[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.24.3″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
Keynote Address by the President of the General\u00a0Assembly,<\/strong><\/p>\n Mr. Dennis Francis,<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n to the Meeting of the Council of Presidents of the United Nations General Assembly (UNCPGA)<\/strong><\/p>\n 2 May 2024<\/strong><\/p>\n [As\u00a0Delivered]<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Your Excellency, Soltan bin Saad Al-Muraikhi, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar,\u00a0<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n Your Excellency, Dr Han Seung-soo, Chair of UNCPGA,\u00a0<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n Your Excellencies, esteemed members of UNCPGA,\u00a0<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n Dr Jehangir Khan, Secretary-General of UNCPGA,\u00a0<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n Ladies and Gentlemen,<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n It is with a profound sense of gratitude and encouragement that I join you \u2013 for the second time during my tenure \u2013 at the Annual Meeting of this esteemed C<\/strong>ouncil of Presidents of the United Nations General Assembly (UNCPGA).\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n I should like to commend Your Excellency, Dr Han Seung-soo, for your exemplary leadership as Chairman of this Council \u2013 stewardship that commands both our respect and admiration, at a time of increasing uncertainty and indeed instability in the international system.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Permit me also to extend a special thank you to the State of Qatar, and particularly, to our dear Colleague, former President Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser, for their exceptional generosity in hosting us and their kind support in bringing us together at this meeting.\u00a0<\/p>\n My words of appreciation would be quite incomplete if I do not also acknowledge and indeed thank our devoted Secretary-General, Dr Jehangir Khan \u2013 whose tireless efforts have been instrumental in steering this platform toward a most\u00a0fruitful open dialogue and strengthened collaboration with my office.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n Chair, and Dear Colleagues,\u00a0<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n As we gather here today, I look forward to your reflections broadly on two main points:\u00a0<\/p>\n -the severe challenges facing our multilateral system \u2013 challenges that raise existential questions about its legitimacy, its ability to foster solidarity and to enact progress,\u00a0<\/p>\n -and secondly and more importantly, on the opportunities that empower leaders to galvanize international efforts towards a brighter future.\u00a0<\/p>\n Nine months into my Presidency, the polarization among Member States echoes the geopolitical fractures of yesteryears \u2013 and divisions that were once mere cracks continue to widen, forming gaping chasms.\u00a0<\/p>\n As stated during our meeting in Seoul last October, my Presidency has been guided by four pillars: peace, progress, prosperity, and sustainability for all.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n It has since become increasingly evident that \u2013 of these four \u2013 peace simultaneously constitutes both the foundation and the fragility of our collective endeavors.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n When prevalent, peace is the great enabler of progress, prosperity, and sustainability \u2013 while its absence is the greatest obstacle to the achievement of those critical objectives.\u00a0<\/p>\n Though tragically not the only challenges we face \u2013 with escalating crises in Sudan and Haiti, and the severe erosion of women’s rights in Afghanistan \u2013 the growing fractures of our world are starkly displayed in the humanitarian catastrophes both in Ukraine and Gaza.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n In Ukraine, blatant disregard for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of a fellow UN Member State by another \u2013 especially one that wields a veto power and presumed a lead custodian of our peace and security \u2013 has fueled much broader geopolitical tensions, that threaten global stability.\u00a0<\/p>\n In the Gaza Strip, the scale of humanitarian catastrophe has reached heartrending proportions, with tens of thousands of civilians killed \u2013 nearly half of them children \u2013 leading to widespread devastation and profound desperation, sending shockwaves that reverberate from the regional scale to the global stage.\u00a0<\/p>\n In response to the continuous state of paralysis in the Security Council in relation to these and other crises, the General Assembly has stepped into the breach \u2013 convening Emergency Special Sessions and adopting resolutions which, amongst other things, demand the Russian Federation to withdraw its forces from Ukraine, call for release of all hostages in Gaza unconditionally, and demand an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.\u00a0<\/p>\n In addition to these Emergency Special Sessions, the General Assembly \u2013 guided by the mandate of the so-called \u201cveto initiative,\u201d as contained in General Assembly Resolution 76\/262 \u2013 has become a pivotal platform for transparency and accountability across the UN’s principal organs.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n This initiative has been particularly relevant considering the recent proliferation of vetoes in the Security Council. As recently as yesterday, the Assembly convened another debate in response to a veto against Palestine’s application for full membership status at the United Nations.\u00a0<\/p>\n Broadly speaking, resolutions issued by the General Assembly are significant, reflecting the will of the international community.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n But how can we enhance these efforts?\u00a0<\/p>\n Looking ahead \u2013 while it is true, we face numerous challenges \u2013 there are also abundant opportunities to be seized.\u00a0<\/p>\n The forthcoming Summit of the Future, which we will discuss in detail later today, is a critical moment to reassert our commitment to multilateral solutions and to advancing the Sustainable Development Goals.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Similarly, COP29 will challenge us to not only uphold but to intensify our climate commitments \u2013 particularly our critical goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n This effort will be strategically reinforced by the meeting on addressing the existential threats posed by the Sea-Level Rise.\u00a0<\/p>\n As we approach these pivotal events, I urge all UNCPGA members \u2013 as true and tested champions of multilateralism \u2013 to encourage governments to engage in these processes, to embrace their importance, and to choose the paths of cooperation and compromise over unhelpful insularity and the narrow confines of national interests.\u00a0<\/p>\n Beyond these two events, we must be unwavering in our commitment to human rights and gender equality.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n I sincerely hope that we will \u2013 not too long in our lifetime \u2013 see the composition of the UNCPGA significantly transformed to better reflect gender equity in the leadership of the General Assembly itself, such progress representing only a stepping stone to the accomplishment of full gender parity in the longer term.\u00a0<\/p>\n Moreover, it must be a strategic imperative that we empower young people to voice their concerns and opinions on issues that will surely shape their future.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Excellencies,<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n Indeed, let us not shy away from hard questions.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n And so, I pose the following questions: \u00a0<\/p>\n President Nasser,<\/strong> your tenure coincided with the previous application for membership for Palestine.\u00a0How can we avoid the same divisions or obstacles you faced?\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n President K\u0151r\u00f6si<\/strong>, you presided over several sensitive and difficult ESS-11 meetings. How did you work to build trust among Member States?\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n President Espinosa<\/strong>, among other things, you brought gender equality to the forefront of the GA\u2019s work \u2013 and you continue your advocacy for this important cause to this day. How can we encourage Member States to nominate more female candidates for the leadership roles, including of those of the PGA and the Secretary-General?\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n As I already said, this Council forms a unique repository of knowledge \u2013 making it not only a platform for dialogue, but also a critical resource for guidance to the current and future leadership of the Assembly.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n I therefore look forward to hearing your valuable insights on these critical questions.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Despite the severe trials facing our institution, history has shown that United Nations, and the principles it stands for, can weather great storms.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n In the words of our host, President Nasser, during his acceptance speech: \u201cThe road to success must be founded on the principle of partnership and on a deep sense of justice and responsibility.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Let us move forward with resolve and hope, guided by the belief that our collective efforts can indeed forge a more peaceful, prosperous, and sustainable world.\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I thank you.<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n * *** *<\/p>\n Twitter post<\/a><\/p>\n PGA\u2019s Website<\/strong>: https:\/\/www.un.org\/pga\/79\/<\/a><\/p>\n YouTube<\/strong>: www.youtube.com\/@unpga78<\/a><\/p>\n X (Twitter)<\/strong>: www.twitter.com\/UN_PGA<\/a><\/p>\n Instagram<\/strong>: www.instagram.com\/unpga<\/a><\/p>\n