At the outset, I would like congratulate you, Sir, on your election as President of the General Assembly at its seventy-fifth session. We also commend the outstanding work of the outgoing President, His Excellency Mr. Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, who contributed to advancing the Organization through his wisdom and leadership during the difficult time that we are going through. I would also like to reaffirm our confidence in and pay tribute to Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for the skill with which he is pursuing our shared goals.
When it comes to an end, the year 2020 will undoubtedly be seen as one of the most difficult in history in terms of the public-health crisis brought about by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, which has spread all over the world, causing untold human suffering. It has exposed many unforeseen vulnerabilities among the international community while causing an unprecedented economic crisis. While we are deliberating here in the Assembly we are still searching for a lasting cure for this plague. I would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to the memory of all the victims of the virus and to commend the extraordinary work of the healthcare workers from every country who have saved millions of lives.
This session is therefore taking place in an extremely unusual context in which our world is more disrupted than ever. The human tragedy that is the result is putting multilateralism to the test and urging us to act resolutely together to halt this scourge. That is why I welcome the choice of theme for this session of the General Assembly, “The future we want, the United Nations we need: reaffirming our collective commitment to multilateralism — addressing Covid-19 through effective multilateral action”. In many ways, the theme is emblematic of the overall environment of anxiety, which compels us to be united in solidarity and more determined. The COVID-19 pandemic requires immense sacrifices of us, and our success in halting the crisis will depend on our willingness to unite our efforts to counter the pandemic and prevent our populations from falling back into extreme poverty. It is an unfortunate fact that the COVID-19 pandemic has slowed our efforts to meet several Sustainable Development Goals, including in the areas of health, hunger and decent work. It is therefore imperative that the international community adopt a concerted, global and coherent approach to respond appropriately to the pandemic. In that regard, I commend the initiative of the Secretary-General who, from the very beginning of the pandemic, launched a global response by the United Nations system to address the pandemic and guide our States to safeguard themselves against the adverse consequences of the pandemic.
It has been established that owing to the virus’s highly contagious nature, the preventive measures that we are taking today will not be sufficient on their own to counter and eventually eliminate it. Vaccination therefore continues to be the lasting solution. In that regard, my country encourages all the research that is under way throughout the world to achieve that goal. Although it is promising, we are already dealing with the issue of access to future vaccines. While it is true that pharmaceutical companies are committing enormous financial resources to that end, we must not sacrifice our humanity to economic profit. We will therefore need to ensure that access to any future COVID-19 vaccine is equitable, affordable and not subject to market forces. Accordingly, I welcome the adoption of resolution WHA73.1 by the General Assembly of the World Health Organization (WHO), pursuant to which Member States have provided that full access to any such vaccine and other related medicines shall be timely, equitable, of high quality, safe and affordable for all. My country also welcomes the COVAX Facility initiative launched by WHO — a mechanism for the group purchase of eventual COVID-19 vaccines, coordinated by the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization — which will guarantee every participating country fair and equitable access to vaccines through an allocation framework that WHO intends to set up.
The African continent, which is confronting the cruelty of poverty and endemic and cyclical natural scourges, is also seeing a worrying spread of the disease. In order to counter that, the African Union has implemented a control-and-prevention strategy, recommended by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, the cost of whose implementation alone is estimated at more than $200 billion. It has also established the African Medical Supplies Platform to improve the provision of COVID-19-related medical equipment and supplies, access to which has become increasingly difficult owing to the strong market demand. In that regard, I welcome the partnership between the United Nations and the African Union to address the challenges posed by the pandemic. My country believes that the Secretary-General’s call to the leaders of the Group of 20 to adopt a recovery plan for developing countries, as well as calls for debt suspension and cancellation, will result in action being taken.
In the framework of its COVID-19 response, after our first case of the disease was diagnosed, on 6 March, Togo set up a crisis committee, personally chaired by the President of the Republic, a national coordination response, a management committee and a scientific committee. In view of the disease’s long-term socioeconomic impact, my Government has also launched a national solidarity and economic recovery fund totalling 400 billion CFA francs, or approximately $665 million. The measures taken involve prevention through social distancing, case detection, the compulsory wearing of masks and education and awareness-raising among the population. We have also shut down various areas of the country, established a curfew, closed borders, schools and universities and banned gatherings.
With regard to health care, the Government has opened dedicated centres in Lome and in each of the country’s economic regions, trained personnel and supplied critical laboratory, medical and protective equipment. The scientific committee has developed a treatment plan. We have taken various social measures for the benefit of the population, particularly the most vulnerable sectors, in order to mitigate the impact of the pandemic — reducing the costs of water and electricity, removing taxes on basic needs, providing food distribution and subsidizing the most disadvantaged citizens through the Novissi cash transfer programme, and, lastly, supporting businesses. We would therefore like to take this opportunity to express our sincere thanks to our various partners and all who are assisting Togo in the fight against the pandemic.
As we commemorate the seventy-fifth anniversary of the United Nations this year, it is fitting to note that our institution has made great progress in the areas of peacebuilding, respect for human rights and the promotion of truly sustainable development, despite the prejudices that have to be overcome. One of the Organization’s major achievements is in the area of the promotion of peace and security, with peacekeeping operations that have helped to save many lives and restore stability and security in a world plagued by conflicts and emerging threats such as terrorism and violent extremism. Our peacekeeping operations, in which as one of the major troop-contributing countries Togo is an active participant, have been enhanced and improved over time. This is the right occasion to welcome the fact that they are moving resolutely and increasingly towards a preventive and multidimensional approach.
In the area of development, the Organization’s adoption in 2015 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is still so far the most ambitious tool for ensuring our peoples’ welfare. The 2030 Agenda, which capitalizes on the experience gained from the Millennium Development Goals, integrates the three dimensions of sustainable development — economic, social and environmental — in a crosscutting approach. The Organization has also excelled in promoting human rights. International human rights standards have accordingly flourished in various areas, especially with regard to women and children.
However, such successes here and there must not blind us to the fact that the Organization is still facing many other challenges. Only active international cooperation and international solidarity can help us deal with them effectively and successfully. We have not yet banished the spectre of war and armed conflicts in all their forms. And nowadays such conflicts have taken on a new form, driven by non- State actors and amorphous networks that fuel terrorism and religious extremism, including in the countries of the Sahel region and Central Africa. Moreover, climate change, especially the destructive weather events that we have recently seen in Africa, and the migration crisis are challenges that the Organization must meet with bold and sustainable responses if it is to achieve the ideals it was founded on.
Our peoples’ expectations are high and pressing, and my country urges all States to assume their responsibility to meet them and commit to taking action, which, to be blunt, entails revitalizing and reforming our Organization, particularly its principal organs, including the Security Council, in order to make it more representative and better adapted to the demands of our time. We firmly believe that greater transparency, justice, equity and democracy, with strict respect for the sovereign equality and dignity of States, particularly in Africa, will enable the Organization to write a new chapter in its existence. To that end, we must not give in to the temptation of turning inwardly as nations. Let us rather move forward together and united in the hope of the peace and development to which our peoples remain firmly committed.


Mr President, Secretary-General, Your Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, [PM] For me, the General Assembly in New York is the ultimate UN experience. All the delegations gathered in that imposing hall during the General Debate. The whole world coming together.
There’s nothing like it.
But this year, everything is different.
For the first time in history we’re having a virtual Assembly.
It feels a bit surreal, and it’s far from ideal, but it’s important — despite the restrictions — that we share our views on the international situation.
Especially this year.
Because this is the year of coronavirus.
The impact on our health, our economies and our societies has been enormous.
Almost every country in the world, including the European and Caribbean parts of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, has been hit hard.
The poorest countries hardest of all.
Existing problems have been magnified by the pandemic.
And this has forced us to face facts: in times of crisis we have to work together.
Look out for each other.
Support one another.
Not only our families, neighbours and compatriots, but also other countries and peoples, regardless of the borders between us.
Because we’re all in this together.
The UN is setting the right example.
Not least by setting up the UN COVID-19 Response and
Recovery Fund, initiated by Secretary-General Guterres.
The Netherlands fully supports the Fund, and so far we’re its biggest donor.
The World Bank and the IMF are also helping the countries most affected.
These are fine examples of international solidarity that bode well for the future.
But if we’re truly going to defeat this virus we’ll have to do even more to enhance international cooperation.
It starts with supporting the World Health Organization, which plays a crucial role.
We must provide the resources it needs.
It also means countries need to give the Organization full cooperation and show transparency.
In some cases this has been lacking.
At the same time, the WHO has also attracted criticism.
