– As prepared for delivery –
Statement by H.E. Volkan Bozkir, President of the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly
18 January 2021
H.E. Mr. Hugh Hilton Todd, Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Co operative Republic of Guyana, on behalf of the Chair Country of the Group of 77 for 2020
H.E. Mr. Mamadi Touré, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Guineans Lıving Abroad, Republic of Guinea, on behalf of the Chair country of the Group of 77 for 2021
H.E. Mr. António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations
Mr. Mourad Ahmia, Executive Secretary of the Group of 77 and China,
Excellencies, Ladies and gentlemen,
Thank you for the opportunity to address the Handover Ceremony of the Group of 77 and China.
The work of the G 77 + China during the main session was efficient and instrumental to the goals of the General Assembly. The adoption of important resolutions, including on the QCPR and the approval of the organization’s budget, are particular highlights. I would like to commend Guyana on its stewardship of the Group during this very challenging period.
I would also like to extend a warm congratulations to Guinea as they take on the responsibility of the Group, as well as offer, once again, my heartfelt condolences to the Government of Guinea on the passing of the Chargé de Affairs in December. The COVID-19 pandemic has been a tragedy for all of us, and this loss hits particularly close to home.
Excellencies,
It is abundantly clear that the impact of COVID-19 will continue to dominate the agenda of the 75th session. As the world grapples with this terrible pandemic, including the need to ensure fair and equitable vaccines for all, as well as to address debilitating socio-economic impacts, it is the responsibility of the General Assembly – and by extension the Group of 77 and China – to embrace these concerns. Trust that our agenda for the remainder of the Session reflects this need.
Allow me to elaborate.
First, we must acknowledge the fact that, while COVID-19 has impacted all countries, it has not impacted all of us the same; Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries, and Small Island Developing States. stand to suffer the most in the long term, with many countries at risk of losing an entire generation’s worth of development gains.
On this, I commend the recent extension of the Debt Service Suspension Initiative by the G20 for six months and support the Secretary-General’s call for a further extension through the end of 2021. In addition to this, I encourage a broadening of the scope of these initiatives to ensure support for all developing and Middle-Income Countries in need, as well as recommend the development of policies, instruments and tools to help close the gap. This includes addressing growing debt vulnerabilities, creating liquidity through concessional finance, and mobilizing increased investment.
Furthermore – and this is a point that cannot be overstated – I call on all Member States and Groups to support a transformational approach to recovering from COVID-19. With the right political will we can reimagine the global financial framework to build back better. With trillions of dollars pouring into relief and recovery efforts, and with unprecedented public and political will on our side, we have a singular opportunity to transform our world for the better. COVID-19 may be the greatest tragedy of our generation, but it can also be a rebirth of sustainability, and a clarion call for renewed solidarity in our challenged world.
COVID-19 may be the greatest tragedy of our generation, but it can also be a rebirth of sustainability, and a clarion call for renewed solidarity in our challenged world.
Excellencies,
My second key message is the need to ensure fair and equitable access to vaccines.
As announced in November and detailed at the special session of the United Nations General Assembly in December, I have launched an initiative called #Vaccines4All. This initiative aligns with efforts by the World Health Organization and its COVAX Facility, as well as calls by civil society, the UN System, and the Secretary-General, to ensure that these vaccines are the ‘People’s Vaccines’, available to all countries and all vulnerable groups.
I call on all Member States to endorse this effort and to support a multilateral approach to ensuring access to vaccines for the international community. While we are all relieved that these vaccines have begun roll-out, I intend to maintain a focus on #Vaccines4All to keep track of achievements and outstanding needs, and to look for opportunities to close the gaps through multilateral action. I hope you will join me in this regard.
Excellencies,
While our efforts this year will undeniably and understandably focus on COVID-19, we must not ignore the threat of climate change, or other, related, environmental issues, including biodiversity loss and land degradation.
I am pleased to note that, in addition to the first ever UN Biodiversity Summit, held during the High-Level Week in September, we will be hosting a High-Level meeting on Desertification, Land Degradation and Drought in April, ahead of COP15 later this year. I trust that I will have the support of the G 77 and China in making this a success and in helping to galvanize action where it is needed most.
Declining biodiversity, intensifying weather, natural disasters, and expanding deserts are contributing to the number of people affected by hunger, which could surpass 840 million by 2030. This has only been exacerbated by the pandemic. Sadly, we are once again threatened by the possibility of famine; we cannot allow this to be the case.
In 2021 we will have, for the first time, COP-level meetings on climate, biodiversity, and land degradation. Let us ensure that we use these moments to pivot towards greater environmental sustainability and ensure that efforts towards this end are reflected in our recovery from COVID-19. In the lead up to the Food Systems Summit, urgent action is needed to reduce food insecurity and make strides towards zero hunger goal. We simply cannot emerge from this crisis unprepared or unmindful of the next.
Excellencies,
My final points refer to the need for a UN that is ‘fit for purpose’.
With the adoption of the QCPR resolution, the UN Development System now has clear guidance on strategic and integrated support to countries in implementing the 2030 Agenda and in responding to COVID-19. I know that this negotiation was difficult, and I applaud the G77’s flexibility and commitment to ensuring that it concluded successfully.
Our work, however, has not ended, and much more remains to be done. Delivering on the Decade of Action and implementation requires us to streamline the UN’s agendas and operations, and to create more time, space and energy for results-oriented discussions and efforts relating directly to implementation. With 70% of membership, the commitment and active engagement of the G77 + China on these issues is crucial.
In closing, allow me to reiterate a crucial point: the United Nations and the global multilateral system was built on the need to avert and, where necessary, respond to crises. Issues such as COVID-19, climate change, biodiversity loss and food (in)security are truly global in nature. They quite literally touch upon every person, every community and every country on this planet. We have a responsibility to step up and to deliver what we were designed to do, which is to deliberate, discuss and drive forward solutions to these pressing problems.
I look forward to working with you to make this happen.
Thank you.
