At the outset, I would like to join others in paying tribute to the memory of the late Kofi Annan, a true world leader and a firm believer in the strength of this Organization.
Seventy years ago, the General Assembly adopted the first global human rights charter, in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It codified the most basic principles of human dignity, emphasizing that we are all equal. We committed to an international order in which rights and freedoms could be fully realized.
Seventy years ago, we knew that international cooperation was the only way to protect our populations, and through this Organization, we have delivered remarkable results.
Still, the foundation on which this Organization is built has perhaps never been under more pressure than it is today. The very principle of multilateralism is being questioned. Doubt is being cast on the frameworks that protect human rights, ensure free trade and promote global development. Insufficient action is being taken on global problems such as climate change, poverty, migration, terrorism and violent extremism.
To Denmark, the path forward is clear. Global challenges require global solutions. To that end, we need a strong United Nations, with its unique legitimacy and its universal membership, a United Nations that delivers on its full potential.
Denmark remains committed to the Secretary- General’s reform agenda. This year we open the General Assembly with three agreed tracks for reform. Together with Algeria, Denmark had the honour to facilitate the negotiations on reform of the development system. We are proud of the result, and we  will continue to play    a constructive role in the important implementation ahead. For instance, Denmark intends to contribute more than $10 million to support the establishment of

the new Resident Coordinator system, and we encourage others to follow suit.
Member States have clearly voiced their support. Now the reforms must be turned into reality. The world expects a new and more streamlined United Nations to emerge. Every entity of the United Nations must embrace this opportunity to change and make real improvements for the benefit of our peoples.
As Member States,  we  must  also  reinvest  in  the United  Nations  and  take  responsibility   for   our multilateral cooperation and the rules-based international order. That is why Denmark has presented its candidature for membership of the Human Rights Council for the 2019-2021 term. If elected, we will promote the rights and equal opportunities of women, continue our long-standing fight  against  torture, work to protect the rights of indigenous peoples and encourage freedom of religion and belief. That must be done without discrimination on any ground, including sexual orientation and gender identity. That is the Danish DNA and the DNA of the United Nations.
In several parts of the world, gender equality is but a distant hope. Women’s rights are under increasing pressure. We cannot accept that; we must stand up and challenge it. Every woman must be able  to unleash  her potential — without question — to the benefit of all. We must ensure that she is the one making the decisions concerning her. Gender equality and equal opportunities are not only fundamental human rights but preconditions for development, peace and prosperity in any country, anywhere in the world.
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change set out a strong global vision for achieving a more sustainable planet. Denmark is committed to that common vision. For more than 40 consecutive years, we have proudly delivered on the United Nations target of providing
0.7 per cent of our gross national income as official development assistance (ODA). Sadly, we are in a group that has far too few members. While ODA is crucial for ensuring global development, we need the involvement of all actors, especially the private sector, civil society and local authorities.
We must give young  people  a  seat  at  the  table in order to ensure that development is  pursued not  just for young people but with and by them. That is why Denmark was the first country to announce a contribution to the Secretary-General’s new Youth
2030 strategy. We congratulate the United Nations and all young people on that strategy and look forward to seeing it in action.
Member States and the United Nations system have to adapt to the world around us and embrace and use new technologies. We need the innovative ideas, the finance and the expertise that only the private sector can bring to the table. In short, in order to attain the Sustainable Development Goals over the next 12 years, we must rethink the way we do business here. The clock is ticking. That is one of the reasons that Denmark, together with its partners, launched  the  Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030 (P4G) initiative. Through the P4G network, we bring together major companies, cities, civil society, think tanks and Governments to boost and create partnerships for a greener tomorrow. In October, Denmark will host a high-level P4G summit in Copenhagen to forge and accelerate such partnerships.
Education provides the foundations for knowledge and for harnessing the technologies and opportunities of tomorrow. When it comes to education, we can and must do better, much better. Globally, 130 million girls do not go to school. In crisis situations, girls are two and a half times less likely to be at school than boys. Girls are at much greater risk than boys of being victims of sexual abuse or exploitation, and much more likely to be affected by child marriage or childbirth. Just think. In some parts of the world, girls as young as nine years old are being forced to marry adult men. That is not acceptable. We must let girls be girls, not brides.
Education is a beacon of hope for those  girls.  That is why Denmark is now the largest contributor to Education Cannot Wait, and why we will spend almost
$70 million next year on education in developing countries, because Denmark wants to ensure that no girl will be left behind.
Displacement and unsafe and irregular migration pose a significant global challenge that requires determined efforts at all levels. In July, Denmark welcomed the finalization of the negotiations on a global compact on migration. The compact establishes a global framework for common action and a much- needed path for managing irregular migration in  a safe and orderly manner and for curbing irregular migration, including through the facilitation of return, with respect for human rights and the principle of State sovereignty at its core.

We also welcome the agreement on the global compact on refugees. Denmark is, per capita, one of the world’s largest humanitarian donors. A key focus of ours is helping refugees and internally displaced persons in their efforts to attain a life of safety and dignity. By ensuring close coordination between our humanitarian and development aid,  Denmark  helps to build the foundation for lasting solutions and safe return when the time is right.
The horrors in Syria, Yemen and elsewhere tell the grim story of why humanitarian efforts are so desperately needed. The conflict in Syria rages into its eighth year. So many have already experienced unspeakable suffering, evil and atrocities. Three million people have been on the brink of humanitarian catastrophe in Idlib. The tragedy in Syria cannot continue.
Earlier this week, Member States honoured Nelson Mandela. In a fitting celebration of an iconic proponent of peace, leaders from across the world underscored the importance of our joint commitment to building a peaceful and prosperous world.
As we push for reforms and strengthen our multilateral institutions, we must acknowledge the interconnectedness  of  today’s  global   challenges. We need integrated and shared approaches to stabilization, peacebuilding and conflict prevention. That is why Denmark has been a strong supporter of the Peacebuilding Fund. We are proud to step up our commitment with a new contribution to the Fund of
$15 million over the next three years.
The world is witnessing armed conflicts that could have been prevented or stopped years ago. Too many States are failing in their responsibility to protect their own populations against the most horrific crimes.
Denmark will continue to insist on accountability for the most appalling crimes. Such crimes  must  never go unpunished, and the victims deserve justice. This year we mark the twentieth anniversary of the establishment of the International Criminal Court, a landmark achievement aimed at ensuring accountability and justice.
The recent report of the United Nations Independent Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar (A/HRC/39/64) clearly underlines the need for accountability in relation to the Rohingya crisis. At the same time, we must not forget the enormous need for humanitarian assistance and development aid. I am happy to announce
that Denmark will provide another $7 million as an extraordinary humanitarian response to that crisis. That is in addition to the $46 million we have already provided since 2017. Denmark also provides support  to the Office of the Special Envoy of the Secretary- General on Myanmar.
The situation on the Korean peninsula is a strong reminder of what is at stake. Denmark fully supports the continuing efforts by South Korea and the United States to seek a diplomatic solution with the North Korean regime. North Korea must now take concrete steps towards complete, verifiable and irreversible

denuclearization. Until then, sanctions and international pressure must remain firmly in place.
The problems facing the world are dire. We will be successful only if we act together. Multilateralism and cooperation must be the foundation. The task may seem impossible, but we have done it before. With the United Nations, we have fostered an international order, a strong set of common values, rules and goals. People around the world demand solutions. The United Nations cannot let them down. Now is the time for us to reform and rebuild this institution.