The Netherlands agrees that — once the crisis is under control — we should evaluate the situation and look at how we can enhance its powers.
So that we’re well-equipped to deal with — or better still prevent — any future pandemic.
Critical evaluation and continuous efforts to improve are key elements of multilateral cooperation.
But unfortunately, as we mark the UN’s 75th anniversary, we’re also seeing another trend.
The multilateral world order, which has given us so much in the decades since World War Two, is under great pressure.
And we need to turn this tide.
Step one is for all countries to take responsibility for the proper functioning of the multilateral system.
Take a constructive approach.
Stand up for your own interests, but don’t lose sight of the common interest.
And last but not least, honour the agreements we’ve made and respect international law, including human rights.
When it comes to multilateralism, you can’t pick and choose.
Step two is to critically assess the system itself.
Because there’s work to be done there too.
We can’t tackle today’s challenges with yesterday’s structures.
It’s essential that we improve, reform and modernise our global institutions.
And the UN is no exception.
During our recent membership of the UN Security Council, the Netherlands worked hard on practical UN reforms in the area of peacekeeping.
And we fully support the broad reform agenda of SecretaryGeneral Guterres.
Together we need to ensure that the UN — now 75 years old — remains fit for purpose, well-equipped and young at heart.
That it’s ready for the next 75 years.
Because the new generations, who are already making their voices heard, must be able to count on a solid global system of multilateral cooperation.
The Kingdom of the Netherlands will keep working towards that end, in every way possible.
By providing financial resources, for example: we are one of the ten biggest donors to the multilateral system and we try to play a constructive role.
But also by sharing our expertise in areas like climate adaptation.
A topic that’s in the very DNA of our Kingdom, which is made up of a low- lying delta by the North Sea and several small islands in the Caribbean.
In January 2021, we will be hosting the Climate Adaptation Summit to help the world prepare better for the effects of climate change.
Another contribution we make is providing a base for the international legal order.
My home town of The Hague is host to the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court, for example.
We must continue supporting these crucial institutions.
Even though it’s become harder and harder in recent years to achieve accountability, due mainly to resistance from a small number of countries.
But we won’t let that stop us.
We will find other ways.
Like the international mechanism for collecting and analysing evidence of the most serious crimes committed in Syria.
Or the step the Netherlands recently took, holding Syria formally responsible for human rights violations.
And for our country in particular, the establishment of special court proceedings to try those accused of downing flight MH17 was a major milestone.
Because justice must be served.
And because justice is a central pillar of our multilateral world order.
We work in all these areas, in the full conviction that international cooperation brings us progress.
And although the current crisis forces us to keep our distance, now more than ever we need to come closer together.
Thank you.


Mr President,
This is an historic and unusual gathering of our General Assembly.
We gather not in the great city of New York, but from among our people, from across the nations of the earth, as together we face the same storm.
A global pandemic that has claimed the lives of at least 1 million souls that we know of and has plunged our world into a global economic recession.
These events reminds us of our shared humanity, our interdependence and, indeed, the value of our common hope.
To get an education, a job, a livelihood.
To be safe, healthy and free.
To live in a clean and unpolluted environment.
In such times of crisis, there is actually an opportunity for our shared humanity to overwhelm the differences that usually beset us and to focus once again on pursuing our common hope. Which is why we gather.
I speak to you today from Sydney, Australia’s largest city and the ancient home of the Gadigal people.
One of Australia’s many Indigenous peoples who have cared for our continent for more than 60,000 years. The world’s oldest continuous living indigenous culture, and so I acknowledge their elders past, present and future as I make these remarks from Sydney today.
Australia is contending with this storm of the global COVID-19 pandemic and recession with great determination.
Our aim is simple, to deny the virus the destruction it seeks to visit upon us, upon our lives and our livelihoods.
Sadly, over 800 Australians have lost their lives to COVID-19. But in comparative terms we have fared better than most and we are grateful for that.
Our COVID-19 case and fatality rates are a fraction of those across the globe.
And while our economy has not been spared the blow of recession, our first in almost 30 years in Australia, the impact has been far less than almost every other developed economy in the world.
Almost half the jobs that we had lost to the virus early on have been already recovered. Australia is getting on with the job.
Our national COVIDSafe action plan has been straight forward.
Secure our borders early and consistently.
Entrench COVIDSafe behaviours in our community and in our economy.
Social distancing, mask use and sanitation measures, to deny the virus the opportunity to move amongst us.
To build and ensure strong testing, tracing, and outbreak containment capabilities, shutting the virus down, before it can take hold.
Investing in our hospitals and our medical supplies to ensure the virus does not overwhelm our health system.
And to provide an economic lifeline to millions of Australians, their families and businesses, who have lost jobs and livelihoods as a result of the recession with income and investment supports worth more than 15 per cent of our GDP.
Our approach, though we have been tested, has saved lives and livelihoods and has protected, as best as we have been able to, our most vulnerable.
And we have done this consistent with our principles as an open, liberal democracy, respecting the dignity of each and every individual, every citizen, every life.
In Australia, we have also been mindful of our wonderful Pacific family during this pandemic, our wantoks, our vuvale, our whanau, particularly the island nations of the South West Pacific.
Australia is the single largest development partner for these nations.
So we’ve provided personal protective equipment, testing equipment, medical expertise, and we’re maintaining an essential services and humanitarian corridor so experts and supplies can get in and out.
In Southeast Asia, we’re also providing much-needed equipment and expertise, as well as supporting collaboration to develop a vaccine.
And we’ve contributed $80 million to the Gavi COVAX Advance Market Commitment.
When it comes to a vaccine, Australia’s view is very clear.
Whoever finds the vaccine must share it.
This is a global responsibility, and it’s a moral responsibility, for a vaccine to be shared far and wide.
Some might see short term advantage, or even profit.
But I assure you to anyone who may think along those lines, humanity will have a very long memory and be a very, very severe judge.
Australia’s pledge is clear: if we find the vaccine we will share it.
That’s the pledge we all must make.
At home, our Australian efforts are about producing and providing a vaccine to our citizenry, sovereignly produced, once a vaccine is safely available and we’ve invested $1.7 billion in that task.
And that includes being committed to ensuring our neighbours in the Pacific and other parts of South East Asia can also access a safe, effective and affordable vaccine.
The World Health Organization has a vital role, ensuring that if and when there is a vaccine, people around the world can get access it.
Australia supports the WHO’s efforts to develop a global framework so that vaccines and therapeutics are allocated fairly.
In facing a global health threat, we have all been reminded about the importance of multilateral cooperation.
And I acknowledge the efforts of the WHO in containing the spread of the virus, including in the Indo-Pacific region.
I’m pleased that the WHO has established an independent panel to evaluate the global response.
There is also a clear mandate to identify the zoonotic source of the COVID-19 virus and how it was transmitted to humans.
Australia strongly advocated for this review.
This virus has inflicted a calamity on our world and its peoples. We must do all we can to understand what happened for no other purpose than to prevent it from happening again.
When the resolution was put to the World Health Assembly in May, a record 145 countries were co-sponsors.
And as we try to control the spread of COVID-19, we also need to shine a spotlight on the dangers of disinformation.
Disinformation costs lives, and creates a climate of fear and division.
It goes against Australia’s values and beliefs as a free, open society.
So we recently worked through the United Nations to co-author a statement countering widespread disinformation, one signed by more than 120 countries.
I acknowledge the other UN bodies that are also making vital contributions.
The World Food Programme is transporting much-needed medical equipment and humanitarian supplies across the globe.
And the UN Development Programme is sending food into nations in dire need.
In fact, the UN is fulfilling its high purpose, the purpose that 75 years ago brought the world together in a united hope, and in goodwill.
Mr President, 75 years is a remarkable milestone.
Of course, much has changed since 1945.
When the UN Charter was signed, 51 countries were listed.
Australia was proud to be one of them and we are proud of the role we have played since then within the UN, to the present day.
Today, there are 193 UN member states.
That’s a good thing.
More voices. More ideas. More partners.
But with more voices and challenges comes complexity, negotiation, processes, bureaucracy that would test any organisation.
At 75, we know that the UN, like the humanity it serves, the nations that form it, are not perfect.
So against this backdrop, we should think about what the next 75 years look like for the UN, its structures, its functions and for multilateralism more generally.
We want these multilateral institutions to continue to deliver for us and all nations.
So we’re committed to ensuring they are fit for purpose, that they’re effective, that they’re open and transparent and, most importantly, that they are accountable to the sovereign states that form them.
The UN is its members, not its committees, processes, institutions or officials.
