Peace and Security

Good afternoon. 
 
First August. It is the middle of summer in the northern hemisphere.
 
We are witnessing not only record global warming but global political tensions are also heating up.
 
Both are dangerous and both are avoidable. 
 
Let me begin with the climate emergency.  
 
We have always lived through hot summers.  But this is not the summer of our youth. 
 
This is not your grandfather’s summer. 
 

Saidi al Raiis,
Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,
 
As salam alaikum.
 
I thank the Government of Kuwait for convening this discussion on “Issues of Priority to the League of Arab States and outcomes of the Arab Summit.”
 
I want to express my warm welcome to Mr. Ahmed Aboul Gheit, the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States.  We have been working together on many of the most difficult dossiers    that our two organizations confront, and it is for me an enormous pleasure to see you sitting in the Security Council.
 

I thank Kuwait and His Excellency, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, for this opportunity to brief the Council.
 
I welcome the representatives of The Elders, former Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and former President Mary Robinson. I also see in front of me the former President of Colombia, Juan Manuel Santos.  I welcome them in this chamber today, and thank them for contributing their personal wisdom and support to the debate.