It is a great honour and privilege to be here today to convey the warm greetings of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam to all gathered here in this Hall.
I express my congratulations to Ms. Maria Fernanda Espinosa Garcés and the people of Ecuador on her assuming the presidency of the General Assembly at its seventy-third session. I also convey my appreciation to Secretary-General António Guterres for his hard work in the service of the international community. I also do not want to forget his staff, which continues its work throughout the year, not just on a Saturday afternoon.
I would also like to take this opportunity to join others in expressing our condolences to the family of the late former Secretary-General Kofi Atta Annan, whose remarkable service to the Organization and many valuable contributions to advancing global peace, humanity and development serve as an inspiration to us all.
We are currently living in a world with ever- increasing geopolitical and geoeconomic uncertainties. The foundations and principles of the international order that usually guide our expectations are in some cases being called into question and in others being ignored. For a small country such as Brunei Darussalam, such unpredictability can be daunting and runs counter to regional and international efforts to build peaceful, equitable and sustainable societies.
In order for us to achieve our goals of maintaining peace and promoting prosperity and sustainable development, we greatly depend on the consistency and stability underpinned by our adherence to international obligations and the rule of law. It is crucial that we all commit to an effective multilateralism that addresses
global challenges, ranging from conflict prevention to economic uncertainty and environmental degradation. In doing so, we have to work together in order to ensure the relevance of the United Nations to all, and everybody needs to play their part in honouring the international frameworks and agreements that we have worked so hard to develop together.
One such agreement is the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which helps us realize our vision of improving people’s lives without leaving anyone behind. We are fully committed to attaining the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) under the Agenda, which we hope will safeguard the welfare of our citizens for generations to come. In our efforts to achieve the SDGs, it is imperative to understand and respect the right of each country to choose its own development path, including the adoption of legislation that is suited to its own national circumstances.
A challenge for many developing countries in pursuing sustained economic development is posed by the uneven growth prospects amid many risks, including volatility in energy prices. Brunei Darussalam is no exception. To meet that challenge, we are concentrating on diversifying our economy. Underlying those efforts is our commitment to free trade and the rules-based multilateral trading system. It is critical, especially during these times of increasing trade tensions, that all can benefit from it.
Our stand on that matter is evident through our participation in various platforms such as the World Trade Organization and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which support efforts to facilitate trade and investment. Our involvement in various bilateral and multilateral free-trade agreements is also a testament to that commitment. Such agreements help ensure market access and strengthen trade links with our partners within and outside the region. They are particularly beneficial to small developing countries because they also spur other forms of cooperation, including human resources development and technical assistance. All of these are vital as we prepare ourselves to take advantage of the potential opportunities brought about by the fourth industrial revolution.
That being said, we also need to remain mindful of the fact that efforts to increase economic growth should be aligned with our shared responsibilities to ensure a safe and healthy environment for our future. Climate change poses a clear and serious threat to humankind,

and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change remains our greatest hope in addressing that global challenge together. Our  progress  in  meeting  the  economic and environmental goals under the 2030 Agenda is determined by our ability to maintain durable peace and stability. The work of the United Nations in preventive diplomacy, mediation and peacekeeping is key to the prevention and resolution of conflict and violence.
In that regard, we appreciate the Secretary- General’s efforts to strengthen peacekeeping operations through his Action for Peacekeeping initiative, which will enhance global support for peacekeeping missions with a view to contributing towards sustainable peace. We truly value the selfless work and  sacrifice that  our peacekeepers show in securing a better world. Therefore, we are also pleased to join others in endorsing the Declaration of Shared Commitments on United Nations Peacekeeping Operations, as it underscores our collective investment in the success and performance of our peacekeepers.
Lastly, in building a more  peaceful,  equitable and sustainable world, it is important that the United Nations continue to promote the rule of law. On that note, we are particularly concerned over the unresolved question of Palestine. For more than half a century, Palestinians have been denied peace, justice and freedom. In solidarity with the Palestinian people, we strongly condemn actions and measures that blatantly violate their rights and dignity. Those violations run counter to international law, including the Charter of the United Nations.
Like many countries, we have been alarmed by the developments in Jerusalem and the continued violence in the occupied Palestinian territory. We remain firm in supporting the call to protect the Palestinian population and to assist in the creation of a fully independent Palestinian State with East Jerusalem as  its  capital. It is Brunei Darussalam’s greatest hope for Palestine that all States Members of the United Nations and other organizations will work together to realize the vision of a two-State solution, in full conformity with international law, the Charter of the United Nations and all relevant United Nations resolutions.
Our unwavering commitment to international norms and multilateral partnerships is central to our efforts to advance our mutual aspirations of living together in peace and harmony. A significant part of that commitment is our continued support for the United
Nations. For more than 70 years, the United Nations has been the epicentre of our rules-based multilateral system, where its work, from advocating values of mutual respect to promoting development, has made an impact on people all over the globe. In spite of that, it still faces its fair share of criticism. The United Nations might not be perfect, but it is the best hope that we have for achieving the future that we want together.
The late Kofi Annan once said that we need to keep hope alive and strive to do better. For our part, Brunei Darussalam will continue to be a reliable partner and  a friend to all for the betterment of the United Nations and the world at large.


First of all, I would like to extend my warm congratulations to the Republic of Ecuador, and especially to Ms. María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés, on her well-deserved election as President of the General Assembly at its seventy-third session. I can assure her of my country’s full support for the fulfilment of her mandate. I would also like to commend Mr. Miroslav Lajčák for his work and the remarkable results achieved during the seventy- second session, which have contributed significantly to strengthening cooperation among our States.
I would also like to express my gratitude and reiterate our confidence in Secretary-General António Guterres for his ongoing commitment to peace and development in the world, and especially for the constant and multifaceted support for my country, the Central African Republic. I would also like to take this opportunity to pay a heartfelt tribute to the great African and world leader, Kofi Annan, who passed away on 18 August. I salute his memory and acknowledge his tireless efforts at the helm of the United Nations with a view to building a better world.
This seventy-third session is exploring an important theme. I  therefore  come  to  share  our  contribution in order to ensure that the United Nations remains relevant for all in the context of a global partnership and shared responsibilities for peaceful,  equitable and sustainable societies. In the twenty-first century, that goal requires structural reforms within our Organization, which for more than 70 years has made considerable gains that must be consolidated even if challenges and weaknesses still remain.
The aim of the current session is to promote reflection on how our common Organization should
address the new challenges facing the world and our societies today, such as terrorism, violent extremism, climate change, migration and poverty. The role  of  the United Nations through the combined efforts of Member States in multilateral action has led to major advances in global peace, security and development.
That was true yesterday for the emancipation of people through self-determination. It is still true today in the search for solutions to increasingly complex problems — violent extremism and international terrorism, the eradication of poverty, the persistence of conflicts in the world, lingering economic and social inequalities, the widening development gap among States and the massive violation of human rights. That is why my country, the Central African  Republic,  will continue to support the central role of the United Nations in preserving and maintaining peace and security in the world.
The global leadership embodied by the United Nations must be strengthened  and  equipped  with  the necessary tools to respond effectively to current challenges, while ensuring a better division of labour among Member States. My country supports the position of the African Union, which seeks Africa’s full representation in all United Nations bodies, especially the Security Council, which is the main decision-making body of our common Organization in matters related to international peace and security.
It is high time to correct the historical inequality that continues to deprive Africa of a permanent seat on the Security Council with veto power. In the same vein, my country joins the African voice in supporting an increase in the number of members elected by the General Assembly to the Security Council. That will allow for a fairer and more balanced participation in that organ, which will ensure a more representative role in the promotion of international peace.
The rise of terrorism and violent extremism is a serious threat to international security. It seriously undermines social cohesion in our countries, exposes our populations to indiscriminate violence, generates a succession of humanitarian crises and thwarts development efforts.
Given that grim reality, Africa is showing its willingness to overcome regional divisions, pool resources and lay the foundations for a holistic and coherent approach that contributes to the development of a global doctrine against those prevailing asymmetric