Its authority and efficacy is derived from the free participation, contributions, cooperation and collaboration of the sovereign states that comprise the United Nations, in a common purpose, to pursue our common hope.
We know that sovereignty doesn’t mean turning inwards though.
We value rules that protect sovereignty, peace and security, and curb the excessive use of power.
As Australians we also prize respect for international law and the peaceful resolution of disputes through dialogue.
This includes ensuring that competing territorial and maritime claims are based on, and determined in line with, international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
As an outward-looking, sovereign, trading nation, Australia also values the rules and institutions that enable international trade.
We know that trade creates wealth and brings nations together. It makes us more prosperous, all of us.
We won’t retreat into the downward spiral of protectionism in Australia.
So we’re leading efforts to reform the World Trade Organization.
We’re advocating for trade rules that are predictable, transparent and non-discriminatory.
We’re helping to design the first-ever set of global digital trade rules so we keep pace with modern realities.
And we’re working hard to preserve crucial elements of the WTO’s dispute settlement system so trade rules can continue to be enforced.
Australia also relies heavily on the international standards that UN technical bodies set, especially in areas like aviation, telecommunications, and health.
These issues are vital to all of our prosperity, and we want to play a bigger role alongside business and civil society in setting relevant and efficient standards.
We need to make sure these standards serve all countries rather than any single power, and that they are developed in line with the fundamental principles of the global order.
Australia is helping to shape the norms for other emerging issues, also.
Like ensuring states abide by agreed rules in cyber space, maintaining a peaceful outer space, and managing critical minerals resources.
Australia is also committed to ongoing counter-proliferation efforts.
We played a major role in negotiating the establishment of the
Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization in the 1980s and 1990s, and we see it as a critical pillar of international peace and security today.
As signatories to the Kyoto and Paris Accords we are reducing our carbon emissions, effectively. Most recently Australia beat our Kyoto target commitments by 430 million tonnes of C02 abatement.
Between 2017 and mid-2020, more than $30 billion was invested in renewables in Australia.
In 2019 we saw investment at more than three times, in renewables than the per capita rate of countries like Germany, China, or France.
Across 2019 and 2020, Australia will add more than 12.6 GW of renewable capacity, now that’s over four times that of our largest power station in Australia. And nearly one in four households have rooftop solar systems.
As a liberal democracy, we’re also committed to promoting universal values like human rights, gender equality and the rule of law.
We’ve always believed in these values, it’s what makes us who we are.
Australia was one of only eight countries involved in drafting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. We’re proud of that role.
And today, we’re serving as a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council.
We’re the first country from the Pacific region to serve on that body.
Our term ends this year, and we’re pleased to have served but I’m proud that we’ve raised our voice and been heard on important issues like the rights of women and girls, the rights of Indigenous peoples, and the global abolition of the death penalty.
Australia will continue to bring its influence to bear to make sure it responds to the interests of its members and the needs of our time.
Mr President, 1945 was a defining year in human history.
The year the Second World War ended.
The year the United Nations was founded.
It was a year when humanity found hope amidst despair.
This year is one of the hardest since then.
So let our resolve now also be undiminished as it was at the beginning of the United Nations as we commit again, together, to realising the common hope that binds us all together.


Mr. President of the General Assembly,
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The General Debate for this 75th session is held in a context marked by the global health, economic and social crisis.
On this occasion, I would like to send a greeting of friendship and solidarity from the people of Cabo Verde to all the peoples of the United Nations, deploring the loss of human life that resulted from the coronavirus pandemic and encouraging a resilience that will lead us to better days.
For the past 75 years, our tradition is to annually hold the debate of UN General Assembly in New York. This is the meeting of the world and the great gathering of its peoples.
The general debate of this 75th session attempts to use a digital platform for the same purpose. We do it without the usual warmth of the hugs and handshakes in the corridors, halls and receptions without the face-to-face interaction of live diplomacy, which is the most effective one.
I would like to pay special regards to the outgoing President of the General Assembly, Professor Tijjani Muhammad-Bande of Nigeria. I congratulate him for having successfully accomplished a mandate and demonstrated leadership and adaptability in the difficult context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
I would like to welcome the new President of the General Assembly, Mr. Volkan Bozkir of Turkey, and wish him every success in his presidency.
I would like to congratulate the Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, on his tireless stewardship a leadership that has given face and voice to the most anguish of peoples in these moments of great uncertainty while at the same time striving to build global solidarity that responds effectively to the impacts of COVID 19 on the lives of people, countries and the world.
Mr. President,
The COVID-19 pandemic is a global threat. Humanity is confronting its greatest challenge in more than a century.
The impact of the pandemic has profoundly human and humanitarian dimensions. It affects people, their lives, their health, their families, their livelihood, their employment, their social inclusion and protection, their mobility, their leisure and their psychological and mental stability.
The pandemic has further exacerbated inequalities between developed and developing countries.
Few countries in the world have enough savings to accommodate the extraordinary costs imposed by the global crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and, at the same time, to recover and relaunch their respective economies.
In developed countries, such as those of the European Union, a financial package of €750 billion was needed to support member states. The financial stimuli of the richest countries exceed hundreds of billion dollars. And what about Africa? And small island developing states Are they able to bear the costs and the recovery and relaunch based on their savings alone? Of course not!
We are facing internal struggles in each country and at the same time a global struggle, which requires global collaborative solutions.
Nobody wins with Africa more impoverished, with an increase of humanitarian and security crises. Everyone wins if African countries have the necessary resources to overcome the serious health, economic and social crisis caused by COVID-19, and enter a new era of structural transformations that positively impact their economies and their Human Development Indexes.
It is in this context access to a vaccine should be equitable and universal and external debt should be forgiven. These must be the subject of a Global Responsibility Pact in order not to leave anyone behind.
External debt forgiveness is essential. It is necessary not only to deal with the economic contraction and macroeconomic imbalances caused by the coronavirus crisis, but as a turning point to boost the sustainable development of African countries in the framework of strong commitments to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
A differentiated approach must be given towards to Small Island Developing States (SIDS), taking into account their great vulnerabilities to external economic and environmental shocks as well as their great dependence on tourism, a sector devastated by the global pandemic.
Many of the SIDS have historically performed well in reforms and policies aimed at increasing resilience and reducing vulnerabilities, but these need time to be effective. Past efforts cannot be in vain. That is why it makes perfect sense to focus on debt cancellation or relief initiatives leading to not just the recovery of economies but the pursuit of sustainable development.
For SIDS, the response of the international community cannot and should not be an eligibility problem based on per capita GDP. Instead, global efforts should focus on the evidence that reforms are helping nations to make progress in achieving the SDGs.
In Cabo Verde, our priority has been to apply the resources released from external debt service to finance the Strategic Agenda for Sustainable Development 2030. In doing so, we emphasize: (1) human capital development; (2) health security and public health; (3) digital transformation; (4) energy transition; (5) water strategy for agriculture associated with renewable energies; (6) blue economy; and (7) sustainable tourism.
They are drivers of the SDGs to make Cabo Verde a country that is more resilient and less vulnerable to external shocks... eliminating extreme poverty... improve household income... and creating decent job opportunities for young people within a more diverse economy.
These priorities are achievable with the shortening of public investment cycles, the attraction of national and foreign private investments, public-private partnerships, and cooperation for development. All of this is possible within an environment of political and social stability, low reputational risks, and a business friendly mindset. In short, building an institutional framework of trust.
Mr. President,
Today, once again, with the COVID-19 pandemic, the importance of Multilateralism is clear. Everyone loses when economies are disrupted and when borders are closed. Some may lose more than others, but our world and its peoples are far worse off.
The devastating potential of climate change knows no borders, either. And everyone loses, especially the generations of the 21st century and generations to come.
Poverty, hunger, insecurity, instability and violent extremism, such as terrorism and organized crime, have impacts and implications that extend well beyond a nation’s borders.
We live today in the context of a serious pandemic. But it must not confine the ambition of Agenda 2030.
The Decade of Action initiative launched by the Secretary General could not be more timely. We must speed up and make the implementation of Agenda 2030 more urgent so we can better respond, recover, and rebuild. Cabo Verde firmly supports this initiative.
The pathway to the future we want is full of uncertainty, but the continuing mandate of the United Nations will serve as a beacon to light the way.
We have an opportunity to build a better and more sustainable world in the post-pandemic era, one that is... defined by the advent of peace and the reduction of conflict... more secure... no longer proliferating nuclear weapons... more focused on human rights... driven by sustainable and human development... and energized by greater cooperation in matters of security, economics, knowledge, science and technology, with benefits for all.
