Remarks by the President of the General Assembly,
Mr. Dennis Francis,
at the panel discussion entitled “Nothing about us without us. The role of small countries in the UN”, LAMPA Conversation Festival,
5 July 2024
[As Delivered]
Your Excellency, Ms. Baiba Braže, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia,
Your Excellency, Mr. Margus Tsahkna, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Estonia,
Mr. Kristofers Kārlis Krūmiņš, UN Youth Delegate of Latvia,
Mr. Kārlis Vērdiņš, Renowned Poet and Assistant Professor at the Art Academy of Latvia,
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am delighted to join you today, in beautiful City of Riga – and I express my gratitude to the organizers of this important annual event for the kind invitation.
I congratulate the LAMPA festival on 10 years of success in cultivating dialogue, diplomacy and friendship – offering the space to find breakthroughs on the critical issues of our troubled times.
It is a fitting anniversary to mark on these hallowed grounds of Cēsis, where in June 1919, a decisive battle for Latvian and Estonian independence was won – a joint victory showcasing the remarkable power of Small States’ solidarity in action.
It is a power I know well, as a citizen of Trinidad and Tobago – a small island nation in the Caribbean – well versed in the value of multilateralism and international cooperation, and strong people-to-people connections.
As demonstrated time and again – be it in the General Assembly, the Security Council, or elsewhere in our intergovernmental processes – Small States are the fiercest defenders of multilateralism and the UN Charter, its guiding constitution.
They are among the staunchest protectors – and expanders – of international law.
In turn, Small States are also protected by multilateral arrangements – which cushions them from inherent vulnerabilities and help build resilience against external threats and undue influence by the powerful; that often hamper their ability to act as independent and sovereign states.
And while it may be easy to criticise the shortcomings of multilateralism, I shudder to consider how our world would fare without its many benefits:
Might would rule over right.
And the few would rule over the many.
I need not remind this audience about the dangers of such scenarios.
Indeed, multilateralism enhances sovereignty – rather than diminish it.
Through multilateralism, Member States build coalitions to pursue common priorities – rather than compete over them.
It is no wonder, then, that when States become independent – as Latvia and Estonia did after 50 years of Soviet occupation – one of their first acts is to join the United Nations, an extraordinary moment of global solidarity.
Because, at the United Nations, each Member State is equal in rights and responsibilities – with equal voice and vote in the UN General Assembly – the so-called “parliament of the world”, given its universal representation of all sovereign nations, big or small.
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
While it is true that most UN Member States are small in size – they never lack in ambition or determination to deliver on tangible results.
Take, for example, Liechtenstein’s effort to increase accountability of the Security Council in discharging its primary responsibility in matters of peace and security – an effort that gained wide support and led to the General Assembly’s consensus adoption of the so-called veto initiative in 2022.
Consider, as well, Vanuatu securing the backing of more than 130 Member States – to spearhead the General Assembly’s request for an International Court of Justice advisory opinion on State obligations to mitigate the effects of carbon emissions.
Following my appointment of your Permanent Representative in New York – our dear Sanita – together with her Guinean counterpart, Latvia itself has shown exemplary leadership this 78th session of the General Assembly as co-facilitator of the strengthening of the Economic and Social Council and the review of the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development – championing the drive for systemic efficiency and faster action to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
Latvia has also been at the forefront of the fight against mis- and disinformation – having initiated the General Assembly’s first-ever resolution on the issue.
Estonia’s leadership – particularly on issues of digital governance and cyber security – has been equally vital to charting a more secure and peaceful future.
During its recent membership on the Security Council, Estonia convened the very first official meeting on security – emphasising that Member States must adhere to international law and norms of responsible State behaviour in cyber space.
Demonstrating the importance of this issue, the Republic of Korea just last month built on this initiative by also holding a thematic debate on cyber security during its presidency of the Council – highlighting the continued need for vigilance against cyber threats.