threats. That is the best strategy for preventing and combating those scourges through specific responses adapted to our environment within the framework of the global peace and security architecture.
Another concern today is the problematic extent of the migration phenomenon. When well managed, migration can have a substantial positive impact on  the development of countries of origin and significant benefits for destination countries. When poorly managed, migration can have serious consequences for the well-being of countries and migrants, with a high probability of destabilizing national and regional security. That is why my country welcomes the holding in December of an intergovernmental conference on the global compact for safe, orderly and regular migration in Marrakech, Morocco, and hopes that the forum will lead to constructive proposals.
On an equally important note, our planet continues to suffer the effects of natural phenomena such as earthquakes, rainfall, drought, the rapid advance of the desert and global warming. I would therefore like to take this opportunity to encourage all States that are signatories to the Paris Agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to join efforts to preserve our shared environment and to ensure sustainable development for our planet.
I would also like to take this opportunity to discuss the situation in my country, the Central African Republic. But first, I want to honour the memory of all those who have fallen in the exercise of their perilous and noble peace mission in the Central African Republic. I would like to convey the tremendous gratitude of the people of the Central African Republic to the entire international community for all its sacrifices to bring peace to my country.
For two and a half years, my Government has been working tirelessly to restore the fundamental values that underpin democracy, freedom and human rights. To that end, we are working to re-establish State authority by continuing to gradually deploy State administration and services in our provinces and to restore basic social services.
On the other hand, we deplore the continuing tragic and painful attacks perpetrated by the enemies of peace, who are driven by dark and selfish interests. They have been fuelling the bloody violence since the beginning of the year, both in the capital and in the interior of the
country, with an increase in violations of human rights and international humanitarian law.
Notwithstanding all those challenges, the Government has maintained the momentum of reforms in the security and defence sectors, where significant progress has been made, namely, the gradual deployment of the Central African internal defence and security forces and the implementation of the national disarmament, demobilization, repatriation and reintegration programme.
In that regard, I welcome the commitment made by the European Union and our bilateral partners to supporting the training and bolstering of our defence and security forces, on the one hand, and to supporting the implementation of the national defence plan and the deployment of the Central African Armed Forces, with a view to setting up a garrison army and establishing control throughout the national  territory,  on  the other hand.
We are also eternally grateful to the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA), the United States of America, the People’s Republic of China, the Russian Federation and France for the material support provided to the Central African Armed Forces. Our ambition is to see them become truly operational and to contribute, alongside MINUSCA, to the immense effort to stabilize and restore lasting peace to the Central African Republic. But, in order to do so, allow me to reiterate from this rostrum our call for the total lifting of the arms embargo still weighing on our national army.
The reconstruction programme for the Central African Republic requires a coherent framework as embodied in the National Recovery and Peacebuilding Plan, which is being implemented and has already seen the Government and its international partners launch 21 projects regarding basic social services. That tangible progress is the fruit of the multifaceted, invaluable and commendable support of our strategic partners, such as the World Bank, the African Development Bank, the European Union and the French Development Agency.
We have also dedicated ourselves to the fight against impunity through substantial support for the rehabilitation of the national judicial system, which, among other things, has enabled  our  criminal court to hold two sessions this year to try common law cases. Moreover, the Special Criminal Court will soon begin its first investigations, while the Government

has established the framework for the Truth, Justice, Reparations and Reconciliation Commission.
In that context, one year since its operationalization in September 2017, the panel of facilitators of the African Initiative for Peace and Reconciliation in the Central African Republic has concluded two rounds of consultations and a meeting with armed groups to hear their demands for an inclusive dialogue. I am pleased to recall that the African Initiative is the one and only reference framework for all those willing to support the Central African people on the path to dialogue. In that regard, I continue to urge all the friends of the Central African Republic to generously assist us through robust support for the efforts of the panel of facilitators of  the African Initiative, whose accomplishments to date must be consolidated. My greatest wish is to enable my compatriots to resolve their differences once and for all in good faith and to strengthen the ancestral ties that bind them.
Today, the Government and the people of the Central African Republic are firmly committed to strengthening the democratic process and the economic recovery in the country. Given the many challenges that beset our history, we will be patient but determined in our actions, vigilant and aware of the magnitude of the task that lies ahead.
For my part, I can affirm my determination to spare no effort to create the necessary conditions for the reconciliation and the reconstruction of my country in order to give back to the Central Africans, my people, the joy and the desire to live together. I extend our eternal gratitude to all our partners and to the entire international community for their ongoing concern for our well-being.
In conclusion, I hope that the international community will remain mobilized alongside the Central African people and work together with the Government for the recovery of my country. I wish our work every success.


At the outset, allow me to congratulate the newly elected President of the General Assembly, Ms. María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés, and to assure her of my Government’s unwavering support in her mission to lead the Assembly at its seventy-third session.
I would also like to pay tribute to the memory of the late former Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. Kofi Annan, who, with his charismatic and measured approach, redefined the Organization and actively championed the ideals that characterized his ethos: peacemaking and peacekeeping, international cooperation and sustainable development.
In addition, by honouring the centenary of the birth of the great statesman and world leader, Nelson Mandela, we have expressed our great admiration and gratitude for his active promotion of the noble values of peace, justice and equality.
Cyprus fully endorses the theme chosen for this year’s session of the General Assembly, “Making the United Nations relevant to all people: global leadership and shared responsibilities for peaceful, equitable and sustainable societies”. We fully subscribe to the theme, in line, of course, with the vast majority of States Members of the United Nations, since the essence of the theme reminds us of the founding principles of the Organization, in which millions of people and many countries have vested their hopes for a better future. The Organization emerged from the ashes of war for the purposes of maintaining international peace and security and respecting and promoting human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, irrespective of gender, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief.
The order it proposes is based on multilateralism, collective action and international cooperation among States with sovereign equality. However, one might consider thinking that we have failed to uphold those values by asking how it is that we come back again and again, year after year, as a kind of ritual, to attest to the dismal lack of effectiveness for some and the attempts at embellishment of others for what is in fact our inability to fulfil the aims of the Charter of the United Nations. Why do the decisions of the Security Council in their
overwhelming majority remain mere certificates that attest to violations? Why are international law and international agreements not implemented? Why do strategies and programmes aimed at creating better conditions for people who are suffering remain wishful thinking? When will we finally really take our destiny into our own hands, fully assuming our responsibilities towards our peoples and towards humankind as a whole?
As a leader of a small country that has suffered  for more than 44 years from blatant violations of international law, let me repeat the well-known causes that explain those unacceptable and disappointing results, registered at both the regional and global levels. I will dare to mention sad realities candidly  and honestly, in the hope that States and international organizations reconsider or make adjustments to their policies and actions with a view to upholding real hope for a better future.
In that effort and struggle we must ensure the cooperation of all, but more so of the States and the peoples who are the victims, those suffering from problems such as the primacy of a State’s expansionist interests over the territorial integrity, peace and prosperity of other countries and peoples; investing in and promoting military industries and infrastructure by fomenting conflict for financial gain; standing by passively in the face of such violations of international law as the annexation of territories that fuels separatism and civil wars, so as not to poison relations and common interests among friendly countries; and some States’ financing and promotion of terrorism in order to impose religious fundamentalism.
While more than 20 million people in north-eastern Nigeria, South Sudan, Yemen and Somalia face famine and are in need of urgent assistance, and while more than 820 million people, including 155 million children, suffer from chronic malnutrition, there are countries in which immense quantities of animal and plant products are destroyed for the sake of narrow and blind economic and commercial considerations. While child mortality and life-threatening diseases persist and the quality of health services is below acceptable levels, we continue to face inflexible policies and practices that emasculate the relevant authorities and prevent them from providing necessary medical care. Instead of tackling the root causes leading to the massive migratory flows of millions of people, we content ourselves with setting up immigration detention centres. While we have adopted