Political leaders have an increased responsibility and none, from any country, should be absent from the commitment to millions of young people who legitimately care about their future and that of their children and grandchildren to come.
The United Nations we need must unite nations in building the future we want. This can only be achieved by reaffirming the undeniable importance of Multilateralism.
Seventy-five years later, everyone agrees that it is necessary to reform the Organization, namely: the composition and functioning of the Security Council... the revitalization of the General Assembly... the strengthening of the Economic and Social Council... and the alignment of working methods and cooperation among these main bodies.
There is an urgency to carry out these reforms, both in relation to peacebuilding and in relation to the promotion of development. And that depends on us, the United Nations, the leaders of the peoples of the United Nations.
Thank you very much.


His Excellency, Mr. Volkan Bozkir, President of the United Nations General Assembly;
His Excellency, Mr. Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations; Excellencies and distinguished delegates;
On behalf of the Government and people of Papua New Guinea, I am pleased to address, for the first time, this august body in an unprecedented manner via a prerecorded virtual video.
This has emanated, courtesy of the COVID-19 pandemic, impacting worldwide and devastatingly on all aspects of our livelihoods. Our sympathies, condolences and prayers are with the many victims of this virus and we stand in solidarity with all nations and peoples affected by it.
Mr. President,
I congratulate you and the Government of Turkey on your election to lead the important work of the General Assembly over the next year.
I pledge Papua New Guinea’s support during your tenure under the well-chosen theme of a strengthened multilateralism that reinforces the collective good of “We the peoples of the United Nations”, as called for by the Charter of the United Nations.
I also want to thank the outgoing President of the General Assembly, His Excellency Mr. Tijjani Muhammad-Bande for his outstanding leadership, including over the past seven months, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic challenges.
Similarly, we thank Secretary-General Guterres for his decisive and robust leadership of our collective work.
Mr. President,
This year, as we reflect on the 75th Anniversary of the United Nations, the importance and necessity of the United Nations, particularly for small nations like mine, cannot be overstated.
Though much more work, including strengthened reforms of the UN, is needed for a better and fairer world for all, it has also made much progress on global peace and security, human rights and social issues.
We have seen this firsthand in my own country in support of our development priorities, including through the transformative partnership for sustainable development, to combat COVID-19, measles, polio and TB, foster peace and security in Bougainville and in our Highlands region, supporting our women and girls equality, empowerment and protection from gender-based violence and environmental protection and combating climate change.
The onus is on all of us as succeeding generations to work collectively through multilateralism under the UN to stop the scourge of war, to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, to reestablish the basic conditions for justice and the rule of law, and to promote social progress and better standards of life in the future we want.
My Government also recognizes the important role of the UN system in support of the UN Member States development priorities.
In this context, I want to place on record my Government’s appreciation to the UN Deputy Secretary-General, Ms. Amina Mohammed for being the first-ever female and highest ranking officer to visit Papua New Guinea in the past 45 years of the partnership between Papua New Guinea and the UN.
This was indeed a landmark UN visit and most welcomed by my Government to further consolidate the strong, cordial, expanding and constructive bonds that exist between Papua New Guinea and the UN.
Mr. President,
COVID-19 continues to test our resolve as countries and peoples, like never before with its multifaceted impacts.
To protect our country and people, my Government took leadership and ownership to set in place the necessary early preventive measures in policy and law, including passage of the National Pandemic Act 2020 to deal with it and such similar outbreaks in future. This has cushioned, to some extent, the toss of lives to just six, so far, in the country.
We are also working closely at the Pacific regional level through the Pacific Islands Forum to tackle COVID-19 and this has been relatively successful with minimal loss of lives.
The net effect of COVID-19 has resulted in job losses, export and other revenue decline, and development priorities put on hold, as I outline last July in our first ever Voluntary National Review Report on the implementation of our 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development to the High-Level Political Forum.
Unless and until an effective vaccine is developed an available for use the health threats of COVID-19 cannot be underestimated. It is important that any COVID-19 vaccine developed should be for public health good and accessible and affordable to everyone.
Mr. President,
My Government is firmly committed and determined not to let COVID-19 overwhelm us. It is in this spirit that my Government’s “Take Back Papua New Guinea” vision is framed to build back better, be resilient, be greener and take us forward as we strive towards achieving our long-term development Vision 2050.
To build back better from COVID-19, my Government has adopted a fivepronged strategic approach. First, the response will be PNG-owned, led and driven, which includes a vision for the future — using this crisis as a way to reshape our society into one that is fairer, united and more inclusive.
Secondly, the response will be broad, comprehensive and inclusive, covering households in both rural and urban areas and also businesses — both small and big, formal and informal.
Thirdly, it will be smart and forward looking, where focus is on practical projects that build our economic capacity with Public Investment Program focused on projects ready to go and procurement arrangements streamlined to allow early commencement of activities.
Fourth, we want the response to be responsible. This means managing our debts in a way that it does not further burden the country in the medium to long-term.
Fifthly, leveraging appropriate development partnerships. In this regard, we also welcome with interest the Financing for Development initiative spearheaded by Canada, Jamaica and the UN Secretary-General.
Mr. President,
We have re-opened the economy for business to resume operations and invested in an economic stimulus package valued at PKG 5.6 billion or $1.6 billion, by far the largest in our nation’s history, to support our local small-to-medium-enterprises, including particularly small farmers in the rural areas and women entrepreneurs, aimed at also strengthening food security and livelihoods.
This was done with the support of our development partners’ in-country such as national banks, superannuation funds and state-owned enterprises and also from the IMF, World Bank and the Asian Development Bank as well as our bilateral partners including Australia and Japan. We are grateful to our development partners for their continued support.
Mr. President,
Most recently, my Government has passed legislative amendments to our resource laws to address imbalances in major resource development projects. These amendments were to the Oil and Gas Act 1 998, the proposed 2020 Organic Law on Hydrocarbon and the Mining Act 1992.
By doing that, we can now negotiate fair and equitable returns for all stakeholders including multinational companies from exploitation of our renewable and nonrenewable resources.
Despite the reforms, I place on record that PNG is still an attractive investment destination, and I invite foreign direct investment in all sectors including in hydrocarbon, mining, energy, agriculture, fisheries, forestry and tourism
Mr. President,
In terms of good governance, I am pleased to inform that Papua New Guinea continues to meet its obligations as a member State party to the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC).
It is also anticipated that the Organic Law on an Independent Commission Against Corruption will be passed in this term of Parliament. The draft Organic Law has been debated in Parliament and an Interim Office of ICAC is in operation and is being funded by Government.
In addition to that a separate Whistle Blowers Act has been unanimously passed by the current Parliament to protect and encourage reporting on corruption. Simultaneously reforms to the Judiciary for a separate tract on corruption related offences for speedy proceedings have also been undertaken.
Mr. President,
My Government through its recently launched Connect PNG Policy (2020- 2040) which is focused on building, rehabilitating and expanding key enabling high quality economic infrastructure such as roads, airports and sea ports.
These are critical enablers to create economic corridors to connect our provinces and provide our MSMEs and SMEs access to good markets and export opportunities.
Mr. President,
My Government is now rolling out an extensive Rural Electrification Program to light up 70 per cent of the country which has been without reliable and affordable electricity by 2025, when we celebrate our 50 years of Independence.
Mr President,
My country recognizes the importance of ICT and recently completed construction of a domestic fibre optic submarine cable nationwide and launching of the international Coral Sea Cable linking our country with Australia, Solomon Islands and the rest of the world.
This will enable PNG to access reliable and affordable high-speed internet aimed at improving connectivity to all sectors, build e-commerce channels and enhance Government online services.
Mr. President,
Also as a maritime nation, my Government is placing high priority on investment and protection of our fisheries and maritime sector. This sector contributes a quarter of our annual budget and also employs 80 per cent women workforce in our tuna canneries.
In further support of this sector, we launched in July 2020 our first-ever National Oceans Policy 2020-2030, which will ensure that our oceans and seas and their resources are properly coordinated, managed, protected, governed and sustainably used. This will also contribute to further strengthening our national efforts to implement our SDG 14 commitments and obligations.
It will also supports the August 2019 decision of the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders under the Blue Pacific Continent narrative to ensure that our maritime zones delineated in accordance with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea could not be challenged or reduced as a result of sea-level rise and climate change.
We therefore look forward with keen interest to the outcome of the International Law Commission’s Study Group on sea-level rise in relation to international law.
We are also interested to harnessing regional and global efforts including the Second UN Ocean Conference in 2021, the launch of the UN Decade of Ocean Science next year, and for the successful conclusion of the BBNJ treaty negotiations, to further protect our maritime zones, their natural resources and sustainable use.
