreement among speakers included the need for UN Security Council reform, addressing climate change and sustainable development, peaceful conflict resolution, and strengthening multilateral cooperation.

Consensus level

There was a moderate level of consensus on broad principles such as the importance of multilateralism, peaceful conflict resolution, and sustainable development. However, specific approaches and regional issues showed more divergence. This level of consensus suggests potential for cooperation on global challenges, but also highlights the need for continued dialogue and negotiation on specific implementation strategies and regional concerns.

Disagreement Points

Approach to the Israel-Palestine conflict

Speakers

Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud – Saudi Arabia

Francis Fonseca – Belize

Arguments

Calls for ceasefire and peaceful resolution in Gaza and Middle East

Calls for self-determination for Palestinians

Summary

While both speakers advocate for a resolution to the conflict, Saudi Arabia emphasizes the need for an immediate ceasefire and peaceful resolution, while Belize more strongly condemns Israel’s actions and calls for the eradication of what it terms a system of colonial domination and apartheid.

South China Sea dispute

Speakers

China

Philippines

Arguments

Addresses South China Sea dispute and arbitration ruling

Summary

China rejects the 2016 South China Sea arbitration ruling, while the Philippines reaffirms its commitment to the ruling and emphasizes its importance in clarifying maritime entitlements and rights in the region.

Nile River water rights

Speakers

Ethiopia

Arguments

Discusses Nile River water rights

Summary

Ethiopia asserts its right to use Nile River water resources for development, particularly through the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, while implying disagreement with Egypt’s position on water rights and usage.

Overall Assessment

Summary

The main areas of disagreement among speakers centered on regional issues such as the Israel-Palestine conflict, the South China Sea dispute, and Nile River water rights. There was also variation in approaches to climate action and UN reform, though these showed more partial agreement than outright disagreement.

Disagreement level

The level of disagreement among speakers was moderate. While there were clear differences on some regional issues, there was also significant common ground on broader global challenges such as climate change and the need for UN reform. These disagreements reflect the complex nature of international relations and the differing priorities of nations based on their geographical, economic, and political contexts. The implications of these disagreements suggest ongoing challenges in resolving regional conflicts and achieving consensus on global governance issues, but also indicate potential areas for cooperation and negotiation.

Partial Agreements

All speakers agree on the importance of addressing climate change and achieving sustainable development goals. However, they differ in their emphasis, with Denmark focusing on ambitious emissions reductions, Zambia highlighting national efforts, and Azerbaijan calling for increased climate finance for developing countries.

Speakers

Lars Løkke Rasmussen – Denmark

Mulambo Hamakuni Haimbe – Zambia

Jeyhun Aziz oglu Bayramov – Azerbaijan

Arguments

Emphasizes need for equitable climate action

Highlights efforts to achieve SDGs and combat climate change

Calls for climate finance and support for developing countries

All speakers agree on the need for UN reform, particularly of the Security Council. However, they may have different specific proposals or priorities for how this reform should be implemented.

Speakers

Mulambo Hamakuni Haimbe – Zambia

Jeyhun Aziz oglu Bayramov – Azerbaijan

Maris Sangiampongsa – Thailand

Arguments

Advocates for strengthening UN Security Council and peacekeeping

Calls for reform of UN Security Council

Advocates for strengthening multilateralism and UN system

Similar Viewpoints

These speakers emphasized the importance of peaceful conflict resolution and adherence to international law in various global conflicts.

Speakers

Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud – Saudi Arabia

Lars Løkke Rasmussen – Denmark

Maxim Ryzhenkov – Belarus

Arguments

Calls for ceasefire and peaceful resolution in Gaza and Middle East

Condemns Russia’s aggression against Ukraine

Supports peaceful resolution of conflicts through dialogue

Both speakers stressed the importance of strengthening multilateral cooperation and inclusive governance at the global level.

Speakers

Thórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörd – Iceland

Yamazaki Kazuyuki – Japan

Arguments

Supports UN Charter principles and multilateral cooperation

Emphasizes importance of inclusive global governance

Key Takeaways

There are widespread calls for strengthening multilateralism and reforming the UN system, especially the Security Council, to better address global challenges.

Many countries emphasized the need for peaceful resolution of conflicts, including in Ukraine, Gaza, and other regions.

Climate change and sustainable development remain top priorities, with calls for increased climate finance and support for developing countries.

Regional issues and bilateral relations, such as the South China Sea dispute and Armenia-Azerbaijan normalization, were prominent topics of discussion.

Human rights, gender equality, and self-determination were highlighted as important global issues by several speakers.