the Paris Agreement on Climate Change to address that global challenge, specific interests hinder both the design and the implementation of domestic policies that could deliver on our pledge and commitments.
All of the those factors, in addition to an inability to effectively implement United Nations resolutions, have  led  to   unprecedented  crises  and   resulted  in a lack of credibility, trust  and  even  legitimacy  in our decision-making, bringing about the forcible displacement of millions of people, hunger and distress that intensify migration flows, create demographic changes and exert huge economic and social pressures on all countries or regions affected, human and drug trafficking, leading to millions of deaths, and the destruction of cultural heritage.
Despite diverging aspirations and conflicting interests, we should rise to meet our shared responsibilities, reverse the policies of political expediency  that  I  have   already  mentioned,  adopt  a more proactive, targeted and results-oriented approach and address the  root  causes that have  led  to this unprecedented situation. We should intensify our efforts to make sustainable development a reality for all countries and regions in need, once  and  for  all, by establishing the political and socioeconomic conditions necessary for stability, economic growth and institution-building. At the same time, we should also work to confront the threats posed by ongoing conflicts efficiently, in order to achieve lasting and viable political solutions that promote regional peace, security and predictability and spare future generations from the plague of asymmetrical threats.
Collective leadership, together with the primacy of multilateralism, is the only way to effectively eliminate threats to peace and security. We therefore need to strengthen our support and commitment to the United Nations and safeguard the  effective  implementation of its decisions and actions, based on justice and international law, which constitute the core and essence of the Organization.
In that context, we firmly support the ambitious vision   of   Secretary-General   António    Guterres for reforming the Organization in a manner that corresponds to the needs of its Member States and meets the expectations of our peoples.  With  regard  to reforming the development pillar, we reiterate our full commitment to strengthening the capacity of the United Nations so that it can become more effective
and transparent in its efforts to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which represents an integral part of our efforts to help all people to live in dignity. In parallel,  we  must  take  further action to address States’ vulnerability to climate change, particularly small island States, just as we  need to   put more emphasis on implementing the Sustainable Development Goals and accelerate efforts to that end.
Bearing in mind the ongoing unstable situations and conflicts in Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Libya, Nigeria, Myanmar, Afghanistan, the Sahel, the long-standing Israeli-Palestinian conflict and, of course, the still unresolved problem of the forcible division of my country, reforming the peace and security pillar is particularly important. We fully concur with the notion of the primacy of diplomacy in peacemaking and conflict resolution and the supportive yet catalytic role of peacekeeping operations. However, we must admit that the former is in jeopardy without the latter, and that in the absence of a negotiating process, the need for peacekeeping becomes much greater and, in many cases, indispensable. The  situation in my  country is  a meaningful example of that. Accordingly, while we remain deeply committed to adopting the necessary reforms related to this pillar, we strongly believe that each peacekeeping operation should be evaluated on its own merits, based on actual needs and threats on the ground. The risks involved are far too grave to allow for any experimentation in that regard.
Notwithstanding Cyprus’s membership in the European Union (EU), it is located at the epicentre of an area of extreme volatility and instability. Our quest is based on our vision and ambition of becoming a beacon of stability, predictability and synergy for the purposes of promoting shared prosperity and stability for all. To that end, and as a unanimously accepted honest broker with no hidden agenda, we  have  reinforced our historically close ties with the countries in our immediate neighbourhood, and, together with Greece, we have established trilateral partnerships with several of our neighbours, including Egypt, Israel, Lebanon, Jordan and Palestine. Those trilateral mechanisms constitute a fitting example of what can be achieved when countries with shared concerns and common interests join forces rather than isolating themselves. In short, they are a practical expression of effective multilateralism, fully in line  with  this year’s  theme of shared responsibilities for peaceful, equitable and sustainable societies. Accordingly, I want to emphasize

the partnerships are neither exclusionary nor directed against any third country. On the contrary, they institutionalize cooperation and dialogue in our region, particularly in areas in which there are comparative advantages, such as energy. In that regard, we warmly welcome the expansion of those trilateral formats to include additional partners in other specific fields for mutually beneficial collaboration.
When talking about the importance of achieving peace and stability in our immediate neighbourhood and the means by  which that can be  accomplished,    I feel obliged to stress the significance and consequent multiple benefits that would result from a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem. First and foremost, a  viable and lasting settlement would  be in the best interests of the people of Cyprus, both Greek and Turkish Cypriots, as it would fulfil their aspiration to live in a normal and prosperous European country, fully independent and free from any foreign dependency. At the same time, I remain convinced that resolving the Cyprus problem will undoubtedly have a very important collateral influence on achieving and maintaining a much-needed environment of stability and peace in the region. Last but not least, a resolution of this international problem, which has been on the agenda of the United  Nations  for  decades, will offer a beacon of hope and demonstrate that even the most intractable problems can be solved peacefully through the Organization. Unfortunately, as the peace process has remained at an impasse since the conference on Cyprus in July 2017, I am deeply concerned about the time that has elapsed and its consequences.
To state it clearly, only a viable and functional solution to the Cyprus problem, in line with the principles of our EU membership and the best practices of the democratic countries of the  United  Nations, can establish the conditions for achieving lasting peace, enabling my country to fully hit its stride and all Cypriots to live in a state of normalcy and work together for their prosperity and security. As I have said previously, I remain strongly and truly committed to achieving a solution on the basis of the relevant United Nations resolutions and the European Union acquis, and continuing the negotiations on the six-point framework that the Secretary-General has set as the basis for the way forward. The Secretary-General’s  framework  and good-offices mission constitute the only path to    a solution.
We expect that Turkey, which has a key role to play in efforts to reach a settlement, will rise to the occasion, demonstrate the political will necessary for reaching a settlement and concretely contribute to regional stability. For our part, I want to repeat once again that we are determined to rise to the challenge of our historic responsibility and do our utmost to provide a peaceful future for  all  Cypriots and  the  region  as a whole.
In a fragmented and multipolar world, we have more than ever a moral, ethical and political duty to promote the essence of human civilization, unite our strength to maintain international peace and security and establish conditions that can bring prosperity and welfare to all. That perfectly matches the theme of this year’s session, and I hope that by next year we will be in a position to be proud of ourselves because we have taken significant steps towards fulfilling that vision.


I am present here in my capacity as Minister for Foreign Affairs of Austria. I extend my greetings to the President and the Vice-President of the General Assembly.
I am the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Austria, but I would like to address the Assembly in Arabic. Why do I do so? For one thing, Arabic is one of the   six official languages of the United Nations. I studied Arabic at the United Nations Office in Vienna. Arabic is a important and beautiful language, as well as part of the important Arab civilization.
I also learned in Lebanon during the years of war how people continue with their lives despite all odds and difficulties. That is the secret of life. There are men and women from Baghdad to Damascus who manage to just continue with their lives. I totally respect those people. All of us are the offspring of Adam. The offspring of Adam means humankind. In this Hall we have a voice, and we should use it to express the voice of those outside this Hall who are living in conflicts and wars, especially in the Middle East.
Allow me to mention the German writer, Bertolt Brecht, who said that there are some in the darkness and others in the light. We see only those in the light; we do not see those in the darkness.
I just quoted the German writer Bertolt Brecht, who spoke of those who are in the darkness and those who are in the light. We only see those in the light. Unfortunately, we diplomats often fail to make heard the voices of those who are in the shadows and in misery. Our diplomatic practices all too often favour fine declarations over real actions. I  even  dare  to  say that we indulge in a kind of dialogue of the deaf when we reduce ourselves to a ritual of reading out  our prefabricated notes. That state of mind reflects a loss of the sense of reality. We have lost the sense of any real exchange of views. When we speak, are we still discussing? Do we even know how to look in each other’s eyes?
Albert Cohen, a connoisseur of the League of Nations, the organization that preceded the United Nations, wrote in Geneva his masterpiece Belle du Seigneur, whose main character is named Solal, a gentleman who works as the Assistant Secretary- General of that organization. Finally, that gentleman loses his post of Assistant Secretary-General at the League of Nations because he forgets his diplomatic restraint in the face of the persecution of  German Jews in the 1930s. Has anyone here ever experienced the feeling of losing face when confronted with injustice and indifference? The multilateralism we are celebrating here is a sophisticated form of diplomacy. We have a wide range of instruments: our contracts, our conventions and our declarations. But where is the effectiveness of that multilateralism?
Allow me at this point to pay tribute to President Macron’s statement to the Assembly earlier this week (see A/73/PV.6), which contains a very interesting reflection on multilateralism  and  the  rule  of  law. For the President of France, those two things are synonymous. However, multilateralism is often blurred in a merry-go-round of meetings of which certain well-to-do diplomats have made a comfortable, subtle, interminable game that is enriched with litanies and mantras.
Unfortunately, we are content with this mantra when we talk about Syria and Yemen. We become intoxicated with words like “reconstruction”, “stabilization”, “constitution”, and so on. But faced with all that, the populations, the children, seek only to survive. They need bread, drinking water, a few hours of electricity and a minimum of security. That is why, beyond those fine phrases, Austria wishes to contribute, as other countries already do, to financing the demining of Syrian territory. And with regard to the greatest tragedy of our time — and here I speak of Yemen — Austria is ready to increase its humanitarian commitment.
But let us come back from the action on the ground to the beautiful Hall in which we find ourselves on  this beautiful Saturday. Multilateralism is based on a diplomatic approach to norms, and it is those norms that