Mr. President,
As we embark on the Decade of Action to deliver on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, I reaffirm my Government’s commitment to this important universal agenda.
Our Voluntary National Review Report to the High-Level Political Forum last July which I presented virtually clearly outlines and articulates the status of our national SDGs implementation, the gaps and challenges. The unexpected COVID-19 challenges will compound and undermined many of our development gains.
Notwithstanding this, my Government is taking leadership and ownership of this under our Strategy for Responsible Sustainable Development (StaRS) and the Medium-Term Development Plan III, as welt as our Development Cooperation Framework.
We recognize that governments alone cannot achieve the SDGs. We therefore welcome development and multi-stakeholder partners to join us in delivering on the future we want.
Mr President,
Under SDG 13, PNG continues to comply with the Paris Agreement under the UNFCCC and presented our National Determined Contributions (NDC) report to the United Nations which was recently reviewed.
On deforestation and forest degradation, I call upon the UN to assist to find a balance between cutting our trees and forest for revenue against preserving them to mitigate the adverse impacts of climate change given that PNG has 13% of the world’s rainforest and 7 per cent of the world’s biodiversity.
This continues to be an ongoing challenge for my Government in terms of meeting the peoples’ basic needs to sustain their livelihoods against preservation of the forests in response to global warming.
My Government has recently approved PNG’s National REDD+ Strategy and its Country Report which is a prerequisite to accessing the fund.
Mr. President,
The Bougainville peace process remains a priority for my Government and we are committed to the Peace Agreement, which has enabled nearly two decades of unbroken peace in Bougainville. I thank the UN for its continued support to the Peace Process on Bougainville.
In 2019, a Referendum was conducted on Bougainville.
The result of the Referendum is ‘non-binding’ wherein it does not determine a political future but rather, the responsibility rests with the National Parliament on a political future for Bougainville. As I speak, ABC elections are being conducted for a new Government by September 2020, and we are confident of a successful election.
My Government stands ready to welcome the newly elected members of the Bougainville House of Representatives and look forward to a cordial working relationship and a fruitful consultative process before a decision by National Parliament on the future of Bougainville
Mr. President,
As we also commemorate this year the Twenty-fifth Anniversary of the Beijing Fourth World Women’s Conference, I would underscore that ensuring gender equality and empowerment cannot be taken for granted. In my country, we have a long way to go yet but this is work in progress and some level of success has been witnessed.
The scourge of gender-based violence is of serious concern to my Government and we are now not only reviewing policies and laws to address it effectively but also taking enforcement measures to prevent this unacceptable situation. There is an up swell of support at all levels, both in government, the private sector and civil society to stamp out gender-based violence in the country.
An important recent development was the launch of the Spotlight Initiative in March 2020, a joint initiative between my Government, the European Union and UN.
This is a long-term priority requiring sustainability and partnerships as the government cannot achieve alone. Another important development my Government is pursuing is to increase the level of women’s representation in our Parliament, which at present does not have a women Parliamentarian.
It is incumbent on us to ensure that half of our country’s population constituting women and girls have voice in the highest political level and it is the right thing to do.
Mr. President,
Finally, we reiterate our call, once again, of the necessity and urgency for the holistic reforms of the United Nations. Particularly the Security Council, whose binding mandate on global peace and security with practices that are inconsistent with today’s realities necessitates reforms that will make it more transparent and accountable to the wider UN membership.
Mr. President,
In closing, and speaking of UN reforms, Papua New Guinea welcomes the long overdue establishment of the UN multi-country office for the North Pacific region and looks forward to its opening and operations soon to support the sustainable development efforts of our Pacific sisters and brothers from the Micronesian subregion. Thank you.


Your Excellency Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations,
Your Excellency Volkan Bozkir, President of the General Assembly at its seventy-fifth session,
Ladies and gentlemen representatives of Member States,
Receive the warmest greetings of the people of Nicaragua, from President and Commander Daniel Ortega Saavedra and Vice-President and First Lady Rosario Murillo, with a message of peace, health and prosperity for the Governments and peoples that constitute the United Nations.
We have come together at an exceptional time due to the pandemic affecting all of humankind. We reiterate our solidarity and condolences with the families around the world who are suffering the consequences of COVID-19. The pandemic has plunged the world into uncertainty and could further exacerbate major crises such as hunger, malnutrition, poverty, inequity, unemployment and climate change, which exist as a result of an economic system that is unjust and degrading to human beings.
Mr. President,
As we commemorate 75 years of our Organization, the world continues to cry out for peace, justice, security and a comprehensive response from the United Nations for the benefit of humankind. Reform of the United Nations, as proposed on behalf of Nicaragua by the priest and Nicaraguan Foreign Minister, Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann, during his presidency of the General Assembly in 2008, is a matter of urgency.
We express both our hope for and our commitment to that necessary and dutiful transformation, with the reform and democratization of the United Nations and its organs, which will enable our Organization to serve in the interests of our peoples and not hegemonic Powers. We are confident that our peoples will move forward with vigour and hope to build a new world order, with justice, equality and multilateralism at its core, in order to guarantee international peace and security for the common good and the fulfilment of the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations.
We are entering the last decade of action to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals. In order to achieve those objectives, we must join efforts in a true global alliance to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as other pandemics imposed by some Powers to the detriment of international peace and security, the independence and sovereignty of States and the self-determination of peoples.
Nicaragua will continue to promote a culture of peace and peaceful coexistence among the brotherly countries that form the United Nations and we will continue to be a factor of regional peace and security and stability in Central America.
We also call for the continuation of global efforts in favour of safe, orderly and regular migration.
Although the challenges posed by the pandemic are complex, we cannot forget the existential threat of climate change that continues to be overlooked as a consequence of unbridled capitalism. It is urgent that we ensure the survival of the human species and protect the life and rights of Mother Earth
In line with our peaceful vocation, Nicaragua also advocates for general and complete disarmament and is in favour of the total elimination of nuclear weapons.
The illegal unilateral coercive measures imposed by the United States against other populations must cease immediately to ensure stability, peace and development for families. We denounce and condemn the repeated attacks in a cruel and unrelenting war against the peoples of Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua in particular, which are designed to serve only foreign interests, as outlined in the interfering and interventionist policies of imperialists, and constitute a violation of human rights.
We denounce and condemn the aggression, through a brutal economic, political and commercial blockade, that is causing the worthy people of Cuba great suffering. We reaffirm our enduring solidarity with the legacy of Commander Fidel Castro, with General Raul Castro and with the President of sovereign Cuba, our brother Miguel Diaz-Canel.
We reaffirm our strong support for the sister Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, which is suffering a brutal and criminal cowardly onslaught of aggressions by the United States imperialists. We reiterate our firm and unwavering defence of the sovereignty and the rights of the Bolivarian people, the people of Commander Hugo Chavez, led by our comrade Nicolas Maduro Moros, the legitimate President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela who is demonstrating heroic resistance with great civil-military unity in an unequal struggle.
Such coercive and aggressive imperialist policies constitute the real obstacle to the eradication of poverty and to progress towards sustainable development. Against the backdrop of a pandemic, these measures have become a crime against humanity by those who impose them.
The United Nations must focus on the well-being of human beings. Nicaragua rejects the politicization of the United Nations system, as promoted in particular by the Government of the United States, which seeks to convert its organs into instruments at the service of its interests in order to destabilize countries that do not submit to its imperialist dictates.
The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights does not act fairly and equitably towards our country, by turning its oral updates and reports into intentionally politicized content. In addition to revealing worrying and serious methodological deficiencies, its reports are prepared exclusively from sources opposed to the Government of Nicaragua, compiling only information directly related to the failed coup attempt of 2018 from NGOs and the media.
We implore those bodies to remember that, 75 years ago, the countries of the world created the United Nations to ensure respect for human dignity, security and the peaceful coexistence and lives of peoples, and that they must conduct themselves in a manner consistent with international law and the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations itself. We demand that all perspectives and all rights be taken into account by strengthening dialogue and peace in a world so in need of harmony and the peaceful resolution of any conflict.
Mr. President,
Nicaragua calls for the decolonization of the continent, with independence for Puerto Rico and the restitution of the sovereignty of the Malvinas Islands to the Republic of Argentina.
Nicaragua advocates for the two-State solution, with the State of Israel and the State of Palestine living side by side in peace and harmony, with East Jerusalem as the capital of the latter, in accordance with the pre-1967 borders, as enshrined in the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly and the Security Council.
We reaffirm our unshakeable will to continue supporting the just struggle of the noble Saharawi people for self-determination. We respect their dignity and rights as a sovereign nation.
