– As delivered –
Remarks by H.E. Mr. Abdulla Shahid, President of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly
17 September 2021
Mr. Secretary-General,
Ambassador,
Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Shu no heiwa (translation: peace be with you)
It is a pleasure to address you today on the 40th Anniversary of the International Day of Peace.
My sincere appreciation to Ambassador Ishikane Kimihiro and the Permanent Mission of Japan for consistently emphasizing the importance of this day, which reflects the eternal and very human desire for peace and security.
This human need for sanctuary is in our genes; we yearn for it. The pandemic and the various crises that the world faces only make this yearning even stronger. It drives us to seek solace, to seek assurance.
I truly believe that the United Nations can help provide this assurance.
Peace is, after all, one of our very reasons for being here. It is a pillar of the Charter of. It is why we talk; why we deliberate; why we come together each year.
As a peace advocate, I am truly honoured and profoundly grateful for your trust in me as President of the 76th Session of the UN General Assembly.
Under a Presidency of Hope, I pledge to listen to Member States and all stakeholders for a stronger and more effective United Nations.
I will work hard to bring together the best of humanity, to offer the best solutions, and to showcase the best examples of peace, harmony, and prosperity.
Ladies and gentlemen,
On this solemn occasion, let us be reminded that we can all be instruments of peace: to change our world into one of compassion, cooperation, and constancy.
Together, we are nations united in greater purpose.
I thank you.