require us to condemn, in the name of universal values, the use of chemical weapons in Syria and elsewhere. They also demand the absolute rejection of biological weapons. In that vein, there is no reason why we should not categorically prohibit the production and use of nuclear weapons and explosives.
Disarmament, non-proliferation and arms control are essential for global security. The fiftieth anniversary of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) reminds us of the key role of the rule of law. Despite some success, the NPT has suffered from inadequate implementation. Now, what is the law? It consists of binding rules of an enforceable nature. Like other international treaties, disarmament treaties are not of a moral but rather of a legal nature. We are convinced that if we wish to really move towards nuclear disarmament, the ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty is of paramount importance. My country, Austria, has been chosen as the seat of the organization responsible for the implementation of that treaty, and we are proud of that.
The destructive power of nuclear weapons has made it imperative that the legal prohibition of nuclear war be strictly observed in practice. We congratulate Latin America for creating the first international nuclear-weapon-free zone.
We all know that, according  to  the  Charter  of the United Nations, there is  no  just  war.  In  1945,  the international community set out to save future generations from the scourge of war. Unfortunately, the United Nations has not  succeeded  in  keeping  that promise.
In addition, the majority of  Latin  American States have, as Austria has also done, recognized the compulsory jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice. That is a necessary condition for maintaining a credible system of international law. Similarly, Austria is a firm supporter of the International Criminal Court. We are celebrating the twentieth anniversary of the adoption of the Rome Statute this year. The establishment of a permanent independent  tribunal  for the prosecution of the most serious crimes was a historic milestone. We welcome the activation of the Court’s jurisdiction over the crime of aggression, which has been in effect since July and is an important step in combating impunity. We regret, however, that the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court has
been undermined by several agreements impeding the
surrender of persons to the Court.
The main  purpose  of  the International  Court  of Justice is to foster trust in the international legal system. Secretary-General Guterres spoke at length (see A/73/PV.6) about the broken trust that we face. The most recent example of the importance of trust and reliability in international relations concerns the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which  is politically but not legally binding. The JCPOA, negotiated in Vienna, was the result of effective multilateral action. It contains a set of political commitments and includes, importantly, an independent verification system involving the International Atomic Energy Agency. That agreement demonstrates the importance of pacta sunt servanda — agreements must be kept — which many of us recall from our international  law  studies.  That  is  a  precondition for mutual trust and confidence-building in the international arena. Preserving the nuclear deal with Iran is a matter of respecting international agreements and one, in the end, of international security. If one country that originally committed to the JCPOA can walk away from the agreement without other parties  to the agreement having violated it, mutual trust is weakened. Reliability is key to peaceful solutions of conflicts. That is especially true with regard to long- term conflicts such as the one on the Korean peninsula, where concrete and substantive measures should follow the first encouraging steps. We express our sincere respect for all those involved in that process.
Multilateralism has also failed several million women worldwide, as have individual States. Gender equality is about more than legal provisions. It is about daily practice in our  countries  and  societies.  That  is why the fight against discrimination against and improving the situation of women and girls worldwide has been a long-standing concern of Austrian foreign and development policy. Our focus is centred on the women and peace and security agenda, the political and economic empowerment of women and the fight against gender-based violence, with a particular focus on combating female genital mutilation. More than 200 million women and girls worldwide are victims of such mutilation.
Together, we must stand up against that humiliation,
which is a breach of human rights and an appalling

violation of the physical integrity of girls and women. In 2018, the Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs earmarked more than €1 million to help victims of female genital mutilation through surgical restoration, as their physical integrity can be restored. Here in New York, I had very constructive talks with the United Nations Population Fund and UNICEF for the purpose of joining forces to advocate for the basic rights and physical integrity of girls and women. We aim to do that not only through conferences and seminars, but also through practical surgical help, whereby help truly becomes effectual. Women and children are also among the vulnerable victims of human trafficking. Illegal migration provides daily illustrations of that tragedy, with which we are familiar in the North-South and East-West contexts.
Vienna has found its specific identity within the United Nations family, in particular in the fight against organized crime, corruption and terrorism. Next year, Vienna will celebrate the fortieth anniversary of the establishment of the United Nations Office at Vienna. I am part of that generation of Austrians who  grew  up with the proud awareness of living in a United Nations city.
With this statement, I have  tried  to  depart  a little bit from the usual United Nations discourse. I have refrained from addressing every single issue dealt with by the United Nations system. However, I cannot conclude without endorsing Secretary-General Guterres’ foremost concern, namely, climate change. The global energy mix continues to be dominated by fossil fuels, in particular coal. Scientists are working on finding new forms of energy, in particular for transportation. Will we see an increase in electric and other types of engines? Innovation, market forces and political action will decide.
It is in the Middle East that the major oil reserves are located. The States of the Middle East were shaped by the oil business in the aftermath of the First World War. This autumn, we are commemorating the end of the Great War 100 years ago. Let me remind the Assembly that, with the disintegration of the Ottoman Empire, the new map of the Middle East was shaped by pipelines, in relation to which borders were subsequently drawn. The recent wars imposed on the Middle East were also fought for the sake of oil. Now Syria is a victim of the instability created by all those wars. A week ago, a ceasefire was brokered in northern Syria for the city of Idlib. Five national armies find themselves in a sort of
stand-off among millions of civilians and thousands of terrorists, some of whom are European Union nationals, or, as we call them, “foreign fighters”.
The burning issue is how to move from that military situation to a diplomatic transition. The time has come to take courageous steps to launch such a  process.  We believe that there is momentum  for  creating  a new dynamic. We encourage the decision makers  from Washington, D.C., to Moscow, from Tehran to Jerusalem, and from Ankara to Damascus to  seize that very momentum. We have a historic chance, and, there is no other alternative — according to the Hebrew expression — than to sit down at the negotiation table.


I congratulate Ambassador María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés on her election as President of the General Assembly. I welcome the fact that, for the first time in history, a Latin American woman is presiding over the work of the Assembly.
Since the founding of the Organization, Mexico has demonstrated its willingness to help make the ideals that gave rise to its creation into a reality. As Mexicans, we are aware of our responsibilities as  a  nation  that is part of a community of sovereign and independent States. Successive generations have managed to build Mexico into a democratic and pluralistic State, a free and participatory society and a dynamic economy open to the world. At the same time, we have contributed to deliberations and action focused on the great challenges facing the international community in the quest for peace and security, the promotion of sustainable development and respect for human rights. Those are universal values that have inspired and guided Mexico’s efforts to overcome the challenges facing our society.
With the commitment and cooperation of the three branches of our Government, various political parties, civil-society organizations and representatives of the various economic sectors, Mexico is moving forward towards improved levels of wealth and development. We have striven to strengthen our institutions and protect our society from the threat of crime and violence in the quest for a Mexico living in peace. We have worked to improve the living conditions of the most vulnerable groups by reducing poverty levels and building an inclusive Mexico. We have transformed the Mexican educational system so that it can provide the children and young people of the country with quality education that will prepare them for a successful and happy life. We have removed barriers that, for decades, impeded full economic development, thereby fuelling a prosperous Mexico. We have taken an active role in finding solutions to international challenges, which is fitting for one of the 10 most populous countries, one of the 15 largest economies in the world, and a responsible global actor.
My country has made a sense  of  responsibility the watchword of its foreign policy. Mexico has acted responsibly in promoting sustainable development, which benefits everyone. For that reason, we have established an institutional architecture, in cooperation with the federal executive power, to promote the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Together with other countries represented in this Hall, we have