Resolutions and Action Items

Adoption of the Pact for the Future, which outlines a roadmap for enhancing international cooperation

Commitment to implement the Global Digital Compact

Azerbaijan to host COP29 in 2024, focusing on climate finance as a top priority

Japan to launch a program to nurture the next generation of leaders in the field of gender

Benin adopted a law granting nationality to people of African descent

Unresolved Issues

Ongoing conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza, and other regions

Reform of the UN Security Council

Equitable distribution of climate finance

South China Sea territorial disputes

Palestinian statehood and self-determination

Nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation efforts

Suggested Compromises

Two-state solution for Israel-Palestine conflict

Peaceful negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan for normalization of relations

Equitable and reasonable utilization of Nile River resources among riparian countries

Balanced discussions on lethal autonomous weapon systems, considering both humanitarian and security perspectives

The world is seeing a high pace of crises and unfortunately we are just looking at managing these crises rather than finding concrete solutions. This is a situation of laxism in international efforts and also a situation of selectivity in the application of international law and international humanitarian law which has led to an exacerbation of violence and conflicts and is threatening the principles of the UN Charter and undermining common actions to find peaceful solutions.

Speaker

Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud – Saudi Arabia

Reason

This comment insightfully critiques the international community’s approach to crisis management, highlighting a lack of proactive problem-solving and selective application of international law.

Impact

It set a critical tone for the discussion, prompting other speakers to address the need for more effective international cooperation and consistent application of international law.

We used to say that our future depends on it, but now we have to say that our existence depends on it. It is very well established and accepted that there can be no sustainable development without peace.

Speaker

Amery Browne – Trinidad and Tobago

Reason

This statement powerfully emphasizes the urgency of addressing global challenges and the intrinsic link between peace and sustainable development.

Impact

It shifted the conversation towards the critical importance of peace as a prerequisite for addressing other global issues, influencing subsequent speakers to address this connection.

Digital technologies have the power to transform the future of the world, thereby making digital cooperation an essential part of protecting and enhancing human dignity. Among such digital technologies, there is an urgent need to establish international governance on artificial intelligence in order to maximize the opportunities brought by AI while mitigating its risks.

Speaker

Yamazaki Kazuyuki – Japan

Reason

This comment highlights the transformative potential of digital technologies while also recognizing the need for international governance, particularly in AI.

Impact

It introduced a forward-looking perspective on technological governance into the discussion, prompting consideration of how to balance innovation with responsible regulation.

The concept of so-called Western Azerbaijan reveals the territorial claims of Azerbaijan towards the sovereign territory of Armenia, including its capital. Through such fake historical contrasts and weaponizing history, Azerbaijan intends to create a pretext to continue its policy of use of force in the region.

Speaker

Armenia

Reason

This statement brings attention to how historical narratives can be manipulated to justify territorial claims and aggression.

Impact

It sparked a heated exchange between Armenia and Azerbaijan, highlighting the complexity of long-standing regional conflicts and the challenges of achieving peace.

Overall Assessment

These key comments shaped the discussion by highlighting critical global challenges, from crisis management and the importance of peace for sustainable development to the need for governance in emerging technologies. They also brought attention to ongoing regional conflicts and the complexities involved in resolving them. The discussion evolved from broad global concerns to specific regional issues, demonstrating the interconnected nature of international relations and the diverse challenges facing the global community. The exchanges, particularly between conflicting nations, underscored the difficulties in achieving consensus and the persistent tensions that the UN must navigate in its pursuit of global peace and cooperation.

How can the UN Security Council be reformed to be more representative and effective?

Speaker

Mulambo Hamakuni Haimbe – Zambia

Explanation

The speaker emphasized the need for Security Council reform to make it more representative of developing countries and better equipped to address current global challenges.

What steps can be taken to operationalize and capitalize the Loss and Damage Fund for climate change?

Speaker

Mulambo Hamakuni Haimbe – Zambia

Explanation

The speaker highlighted the importance of making this fund functional to address climate change impacts on vulnerable nations.

How can the international community support the implementation of the Multinational Security Support Mission in Haiti?

Speaker

Amery Browne – Trinidad and Tobago

Explanation

The speaker called for increased international support, particularly funding, for this mission to address the security crisis in Haiti.

What measures can be taken to reform the international financial architecture to better support developing countries?

Speaker

Multiple speakers including Mulambo Hamakuni Haimbe – Zambia and Lars Løkke Rasmussen – Denmark

Explanation

Several speakers emphasized the need for reforming global financial institutions to be more inclusive and responsive to the needs of developing nations.

How can the international community effectively address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and work towards a two-state solution?

Speaker

Multiple speakers including Lars Løkke Rasmussen – Denmark and Thórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörd – Iceland

Explanation

Many speakers expressed concern about the situation in Gaza and called for renewed efforts towards a peaceful resolution and a two-state solution.

What steps can be taken to strengthen global governance on artificial intelligence?

Speaker

Yamazaki Kazuyuki – Japan

Explanation

The speaker highlighted the urgent need to establish international governance on AI to maximize opportunities while mitigating risks.

How can the international community support the peaceful resolution of disputes in the South China Sea?

Speaker

Multiple speakers including representatives from China and the Philippines

Explanation

The conflicting claims and interpretations regarding the South China Sea arbitration suggest a need for further diplomatic efforts and research on peaceful dispute resolution mechanisms.