Excellencies,

Ladies and gentlemen,

It is a bittersweet moment as we mark the end of the inaugural Fellowship for HOPE Programme held under the auspices of the Office of the President of the General Assembly.

 

I am very proud of this inaugural cohort, who have been an integral part of my team since they joined us in January.

I would also like to thank my team in the Office – Chef de Cabinet Nagaraj Naidu and Deputy Chef de Cabinet Midhfa Naeem who worked against time to put the entire HOPE Fellowship program together.

This was not an easy task.

They not only had to come up with a concept for the Fellowship, but raise funds to support the program, and negotiate agreements with our prime sponsors and to ensure that they are aligned with UN rules and regulations.

With the 10th of January 2022 as the starting day for the program, they worked backwards to put all the elements of the Fellowship together, finalizing the members of the independent board, finding the right partner to implement the program and ensuring that the Fellows were able to get their visas in time.

We were very fortunate to find a partner in UNITAR. I would like to thank Executive Director Nikhil Seth for his leadership and accommodating all our unreasonable demands.

I would also like to recognize the hard work of Ambassador Marco Suazo, Head, UNITAR New YorkOffice and that of Pelayo Alvarez in finalizing the agreement in accordance with OPGA demands and DGACM compliance requirements.

I am fully briefed of the tireless nights this took and the multiple telephonic conversations this took between my CDC and the Executive Director Nikhil Seth.

I would also like to recognize the hard work, diligence and commitment of my staff member and a very dear friend, Peter Mohammed Faiz. He is not only my Chief of Administration, but he was responsible for the Fellows and their welfare in New York. I am sure thatall the Fellows would agree that you would not have found a better guardian than Peter Faiz. He is a father figure in OPGA76. He might not agree to this though.

Looking back, I am happy that not only has the Fellowship completed its first edition, but we have funds tied up for the program to run for a full second session.

I would like to especially recognize the contribution of the European Union, which came forward to support this initiative. I am also glad that we have the PR of the European Union H.E. Ambassador Olof Skoog in our midst.

I am also very thankful to my Special Adviser Alexander Stutzmann, who was instrumental in ensuring EU funding for the program as well as the study tours to Brussels and Florence.

I would like to congratulate each of the HOPE Fellows individually:

– Mr. Javier D. M. Spencer of Antigua and Barbuda;
– Ms. Jigme Wangmo, Bhutan;
– Ms. Diedra Sealey of Grenada;
– Mr. Mohamed Fofana of Guinea;
– Mr. Mahathilath Phongsavath from the Lao People’s Democratic Republic;
– Ms. Jaala Jeremiah of Nauru;
– Ms. Kamukama Stella of Uganda;
– and Ms. Margaret Tatenda Chikawa of Zimbabwe.

All of you should be very proud of yourselves. Thank you for your enthusiasm, hard work and diligence.

Each one of you has worked closely with all the teams in my office on a rotation basis; you have contributed to High level Events and Meetings; and you have helped with the messaging and advocacy around my Presidency of Hope.

You are a big part of why we achieved so much during this session, and of why this session was so successful.

I am hopeful that all of you gained as much from this opportunity and exposure.

I also take this opportunity to thank the respective Foreign Ministries and Permanent Missions of the Fellows for their support to the initiative. I am sure youwould have gained by their presence in your Missionstwice every week.      

Excellencies, colleagues,

The PGA’s Fellowship for Hope was one of the flagship initiatives of my Presidency, and I am very gratified to have seen it through to its completion.

I am very thankful that my successor PGA77, His Excellency Csaba Korosi, has committed to run theFellowship during the 77th session.

I hope successive PGAs will find immense valueproposition in this initiative.

For countries that are underrepresented at the UN, this Fellowship is a stepping stone to nurture young diplomats to understand the complex working of the UN system and to commit themselves to the values of multilateralism.

 

 

 

 

It is my sincere hope that all the HOPE Fellows will return to their countries and continue to advocate for the values and principles enshrined in that Charter.

I further hope that they will work with their peers to build up a new generation of diplomats that are guided by the values of multilateralism and are well equipped to solve the complex challenges of our time.

The commitment and passion that these 8 fellows have demonstrated throughout their stay gives me confidence that this will indeed be the case.

I congratulate all of you on finishing your journey, and I wish you the best of luck as you move forwards in your career.

I have no doubt that all of you have a very bright future ahead of you.

 

Wish you all the very best in life.

I thank you.