promoted the annual assessment of the impact of rapid technological change, especially artificial intelligence, on the achievement of the 2030 Agenda.
The implementation of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change is a priority for my country. As an international community, we have a moral obligation to put its precepts into practice and meet even more ambitious mitigation, adaptation and financing goals. Mexico has acted responsibly in seeking for solutions to the challenges posed by migration. I welcome the progress that we have made in achieving the global compact for safe, orderly and regular migration. Based on the new development paradigm, the Permanent Representatives of Mexico and Switzerland have worked over the past two years with States, civil-society organizations, international organizations and academia to establish the following guiding principles of the pact: respect for the human rights of all migrants regardless of their immigration status, shared responsibility and unrestricted respect for the sovereignty of States, among others. The upcoming official adoption of that instrument in Marrakech in December will allow us to rely on a foundational document for the international governance of migration.
Mexico has acted responsibly in promoting international peace and security. Following a hiatus  of more than two decades, Mexico has resumed its participation in peacekeeping operations. In recent years, we have contributed to operations deployed in Africa, the Middle East and Latin America and the Caribbean. Mexico also has made its mark in its struggle for the total elimination of weapons of mass destruction, particularly nuclear disarmament. Accordingly, we initiated and supported the process concluded in 2017 with the negotiation of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, which Mexico ratified in January. We urge all Member States that have not yet done so to sign and ratify the Treaty without delay.
Weapons of mass destruction are not the only threat to society. The illicit trade in weapons is one of the greatest challenges to national security that Mexico, like many other countries, has had to face. I say this  in no uncertain terms — given its serious nature, trafficking in illicit weapons is a scourge that we must urgently address. One important step to advance that struggle was the negotiation and adoption of the Arms Trade Treaty. The first Conference of States Parties to the Treaty was held in Mexico in 2014. We must now work on its implementation. The outcome of the 2016
special session of the General Assembly on the world drug problem was a watershed in the international drug-control system. Its implementation will allow us to move from mere prohibition to effective regulation that combines prevention, public health and human rights approaches.
Mexico has acted responsibly  in  the  promotion of human rights. We acknowledge that our country continues to face major challenges in  terms  of human rights, and we have therefore implemented specific public policies to address them. Mexico has maintained its openness to international scrutiny, as we know that it serves as a useful tool to strengthen our national legal frameworks and promote human rights in the country. In its efforts to promote human rights, the international community must continue to promote respect for fundamental democratic principles throughout the world. The usurpation of powers, the systematic violation of  political  rights,  the  rupture of the democratic order and the humanitarian crisis prevailing in some areas of the American continent are issues that deeply concern us. Mexico will pursue its best diplomatic efforts to ensure that democracy, peace and respect for human rights are restored in all corners of the continent. We will always seek peaceful solutions agreed by the citizens of those countries, in full respect for the principle of non-intervention.
As it has argued consistently in the past, Mexico today reiterates its call for an end to the commercial and financial blockade of Cuba. Mexico believes that solutions to problems must be found through dialogue and negotiations. I am convinced that the end of the blockade would benefit the entire region.
In the international arena today, we have seen trends that seemed to have been overcome and that in the past were shown to run contrary to the interests   of development, such as advocacy for exclusionary nationalisms, the return of protectionist trade practices and the questioning and erosion of multilateralism. Such policies promote exclusion — the political exclusion of minorities, the social exclusion of vulnerable groups, the economic exclusion of those less fortunate and the cultural exclusion of those who live or think differently.
Faced with such worrying trends, I reaffirm before this universal forum the importance of multilateralism and international cooperation for Mexico. Experience shows that multilateralism is the best way to defend  the sovereignty and dignity of every State, while at the

same time contributing to the security and well-being of the community of nations. For that reason, all the Members of the Organization must confirm their trust in and commit themselves to strengthening it.
Specifically, Mexico calls on Member States,  first, to achieve a consensus for the comprehensive reform of the Security Council that would strengthen multilateralism, not create new permanent members and establish longer terms  for non-permanent members; secondly, to ensure that the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which constitutes a true international social charter for the twenty-first century, becomes an effective global guide to ensure that no one is left behind; thirdly, to strengthen the human rights regime throughout the world — we are confident that the appointment of Ms. Michelle Bachelet as United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights will strengthen that important pillar of the Organization; and, fourthly, to comply fully with the relevant Security Council resolutions to safeguard international peace and security. We are encouraged by the progress in the dialogue between the Republic of Korea and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. At the same time, we reiterate the call for compliance with the relevant Security Council resolutions on the complete denuclearization of the Korean peninsula.
My  country  is  currently  undergoing  a  period of democratic transition between Governments. Marked by unconditional respect for the political and economic freedoms of Mexico’s citizens, the change in Administrations is taking place in an environment of certainty, order, economic stability and social peace. As I am just a few weeks from completing my term  as President of Mexico, this will be my last statement in the largest forum of the international community. During the past six years, I have found that dialogue, cooperation and an international system based on rules are our best option to achieve just, shared and lasting solutions to global challenges.
Building a world of peace, friendship and international cooperation has never been an easy task. There are those who opt for exclusion and discord. There are also those who choose to be mere observers instead of true agents of change. Those alternatives are contrary to the spirit of harmony and universal fraternity that inspires the members of the Assembly. The Organization is the best indication that it is well worth fighting for a more peaceful, secure, inclusive, egalitarian, developed and sustainable world. The
challenges facing the international community compel us to remain faithful to the ideals that inspired the founding of the Organization and to continue building on the principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations. Let us all fulfil responsibly the commitments that our States have assumed individually for the benefit of every nation and, at the same time, of the international community as a whole.


Year after year, Government leaders from across the  world  travel to this Hall in the United Nations in the hope  of finding a pathway to universal peace and progress, which has persistently eluded us all. The people of our nations — rich and poor, large and small — have long since stopped paying much attention to, or caring about, what is said here. For them this place is a talk shop where much is said and not enough is being done to change their lives or give them good reason to believe that a better life is coming. What they know is that they live in a world in which 1 per cent of humankind controls more wealth than the other 99 per cent. What they see is a world controlled by a few powerful nations that impose their will on all the others in perpetuation of a system of sectional dominance.
To the children of Syria, Palestine, Israel, Yemen and Afghanistan who do not know a life without war, without bombs, without conflicts and without violent confrontation, the promise of turning swords into ploughshares is a meaningless phrase. To the people in sub-Saharan Africa and many parts of Latin America and Asia, the World Bank’s dream, emblazoned on its grand entrance in Washington, D.C., of a world free of poverty, continues to be a nightmare they relive every waking moment.
The fundamental undertaking by all nations, as set out in the Charter of the United Nations, namely,

“to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small”,
stands in stark contradiction to the reality of refugees from Africa, Latin America and war-torn countries, who are forced to flee their homelands to try to cross the borders of the rich — some literally in cages.
Why, then, did I travel to the United Nations? Why am I standing at this rostrum when I could be in my own country tending to its affairs and trying, as best I can, to improve my people’s lives? I am here because none of the crises I just described exists in isolation. Each of them engulfs us all, and at this forum, at least, I can raise my voice for the disadvantaged and dispossessed, including my own people in Antigua and Barbuda.
History has taught us that no nation should believe that its individual oasis of wealth, prosperity and advantage can continue to exist  and  expand if  the rest of the globe is a wasteland. The reality is that the world is a global neighbourhood. No place on our planet is distant any longer, and neither are the issues that plague it. The hopes and aspirations of all those communities — and, yes, their terrors, their torments and their fears — are shared by everyone. If they have not yet reached Member States’ doorstep, at the rate we are going they are certainly coming soon.
Walls around the rich cannot keep out diseases that are carried on the winds blowing from neglected pools of poverty. Migrants will not halt their determined trek from their homelands in search of better conditions until circumstances in their own countries improve. While the Governments and political parties in those countries bear a great responsibility to respect and uphold the human, civil and political rights of their citizens, the global community,  particularly  the  rich, has an obligation to contribute to the economic development of those countries. Human freedoms, like fragile plants, even in the purest air cannot take root and thrive in conditions of deprivation and dispossession.
For all those reasons, our  nations,  collectively and acting in a united way, must act to improve the human condition. It is an imperative. That is why the revitalization of the General Assembly is vital, urgent and important. For  instance,  without  the  inclusion of all States Members of the United Nations in the discussions on global financial reforms, there can be no real comprehension of the grave vulnerability of small
States to external shocks, high levels of poverty and high debt-to-gross-domestic-product ratios.
A few privileged nations are making decisions that impact the livelihoods of billions. The exclusive clubs of the Group of Seven and the Group of 20 cannot repair the fragmented international financial system without taking full account of the circumstances and views of the majority of the world’s nations, and neither can the European Commission, which now seeks to impose its own anti-competition, high-tax policies on developing countries around the world.
Limits on participation limit ideas, innovation  and human development. Arbitrary rules set by unrepresentative bodies for their own narrow purposes have no legitimacy in the world. The enforcement of those arbitrary rules by the threats and sanctions of the mighty is not legitimate. It results only in grumbling and reluctant acquiescence that lacks enduring support. The might exercised by enforcers does not make their actions right.
That is why the General Assembly must be revitalized. Its revitalization  would  serve  to  give this gathering relevance and would help address meaningfully the indifference of the peoples of the world towards the Organization, about which I spoke at the beginning of this statement.
The special value of the General Assembly is its universality of membership and the fact that the voice of every Member State can be raised, but it must be seen to be more than a place for talk. It must be a place for action and for results. For years the General Assembly has been marginalized by the Security Council and by the notion that a small group of powerful countries should make decisions for the rest of the world. Where is the democracy in that type of behaviour? That erroneous thinking has crept into every multilateral organization. It is so in the World Trade Organization (WTO); it is so in the International Monetary Fund; and it is so in the World Bank. The General Assembly must become the principal organ of the United Nations system — the only system that every nation of the world accepts and to which they all subscribe.
That is what the Charter of the United Nations promised, and that is what nations expect. The failure to deliver on that promise has undermined multilateralism and encouraged the abuse of power by the powerful few and has frustrated people all over the world. Unless the General Assembly is revitalized and made relevant, the