Our Government of National Reconciliation and Unity expresses its unwavering support for the cause of the Syrian people in their fight to defend their dignity foreign aggression and international terrorism.
We hail the brotherly people of Iran and will continue to strengthen our bilateral relations in all fields of mutual interest and in defence of peace, sovereignty, and peaceful coexistence.
We condemn the hegemonic political aggressions of the United States, which undermine the peaceful resolution of conflicts, as well as the military, economic and commercial threats against Russian Federation, the People’s Republic of China and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
We must defend the principles of dialogue and negotiation and the non-use and threat of use of force, which are fundamental principles of our Organization.
Mr. President,
Ladies and gentlemen heads of delegation,
Today, our commitment to strengthening the essential pillars of multilateralism cannot be postponed. We must safeguard and defend international law and the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations. Nicaragua believes that only together, with solidarity, love and cooperation and without selfishness, can we triumph in the face of the great challenges facing humankind.
Nicaragua expresses its firm support for the theme that will guide our work throughout the seventy-fifth session, namely “The future we want, the United Nations we need: reaffirming our collective commitment to multilateralism”. Having affected all countries, the pandemic has highlighted the need to create a new international economic model based on inclusion, equality and justice, prioritizing health as a universal human right and demanding that the resources allocated for war be made available for life and peace.
In the face of the pandemic, it is essential, for humanitarian reasons, that the principle of universality be applied so that Taiwan can participate in the corresponding mechanisms and meetings of the United Nations system.
Mr. President,
Ladies and gentlemen heads of delegation,
Together we must build a United Nations in the service of humankind. Building a better world is possible, and it is what all our peoples rightly demand.
Thank you very much, Mr. President.


Mr. President of the General Assembly,
Mr. Secretary General,
Excellences,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Our unusual gathering today proves that the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic changed the world as we know it. But this online form is an evidence we can adapt and act.
75 years ago, this organization was built on a simple idea that the benefits of cooperation always prevail over selfishness and conflict. Today, we need this idea to become a reality more urgently than ever.
The COVID-19 pandemic has quickly become a truly global threat. And it is far from over. But we already learned a lesson: We cannot go back to business as usual.
The COVID crisis exposed our weaknesses and vulnerabilities. Those already on the brink of poverty have been left poor. Those with difficult access to health care have found themselves helpless. And those with limited access to education have lost their hope for better future. Even stable and developed states faced great economic and social difficulties.
One of the most important lessons that we learned during the first months of COVID-19 is that ordinary people can achieve extraordinary things if they are led by SOLIDARITY and compassion. People around the world understood that responsible behaviour can save lives, even if it meant limitation of their own comfort. That they need to take their share of responsibility in protecting themselves and the others. I would even dare to say that this pandemic crisis brought the best out of us.
It is our responsibility as leaders to apply the same among nations. That's why we need true globalization of compassion. In concrete terms: we must not allow the development and production of vaccine and medical supplies to become yet another global competition. Because these are essential, life-saving commodities. And as such, their provision should be a sign of humanity, not a matter of economic profit. That is why we need to share information and foster partnerships among scientists, manufacturers and governments. And to provide to vaccine to anyone on this planet, regardless, whether they can afford it or not.
If we are to be successful in averting any crisis, we need RESPONSIBLE LEADERSHIP. Because ultimately it is the responsibility of governments and political leaders to make decisions that are based on facts and knowledge, and not on political calculations or selfish interests of those in power. Because the opposite — incompetence, disinformation or populism — has fatal consequences.
Responsible leadership also means willingness to seethe common global interest. To preserve the best of existing architecture of international organizations and regimes of cooperation. Because these are often the drivers of effective solutions. I know that their work is not always perfect. But instead of resenting or defunding them, we need to find ways of how to improve them.
And finally, the TRUST. The confidence of citizens in what their governments are doing is right. People need to know that they are protected and are not lied to.
The guardians of these principles must be the free and independent media, renowned experts and scientists, and active civil society. And our responsibility is to create an environment where they can work freely. If we are to attack them, we undermine our own ability to solve problems collectively. And we make our societies more vulnerable, including to disinformation and hoaxes, which have proven to be especially dangerous when they are related to health issues.
That is why we must not allow any crisis to become an excuse for suppressing human rights and liberties. We must make sure that any limitations must be proportionate, time-limited and legally sound. And these principles must be applied universally.
Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Too often we see situations in the world, when people are intimidated, beaten or even threatened on their lives. Just as we recently saw in Belarus, or in the case of Alexei Navalnyj, and in many other cases. And only because they stood up for their rights. The spread of authoritarian disease is a threat to all of us.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
There is one more remarkable lesson from COVID-19. We often hear that certain changes are impossible, or that it takes years to make them. This time, it was different.
It is the experience of how much and how quickly we can achieve if only we are willing to realise the common threat, change our behaviour and work together in order to prevent it. If we did it vis-a-vis COVID-19, we can do it also when it comes to other global threats, as well.
Most notably the climate change, which is undoubtedly the greatest threat to our common future. Experts estimate, that by 2100 the climate change will be five times as deadly as COVID-19. We have been able to organize ourselves and create over 20 parallel teams worldwide to develop anti-COVID vaccine, because we lacked the so much needed knowledge. In climate change, we all know what to do. We just need to show a genuine will and act together, as one. To make it a real priority. And to let the science, innovations, but also solidarity and compassion lead the way.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Let's make this lesson from COVID-19 the basis for our action in the future. Just like 75 years ago, the lesson of two world wars led to the universal commitment among nations to solve their disputes peacefully and to work together.
Let us renew this commitment among us, and even take it further — along the mentioned principles of solidarity, responsibility and trust, and with the same resolve to act as we have shown during the current pandemic. Then, we can change any threat — be it COVID-19 or climate change — into an opportunity for the benefit of all.
Thank you.


President of the 75th Session;
Secretary-General;
Excellencies;
Bula Vinaka from Fiji, Your Excellency, the President of the 75th General Assembly, Mr Bozkir, and congratulations on your election.
Fiji joined the United Nations in 1970, just three days after our Independence. But even as we mark Fiji’s 50th Birthday alongside the United Nation’s 75th Anniversary, any celebration feels hollow against the enormity of COVID-19’s global spread and the worsening impacts of the climate emergency.
If there was ever a perfect storm of these dual crises, Fiji has seen it. This past April, in the midst of our campaign to contain an outbreak of the coronavirus, category 4 Cyclone Harold — already the third storm we had seen that season — made landfall at our shores.
Our disaster authorities and health officials sprang into action, taking every step in-line with everything the experts could tell us about how to stop the spread of this highly contagious virus.
And we saved lives from Harold’s devastation, even evacuating entire communities, all without allowing a single new case in relation to the storm.
This was a turning point for Fiji — we knew that if we could overcome the virus in the harshest of conditions, it could be defeated. So we doubled down on our containment efforts, maintaining fast and early testing through our local WHO- certified laboratory. We either isolated or quarantined every close contact of every known case. We maintained a nationwide curfew and a complete lockdown of our two most populous cities. We have diligently managed travel through our border ever since, and the Fijian public has now been free of the coronavirus for over 150 days.
Our doctors, our nurses, our contact tracers, our lab technicians and the members of our disciplined forces have fought tooth-and-nail for every day of that unbroken streak. And as I speak, they work in our quarantine centres, isolation wards, and at our border to allow our people to continue living without the virus in their midst.
But while Fiji has contained the coronavirus, we have not been spared its economic devastation. Our vital tourism sector, which constitutes upwards of 40 percent of our overall economy, along with other key sectors like our Garment Industry, came to a halt overnight, thrusting our economy into the most severe economic crisis in history.
Yet despite a catastrophic blow to Government revenues, we are committed to rebuilding from Cyclone Harold and building resilience to future storms and the rising seas. We must continue charting our path towards net-zero emissions and the aims of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda. These are not choices, Mr President, they are matters of survival. But the development resources available to us are unaffordable and far too little in relation to the scale of our immense and pressing needs.
Climate change and the coronavirus may be very different beasts, but the inequities they have exposed are all-too-familiar for small developing states. Once again, the worst impacts have fallen on us; those least equipped to bear them. Once again, our fate rests in the collective hands of the world — yet we still have zero guarantee of equitable access to a viable vaccine.
