– As delivered –
Statement by H.E. Tijjani Muhammad Bande, President of the 74th Session of the United Nations General Assembly
12 June 2020
Excellencies, distinguished delegates,
Good morning. I am delighted to join you for this third virtual town hall on the General Assembly COVID-19-related initiatives.
Allow me to begin by thanking Her Excellency Mrs. Adela Raz, Permanent Representative of Afghanistan to the United Nations, and His Excellency Mr. Ivan Šimonović, Permanent Representative of Croatia to the United Nations, for their really hard work and leadership in this process. I am here today to listen to Member States views and extend my support to our common efforts to defeat COVID-19 and to prepare to address its socio-economic fallouts.
Although our host city of New York is slowly coming back to life, we are far from defeating the pandemic. COVID-19 continues to devastate lives and livelihoods across the globe —posing particular peril to the most vulnerable populations. I extend heartfelt condolences to all who have lost loved ones and stand in solidarity with Member States battling the disease.
Excellencies,
With over 7.5 million confirmed cases and over 400,000 deaths worldwide, a swift and comprehensive response from the General Assembly to COVID-19 remains essential.
In this regard, I thank the Co-Coordinators for producing a zero draft for the proposed General Assembly omnibus resolution on the pandemic. This signals Member States readiness to formulate a response that is broad in scope and powerful in ambition. Clearly the statement of both Co-Coordinators in this segment underpin this broad ambition. The draft document provides a sound basis for further discussions in which I trust you will engage with a spirit of cooperation. The high level of attendance at this town hall is a clear signal of the importance all of us attach to this issue.
Faced with the impact of a global pandemic, the world is looking to us to show unity and put forward tangible solutions.
As you are aware, Excellencies, on June 26, we will commemorate the signing of the Charter of the United Nations. Our organization’s founding document was signed in the wake of World War II, after months of intense negotiations by delegates who dared to take a bet on humanity. Now, 75 years later, we once again find ourselves at a crossroads. Faced with the impact of a global pandemic, the world is looking to us to show unity and put forward tangible solutions.
Undoubtedly, conducting negotiations through virtual means has its own challenges. Nonetheless, I must appreciate your ongoing effort in keeping the GA operational, including creating means to consult and negotiate through other means. I count on your commitment to this important intergovernmental process.
We must do our utmost to build bridges and seek common ground on this matter which is so critical to each and every Member State. I am certain that the spirit of compromise and the importance of the moment is not lost on any of us. I am convinced that we will have the omnibus resolution we craved for that is broad in ambition and centred on the purposes it addresses.
I thank you.