actions of the Security Council and other organizations will be endured, but not embraced; they will be accepted, but not respected; and they will be enforced, but not legitimized.
Despite the risk of my call falling on deaf ears, I hereby make the call once again for a reinvigorated and relevant General Assembly. I recognize that it would not serve the interests of the powerful, who fear the expression of dissent and the call for political rights, rights that many of the powerful demand should exist in other countries, but I would be neglectful of my duty of care and my responsibility to the poor and vulnerable and to the silenced and stifled if I did not raise this clarion call for greater and fairer representation for all the world’s peoples.
As the leader of my country, I put its interests first. However, I know that in standing up for my country first it would be foolhardy to stand up for my country alone. That would be a dog-eat-dog policy that, if practiced by every nation, would result in short-term gains for the richer ones, but ultimately in losses for all. My country would soon run out  of  friends, run out of foreign investors and, more important, run out of markets for its goods and services. The analogy applies to countries much larger than mine, even the richest and most powerful, even those who believe that they are invincible. For when they have weakened all others to strengthen themselves, to whom will they sell their goods and services and how will they maintain their high standard of living and increase their wealth? Humankind itself is our global community that provides all of us with enduring citizenship. Loyalty to myopic, nationalistic ideals cannot trump patriotism towards our common humankind.
I recognize that today all nations  of  the  world are interdependent in the effort to stop the spread of disease, curb the effects of climate change, make our peoples safe from terrorists and organized crime, share knowledge and technology and have access to one another’s markets to trade in goods and services, thereby improving the lives of all people. Today’s world will be able to maintain and broaden peace, security and prosperity only through international teamwork. There is no other way. No one  nation, however  powerful, can go it alone. That is why my country supports denuclearization by North Korea and Iran. It is why we would like to see all countries eliminate their nuclear arsenals. Global peace will not be won by a balance of terror, and that is what pointing nuclear warheads at
each other is all about. It is a balance of terror. It is a zero-sum game that is playing with the survival of our planet and all humankind. No one should be playing that game, no matter how rich or powerful they are. In my country’s own Caribbean region, we have strongly advocated for a zone of peace. For too many centuries, our area has been the site of other peoples’ conflicts and ambitions. We had no say in those conflicts, which have left our region with a long shadow of stunted growth, dispossession and underdevelopment. We want no more to be the theatre of the proxy wars of others. We want the chance to grow and develop, to claim a place under the sun and to make our unique contribution to human progress.
For that reason we welcome a recent visit to Cuba by the Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee of the United States, Mr. Bob Corker, to talk about relations between the two countries. We understand that progress is never made in a straight line. There have been many zigs and many zags, but after five decades of imposing a trade embargo on Cuba the senselessness of that policy should be obvious to all. It is time to end it and to provide the Cuban people with the chance they have been so long denied to put their well-known talents in medicine, the arts, music and education at the disposal of all humankind. We again call on the Congress of the United States to abandon the outdated trade embargo of Cuba and renew the avenues of dialogue and cooperation that offer beneficial prospects for the peoples of both countries, and by extension to all the Americas.
In the same vein, we  urge all nations to recall  that the countries of the United Nations committed themselves, 13 years ago, to the responsibility to protect their own populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity. What we did not do was to give any country or group of countries the right to intervene uninvited in the affairs of any other country. We certainly did not authorize military intervention in any way, shape or form. What we agreed was that there is a collective responsibility to encourage and help each country uphold its individual commitment to protect its own people, and we declared our preparedness to take timely and decisive action, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, to help them to do so.
We all know that, in the words of the Charter itself,

“Nothing contained in the present Charter shall authorize the United Nations to intervene in matters which are essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of any state”.
In that connection, when  the  General  Assembly  at its seventy-third session once again discusses this matter, we must strongly discourage bellicose talk of military intervention in any State by any other  State or group of States. The responsibility to protect must not be used as political cover for vigilante action to justify intervention in any country. The encouragement of military interventions would mortally wound the United Nations as a legitimate and effective body. That is a prospect to be firmly eschewed. Therefore, when and if the United Nations decides that democracy and human rights have been emasculated by tyranny in any country, it is the United Nations collectively that must authorize and carry out any agreed action. In the words of former United States Republican President Dwight Eisenhower:
“If the United Nations once admits that international disputes can be settled by using force, then we will have destroyed the foundation of the Organization and our best hope of establishing a world order.”
The United Nations must always be a manifestation of the better angels of our common humanity, through which we must seek a world of security and freedom governed by justice and moral law. Together we must assert the pre-eminence of right over might and the general good over narrow sectional aims.  That  is why my country calls for a renewed commitment to multilateralism and a rejection of trade wars. Goods and services together represent more than 28 per cent of the global gross domestic product, but the escalation of trade wars will lead to severe disruption across the globe. No country will be spared and, incidentally, the worst affected will be those that wage those wars. That disruption has already started, and its effects are being felt globally.
Already, even though my country is not involved in any trade war with anyone, it is experiencing the downside of trade wars between our trading partners, as prices of our imports from them rise, pushing up the cost of living. The World Trade  Organization is not a perfect mechanism for solving trade disputes,  but walking away from it and tearing it down would  do nothing except to destabilize the world’s trading system, which is fundamental to the well-being of
all. It is up to all nations, rich and poor, to make the system work by improving it and by honouring their individual commitments.
Fifteen years after winning an arbitration at the WTO, my little country is still awaiting an acceptable settlement by the United States to honour its obligation to us. That is right — 15 years later we are still waiting. The United States economy is 20,000 times larger than that of Antigua and Barbuda. The compensation for the injury to my small country is less than 0.008 per cent of one year of the gross domestic product (GDP) of the United States. The injury that was done to my country’s economy now amounts to over 20 per cent of its GDP. No country can easily absorb that severe a blow, which hurts our economy, sets back our infrastructural development and constrains the provision of employment and advances in health and education. That my people have been able to survive that pain speaks to their resilience, of which I am extremely proud, but they should not be made to endure it.
Of course, the WTO is powerless to enforce its own awards, and my country has no means to do so. We rely on respect for the international system, adherence to international law and the conscience of the mighty to do right to the weak whom they have injured. That is a struggle in which my country will continue to engage. We will not relent. And we will do so not in anger or  in enmity, but in calm and in comity until justice is achieved. We owe it to our small island community not to rest until justice is done. As I said before, we will not relent on that issue.
In the context of justice, the refusal by some countries, particularly those that are the worst contributors to greenhouse-gas emissions,  to  admit to the harmful effects of climate change and to take remedial action is an act of injustice. Small countries such as Antigua and Barbuda contribute the least to harmful carbon emissions — less than 0.01 per cent. Yet, along with other small States in the Caribbean and the Pacific, we are its greatest victims. The injury to our countries continues without compensation, causing our economies to decline, creating refugees within our States, scaring away foreign investors, escalating the costs of insurance and rebuilding and increasing the level of our debt. Those are the realities of climate change.
Last year’s hurricane season cost the Caribbean region more than $150 billion. To put that in perspective,