Indeed, the divide between the highly-developed and developing worlds has never felt so stark. But once again, the UN Charter supplies us hope, as has the ferocious advocacy and leadership from my friend, the Secretary-General. 75 years ago, the UN’s founding leaders recognised that no nation could know peace, no matter how responsibly and resolutely they act, unless all nations, large and small, did their part. The truth of that founding purpose is timeless — but it is clear that the multilateral system which emerged served the different needs of a different age. Mr President, this is not 1945. Our community of nations is larger, and so are the challenges we face. If climate change was not making that clear, this pandemic has made it painfully evident.
While we trust that science will defeat COVID-19, just as it has defeated smallpox, polio, and other communicable diseases, our changing climate will define the “next normal” post-COVID-19, becoming far deadlier before it ever abates.
We are already seeing a version of environmental Armageddon — from the massive, unprecedented fires in the American West, in Australia, and even in Scandinavia above the Arctic Circle which have devastated communities and infrastructure, turned iconic skylines orange, and scorched millions of acres of land. Just last week, Greenland lost a piece of its ice shelf that is larger than a number of small island nations.
If global climate action mirrors our incoherent global response to this pandemic, our children will see far greater horrors — we will not cap global temperature rise at either the 1.5-degree or 2-degree target, we will not stop our ocean ecosystems from becoming inhospitable, and we will not prevent a sixth mass extinction event.
Billions or even trillions of dollars thrown at scientist’s feet decades on from now will not produce a silver bullet that saves us from unmitigated climate impacts. That strategy may suffice for COVID-19, but solving a challenge as complex as climate change demands daily and enduring commitment that is already overdue. Our recovery from this pandemic must mark a transition to a decarbonized, climate- resilient economic system.
That is why Mr. President, Fiji has worked closely with the UN and our partners in Canada, Jamaica, the UK, the EU, and Rwanda through high-level engagement on financing for development to explore how we all recover faster. Recover better. Recover bluer. Recover greener. And recover together.
In the face of crushing financial pressure, Fiji has kept its sights set on the SDGs in every way we can afford. When our borders first shut, we immediately re prioritized finances through a COVID-19 Response Budget. Since then, we have launched another national budget which puts all resources we can muster behind as balanced, sustainable and inclusive a recovery as possible:
-	We have allocated tens of millions of dollars in direct assistance to those left unemployed or who are working on reduced hours as a result of this pandemic;
-	Education has remained free for every primary and secondary student in Fiji;
-	Healthcare in Government facilities has remained free for every Fijian;
-	We have maintained our social protection for over 100,000 of our most vulnerable citizens, including the elderly, persons living with disabilities, rural pregnant mothers, and children from single-parent or destitute homes in need of care and protection;
-	No Fijian has been cut-off from water because they cannot afford their bills. In fact, we are still expanding the life-changing benefits of renewable power to more of our people; adding to the over 800 Fijian communities already powered by solar home systems.
-	Alongside our development partners we are putting forward innovative solutions, including a new agro-solar project on our island of Ovalau, allowing the same land to be used for growing food and generating power;
-	We’re making higher education more accessible; with women composing a greater share of graduates from our tertiary institutions than their male peers;
-	In under two years we have planted 2.3 million trees and mangroves as part of our commitment to grow 30 million trees in 15 years.
And we soon plan to monetize the carbon captured by Fiji’s forests in partnership with the World Bank.
-	We have relocated five entire communities vulnerable to the rising seas, with over 40 more identified for relocation;
-	We are expanding our marine protected areas and protecting new coral reef systems, while maintaining our moratorium on sea-bed mining for the decade;
-	We are committed to net-zero emissions in shipping throughout the Pacific by 2050;
-	We are building adaptive capacity by expanding access to information and technology to all our people, including in our most remote islands. Today, 95% of Fijians can access mobile broadband services.
We are creating j obs through the construction of cyclone-resilient infrastructure, extending roads and essential services to the most remote pockets of our islands. And where climate impacts have left trails of devastation, we are building back stronger.
There is so much more we can do — that we must do — to break the costly cycle of rebuilding from climate driven devastation and maintain the pace of our march towards a modern economy. To fund our full recovery, developing countries have asked for a mere ten per cent of the historic stimulus packages the richest nations have deployed for themselves.
If we do not bridge this gap; the economic wounds of this pandemic will fester and cracks of inequity will deepen, undermining hard-earned development gains and bringing economic catastrophe crashing down on the most vulnerable nations. All countries will be forced to reckon with the historic cost of that collapse.
Mr President, 2020 was meant to be the year we took back our planet; a superyear for nature, for the oceans, for the climate, for biodiversity, for food security, for the survival of all life on Earth.
But caught on our heels by this pandemic, every nation has fallen well short of their global commitments. Our recovery from COVID-19 is our last and best opportunity to set ourselves towards the future our children deserve.
We know that neither this global pandemic nor the climate emergency can be solved in the communities suffering the most from their devastation. The campaign for collective action must press ahead in parliaments, in board rooms, in stock exchanges and in the hearts and minds of ordinary citizens everywhere in the world; that work begins here, it begins with the United Nations.
While they may stand emptier-than-usual today, the halls of the UNGA are where our global responses to COVID-19, climate change, and other defining causes of our time must take form — they are where our collective future will be forged. This great institution must remain the beating heart of global dignity, global security and global order.
While there are changes we know must be made; Fijians still look to the UN as a beacon for hope, a force for peace and an anchor of stability. Fiji stands ready to serve our community of nations in every way we can, by way of peacekeeping, by way of our climate and oceans diplomacy, and by example, through the nation we build for ourselves.
Thank you.


Your Excellency, President of the 75th Session of the General Assembly, Your Excellencies Heads of State and Government,
Your Excellency Mr. Antonio Guterres, the Secretary General of the United Nations,
Distinguished Delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen.
Mr. President,
It affords me great pleasure to congratulate you on your election to direct the work of this historic 75th session of the General Assembly. Such an honour bears testimony to your undoubted dynamism and diplomatic skills, which will in no small measure positively affect the outcome of the work of this Assembly. I assure you of my delegation’s full support and co-operation in all your endeavours during your tenure of office.
Permit me also to pay tribute to your predecessor, Professor Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, for his outstanding leadership of the 74th session. We congratulate him also on the many initiatives that he took in the furtherance of the work of our Organization during arguably the most challenging session in this century.
To Secretary General Antonio Guterres, I extend my country’s gratitude and support for the sterling work he continues to do against great odds. We particularly commend him for his efforts and commitment in transforming the United Nations development system. We also recognize his tireless efforts in the daunting task of strengthening and streamlining the peace and security architecture to better integrate prevention, peace-making and peacebuilding. The energy towards a global ceasefire during the pandemic is worthy of special mention.
Mr. President
I wish to acknowledge this session’s theme: “The future we want, the United Nations we need; reaffirming our commitment to multilateralism” that is not only apt but also greatly inspired.
Three quarters of a century ago, our forebears came together in San Francisco and signed the Charter of the United Nations.
This Session therefore marks the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the creation of the United Nations. We do so at a critical time and juncture in human history, which calls for true reflection on the role of the United Nations in the 21st century — the organization upon which humanity continues to place so much faith and hope for a better life for all.
Since that time, the United Nations has been, and will always be, the symbol of humankind’s fervent desire to conduct its affairs for eternal survival. The UN has achieved and made significant strides in addressing many of the serious challenges facing the International Community. When the dark clouds of war threatened to engulf the world with a catastrophe of unimaginable proportions, humankind found the strength within itself to negate the Armageddon. We also recall that the UN played a significant role in easing the pangs of decolonization.
The purpose and principles of the UN Charter continue to be relevant today as they were seventy-five years ago. The United Nations has had to grapple with crisis situations in many parts of the world in pursuance of its mandate to maintain international peace and security. As today’s problems grow ever more global, multilateralism and solidarity are more important than ever. We should remain steadfast against the re-emerging threats on multilateralism and global cooperation. We believe that a coherent and feasible strategy for the future, committed resources, streamlining priorities combined with responsible and inspired leadership are the prerequisites to achieving a relevant and vital UN for the future. This will go a long way towards fulfilling the ideals for which the UN was formed.
Mr. President
Lesotho reaffirms its commitment to advance a collective vision of an effective United Nations to ensure a prosperous and lasting future for all our peoples.
The world is indeed witnessing a revolution in information systems and their integration into the lives of men, women and children. There can be no doubt that for some, information technology and globalization are beginning to turn theoretical possibilities into fact, as the use of computers and computer-dependent systems have resulted in improvements in basic health conditions and increases in life expectancy, efficiency and productivity. Unfortunately, the majority, who have been left out of that prosperity continue to live in conditions of extreme poverty. The challenge for the UN of the 21st century is to eliminate those disparities by bringing poor countries into the digital age.