In each of these cases – and many others – Small States are demonstrating that there is “nothing about us without us” at the United Nations.
A spirit that is the lifeblood of the General Assembly – as the United Nations’ most representative, inclusive policy-making body.
Across the Assembly’s negotiating tracks – particularly for the Summit of the Future – Member States, including Small States, are deeply engaged in the issues, individually and in groupings, such as G77 and China, small island developing States or the EU.
As President of the General Assembly, I also have supported the active participation of not only Small States, but also civil society, young people, indigenous peoples and others in the Assembly’s work – through inclusive hearings and direct engagements.
The challenges before us demand no less.
The people of Latvia and Estonia have not been blind to the death and destruction caused by Russia’s unlawful aggression against Ukraine – where I just visited and learned firsthand the ongoing horror visited upon the Ukrainian people.
Millions have been displaced.
Schools, hospitals and vital public infrastructure have been repeatedly attacked – in reckless abandon of international law.
And ample evidence exists that children have been forcibly and unlawfully transferred or deported.
During my visit to Bucha earlier this week, I saw the devastation and the atrocious acts committed there, with my own eyes.
I was also moved by the glaring anguish in the eyes and voices of the students I interacted with at Mariupol State University – who are not only the traumatized victims of the Russian aggression but were forcefully relocated to pursue their education in a temporary facility in Kyiv.
I reiterate my condemnation of Russia’s aggression in the strongest terms – a message made clear through six – I repeat, six – General Assembly resolutions adopted during the 11th Emergency Special Session, as well as those adopted, year after year, on the human rights situation in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.
All these resolutions carry the moral weight of the vast majority of the international community – and thus represent the conscience of humanity.
In plain terms, Russia’s aggression is a clear violation of the UN Charter.
As I also did during my visit to Ukraine, I reiterate here in Riga the demands of the General Assembly – for the immediate, complete and unconditional withdrawal of Russian military forces from Ukraine’s internationally recognised borders.
And I call on all States, including Small States like Latvia and Estonia – as bridge builders and peace makers by nature – to continue doing their utmost to help bring about a just, comprehensive and sustainable peace in Ukraine, in line with the UN Charter and relevant UN resolutions.
The crisis in Ukraine is regrettable, but it is one among many on the global agenda.
As we speak, in the Gaza Strip, starvation is setting in and has become the order of the day for innocent civilians – unjustly stealing the youngest from our global community, the latest ghastly phase of humanitarian catastrophe.
Over 37,000 Palestinians have been mercilessly killed – and nearly 80 percent of the population displaced since 7 October 2023.
All while violent conflict ensnares countries across the globe, such as Sudan, Yemen, Myanmar and other parts of the world.
In my own Caribbean region, we must do all we can to prevent Haiti from descending any further into chaos and anarchy at the hands of the marauding assortment of gangs.
The recent installation of the Transitional Council Government and deployment of the Multinational Security Support Mission – led by Kenya with bilateral support from especially the United Sates of America – has rekindled hope that we can open a new chapter in Haiti.
Excellencies, Dear Friends,
Let me end by reaffirming that – amid the turmoil – the United Nations’ mission is more necessary than ever.
The challenges we face are greater and interconnected – but they are not insurmountable.
Only by working together – with active involvement of Small States – can we hope to restore peace and stability, in Ukraine and elsewhere, and thus fulfill our collective ambition for a more just and equitable tomorrow.
Over 30 years ago, the people of this region proved to the world that holding hands does indeed change the arc of history.
The Baltic Way – from Tallin, through Riga to Vilnius – left us awestruck and deeply inspired by the outpouring of solidarity among peoples and commitment to universal ideals of liberty and freedom.
It is time for us, as the United Nations and the international community at large, to follow this lead – to reinvigorate solidarity among Member States and reignite trust across the aisle.
I count on the support of Latvia, Estonia and all Member States on this important journey.
Paldies.
I thank you.
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