Mr. President
This historic session of the UNGA comes at a sensitive time when the world is faced with the deadly COVID-19 pandemic which has caused economic stagnation, loss of jobs and many fatalities across the globe. This has posed serious challenges to our Organization and exposed weaknesses and vulnerabilities in societies and economies around the world.
The virus attacks all regardless of ethnicity, faith, affluence or nationality. In conflict ridden areas the situation is dire due to health systems that have collapsed. On this note we commend the Secretary General for calling for a global ceasefire in all corners of the world. We support his determination and commitment in the fight against this pandemic. Lesotho believes the international community should collectively adopt measures that are focused on a holistic approach and close coordination within the UN to contain the spread of the virus. Measures against future pandemics, should include ease of access to vaccines, medication and essential equipment. Pandemics respect neither internal nor external borders. Cooperation and collaboration across and among nations, including the essential pillars of multilateralism becomes more essential than ever.
Mr. President
The coronavirus plague has escalated the vulnerability of people in need and has created fear and despair amongst people living under oppressed circumstances. We condemn all acts that result in displacement of women and children.
Lesotho recognizes the leadership of the Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN-Women, for her exceptional work in leading global efforts for Improving the living standards and the rights of women and in particular, the inception of the Gender in Humanitarian Action Programme for COVID-19. We commend all efforts to mobilize the UN system, along with all relevant United Nations Agencies that are helping in humanitarian and security interventions.
Mr. President
Lesotho welcomes and appreciates the 2019/2020 Secretary General’s trenchant progress report towards the sustainable development goals and aligns herself with the principle of leaving no one behind. The report reveals that there has been some considerable progress in the implementation of SDGs, however, it is trite that the international community is not on track to deliver by 2030.
It is also shocking to learn that the number of people suffering from hunger and malnutrition increased especially in countries in special situations like Lesotho during the reporting period, while at the same time climate change is reported to be occurring much faster than anticipated.
We are meeting here, though virtually, at an opportune time during the commemoration of the UN’s 75th anniversary, which coincides with the decade of action that is intended to increase the momentum and implementation efforts on SDGs. Indeed, our commitment to strengthen partnerships and international cooperation has never been so critical to provide solutions to our collective global challenges.
By virtue of being a least developed and landlocked country, characterized by a weak macroeconomy and fragile fiscal policy space, Lesotho will bear a major socio economic brunt of the pandemic and thus remain at high risk of being further left behind.
Mr. President
Devastated by coronavirus and weakened health systems Lesotho may not achieve the SDG on Health. In this vein, we call on development partners, the United Nations and International Financial Institutions to support the LLDCs, LDCs, SIDs and similar vulnerable states, such as Lesotho, with the necessary resources to respond to this crisis, in commitment to leaving no one behind.
While Lesotho recognizes that equitable and quality education is part of human development, I regret to inform this august virtual gathering that the current pandemic is creating an education emergency that is having devastating impacts on children in my country. The abrupt closure of schools for over four months is undoubtedly expected to lead to a decline in education outcomes. In fact, UNESCO warns that schools’ closure has the potential for increased drop-out rates which will disproportionately affect adolescent girls, further entrench gender gaps in education and lead to increased risk of sexual exploitation, early pregnancy and early forced marriages. This scenario has negative outcomes on achieving SDGs related to education, poverty, health and gender.
Mr. President
Climate change continues to be a key challenge to our efforts towards achieving sustainable development. Member States of the UN possess different levels of capacities and resources to address the causes and effects of climate change. In light of all these, Lesotho calls for urgent action at the global level and within the UN Development System to mobilize for crisis response and to set the world on the collective path for resilient, substantive and sustainable recovery.
Mr. President
The unfortunate but inescapable scale-back of the work of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW64) due to the pandemic has hindered progress and showcasing of best practices by member states. Nonetheless, we are pleased that in March this year, the General Assembly adopted a Political Declaration which coincided with the 25th Anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (BPFA) which remains the comprehensive and transformative agenda for the achievement of gender equality and empowerment of women and girls. Since its adoption in 1995, we have undeniably made significant advances on women and girl’s rights.
In Lesotho, we are making progress in the representation of women in leadership roles. There is a significant representation at the decision-making levels including in the private sector.
Mr. President
Lesotho remains convinced that the United Nations is the only universal institution that can safeguard world peace and ensure the survival of all. As we stop to ponder and reflect on the past, a new pattern of ethnic intra-state conflagrations are emerging and new dimensions have become increasingly important in international security. These include; proliferation of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction, terrorism, illicit arms trade and trafficking, drug trafficking, strains on the conflict resolution and peacebuilding efforts, threats of social and economic injustice and the plight of migrants, refugees and internally displaced persons. At the same time, racism is rearing its ugly head in some parts of the world, threatening immeasurable gains of civilization.
The record of the United Nations in the recent past in peacekeeping has been mixed. We have had unqualified success in some places, but then in others success has eluded us. Our resolve, therefore, would be, to ensure that our machinery for peace making and peacekeeping is fine-tuned to maximum precision.
First, the financing of peacekeeping operations must be put on a more secure footing. Persistent arrears, such as those we have experienced recently, cannot but have an adverse effect on the peacekeeping efforts of our Organization.
Secondly, greater attention should be paid to peace-making and preventive diplomacy, thereby reducing the prospects of conflicts, with their attendant costs. The strategy of pre-empting the eruption of conflict is, of course, closely linked to the United Nations efforts in the fields of social and economic development, because it is in the soil of poverty that the seeds of national upheavals take root and sprout. Last, but not least, the changed nature of the challenges facing the Security Council call for the restructuring of that organ to reflect the changed realities of present-day international relations. Most of the international peace-and-security matters with which the Council is currently seized pertain to developing countries or countries in transition. Thus, it is reasonable to suggest that the composition of the Security Council should include an appropriate proportion of developing countries in both the permanent and non permanent categories in line with the Ezulwini Consensus.
The Intergovernmental Negotiations on the reform of the Council has continued to address the Question of Equitable Representation on an increase in the Membership of the Security Council. It is encouraging to note that discussions have shown a general support for the need to increase the membership of the Security Council, especially of developing countries, and a subsequent need to review the Council’s composition. The general view is that the size and composition of an expanded Council should reflect more accurately the universal character of the United Nations and present-day realities. It has further been recognized that the principle of the sovereign equality of all Members of the United Nations and the concepts of equitable representation and distribution, legitimacy, effectiveness and efficiency should serve as guiding principles for the reform of the Security Council.
Mr. President
Several political questions continue to preoccupy us. The people of Israel and the Palestinians have overcome formidable obstacles. Yet the most difficult and divisive issues still remain unresolved. The peace process in that area of the Middle East is of utmost importance and must therefore be negotiated against a backdrop of continuing and satisfactory progress. We urge the international community to respond quickly, appropriately, generously, practically and flexibly to the needs of the Palestinian people with the centrality of their inalienable right to sovereignty in focus. Achievements must match expectations.
Over the past 29 years, the U.N. General Assembly has passed, to no avail, an annual vote condemning the economic, commercial and financial blockade of Cuba. As a result, the people of Cuba have been subjected to undue hardship, which has been relentless even during the global pandemic that required international humanitarian cooperation.
We renew our call for the lifting of this embargo that has had a negative impact on that country’s economy and brought hardship to the Cuban people.
In Africa, many significant developments have taken place in respect of peacekeeping that have to be understood in the context of changes in the international environment. Western countries have launched several initiatives aimed at identifying ways in which the international community can assist Africa to cope with the challenges of conflict prevention and management. While Africa, in keeping with its determination to combat conflicts on the continent, is appreciative of these gestures from its outside partners, we wish to remind the international community of the United Nations’ primary role as the guardian of world peace and stability everywhere, including in Africa.
The determination of Africa to address, through the AU, the problem of conflicts on the continent should not be misconstrued as absolving the United Nations from its responsibility for peace and security where Africa is concerned.
The situation in Western Sahara also merits our attention. The General Assembly has consistently reaffirmed the inalienable right of the people of Western Sahara to self determination. We express our disappointment at the lack of progress in this regard. Twenty-nine years have passed since the Security Council approved the Settlement Plan and subsequently established the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO), with the mandate to implement the plan. It is therefore unfortunate that the self-determination referendum has not been held and the Security Council appears reluctant to use all diplomatic tools at its disposal to ensure compliance with the peace plan. Lesotho will continue to stand with the people of Western Sahara in their quest for independence.
In conclusion, my delegation looks forward to close collaboration with you and all other Member States over the next year to advance a collective vision of a truly representative and effective United Nations to ensure a prosperous and lasting future for all our peoples.
I THANK YOU