the overall economy of the 14 States members of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) totals $80 billion. That means that the damage to countries within our subregion last year alone was almost twice the size of all our economies combined. Almost a year ago today, a CARICOM-United Nations high-level pledging conference was convened to assist Caribbean countries that were affected by Hurricanes Irma and Maria. Billions of dollars  were  pledged,  although  they were insufficient to meet the costs. More important, unfortunately, less than half of the pledges have been delivered. Reconstruction is far from done; rebuilding lives and livelihoods will challenge us for some time to come. Where is the justice?
The Caribbean has been fortunate this year  in that we have so far survived  the  hurricane  season. We watched in anguish and with enormous sympathy and empathy the destruction wrought by Hurricane Florence on the Carolinas in the United States. We mourned the loss of lives — a pain we know only too well. What the destruction of the Carolinas this year and the ruin of Caribbean countries last year served to emphasize to us is that borders may separate nations but they do not insulate them from the shared dangers of climate change. Sovereignty and patriotism do not give sanctuary from calamity; disaster befalls the wealthy as well as the poor.
That is why we continue to urge for a global  policy dialogue that  integrates  the  environment  with development and that accepts the fundamental understanding that every country — with no exceptions — must play a meaningful role, within its means, to stop the persistent deterioration of our lives caused by climate change. The problem is global, and it requires a global solution. It requires the commitment of all. What the world needs is  a  recommitment to  the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, including a commitment to the replenishment of the Green Climate Fund and the Adaptation Fund.
On behalf of the people of my country, the people of the Caribbean and Pacific islands, the people who live in the eye of storms such as those afflicting the eastern seaboard of the United  States,  I  urge  all  countries to come to the table of dialogue and to stand by the agreements we have made and the treaties we sign. Our shared planet and our common humanity depend upon it.


At the outset, Madam President, I would like to join previous speakers by extending, on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan, our sincere congratulations on your well-deserved election as President of the General Assembly at its seventy-third session. We are confident that your wisdom, diplomatic experience and skills will contribute to the success of the current session of the General Assembly. You can rest assured of my delegation’s constant support and cooperation in that regard.
I would also like to take this opportunity to commend your predecessor, His Excellency Mr. Miroslav Lajčák, on his able leadership during the previous session of the General Assembly.
We live in an ever-changing world. Unprecedented levels of instability and uncertainty are on the rise in many parts of the world. Global challenges such as climate change, terrorism and extremism, large-scale conflicts, inequality, poverty, food and water insecurity, lack of education and economic opportunities, and unemployment — to name but a few — further affect the status quo.
Today’s global challenges exert pressure on the very foundations of the world order and the principles of international relations. They undermine the efforts of the international community to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals.
Under those circumstances, the theme for this session, namely, “Making the United Nations relevant to all people: global leadership and shared responsibilities for peaceful, equitable and sustainable societies”, becomes very pertinent.
I echo the words of our late former Secretary- General, the great diplomat and outstanding human being Kofi Annan, who said,
“We should be asking what should we be doing in this changing world. The world is changing and the United Nations has to change and adapt with it. We cannot be static.”
As a universal institution, the United Nations should continue carrying out its noble mission of coordinating the efforts of its Member States aimed at enhancing the resilience of the countries as they seek to respond to modern threats and challenges. At the same time, Member States should also play an active part in that process by meeting their commitments, undertaken in the 2030 Agenda, the Addis Ababa Action Agenda and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, to restore stability and thereby to ensure development. Full implementation of the aforementioned milestone documents is required in order to address many of the socioeconomic problems that are the main drivers of extremism and terrorism.

My country believes that the response to the ever- increasing threat of terrorism and violent extremism should be comprehensive,  with  the  United  Nations as a key coordinator. The efforts should be  focused  on the elimination of the military infrastructure of international terrorism, on depriving it of political, military and financial support, and on preventing the use of information and communications technologies for the radicalization of minds, recruitment and propaganda messages for extremism and violence.
In order to discuss those issues, the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan, in close  cooperation with the United Nations, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the European Union and some partner countries,  convened,  in  Dushanbe  on 3 to 4 May, the high-level international conference on countering terrorism and preventing violent extremism. We are confident that the Dushanbe  conference served as an excellent platform for constructive and fruitful cooperation by, inter alia, contributing to the achievement of a general recognition of the negative impact and consequences of the current challenges, exploring possibilities for strengthening partnership and cooperation at all levels, and exchanging experiences in countering terrorism and preventing violent extremism. Furthermore, in order to address the evolving transnational threat posed by terrorist groups and their affiliated member States, the United Nations should continue to strengthen and promote the effective use of the necessary tools and measures.
It is essential that we jointly search for ways to address poverty, the negative impact of globalization, and the prevention and resolution of conflicts. There  is also a need to strengthen intercultural and interfaith dialogue, mutual trust and tolerance. In that context, the United Nations remains a critically important platform for achieving consensus on the  main issues of international security  and  development,  as  well as for the coordination of joint actions on the part of the international community aimed at addressing the challenges and threats of the contemporary world.
Peace is the main prerequisite for creating equitable and sustainable societies across the world. We therefore believe that stable peace in the Middle East can be achieved only through a comprehensive settlement of the crisis, which in turn will contribute to enhancing global security. We support international and regional efforts aimed at restoring and strengthening  peace and stability in the Middle East, including the efforts
to further the resumption and acceleration of credible negotiations within the Middle East peace process.
We also  support  the  international  strategy  for  a comprehensive settlement and for post-conflict rehabilitation in Afghanistan. We need to strengthen our assistance to the Government of Afghanistan, especially during Afghanistan’s  transformation decade (2015-2024). Urgent socioeconomic recovery  is a must for the development and prosperity of Afghanistan. Targeted assistance to that war-torn country, aimed at economic recovery, strengthening the social sphere and creating new jobs, should be expanded. To that end, the involvement of Afghanistan in the process of multifaceted regional cooperation is critical for the success of the efforts undertaken by the international community.
We are willing to take part in the rehabilitation of the social and economic infrastructure of Afghanistan by connecting the transport arteries of our two countries, by creating an energy bridge through the Central Asia-South Asia power project (CASA-1000), and by providing the Afghan population with essential commodities and by training specialists.
We are in the third year  of  the  implementation  of the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The recent High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development has vividly demonstrated that, despite certain progress, there are early signs that a number of countries are not on track to reach the SDGs by 2030. It is alarming to observe that situation, particularly at the stage when  the  countries  have  just started incorporating the 2030 Agenda into and aligning it with their national development strategies. The mistakes of the era of the Millennium Development Goals should not be repeated. For that reason, there is an urgent need to step up efforts on all fronts aimed at achieving our ambitious goal, namely, to transform our world for the better by 2030.
The first step to be undertaken is to strengthen the means of implementation, especially for the developing countries. The mobilization of financial resources, including official development assistance, long-term investments, revitalized global partnerships, capacity- building and the transfer of environmentally sound technologies to the developing countries, is needed in order to adequately attain the SDGs in a timely manner by 2030.

Secondly, national development efforts  need  to be supported by an enabling international economic environment. It is essential to revitalize international trade and investments — the main engines of economic growth and development. Effective regional cooperation should also facilitate the achievement of sustainable development. As we pledged to leave no one behind in our collective journey, it is imperative to recognize that each country faces specific challenges in achieving the 2030 Agenda, in particular the most vulnerable countries, such as the African countries, the least developed countries, the landlocked developing countries and the small island developing States. We need, therefore, to take into account the different national realities, capacities and levels of development of those vulnerable countries and scale up our assistance to them.
With that in mind, we supported and welcomed the Secretary-General’s reform of the United Nations development system aimed at enhancing the United Nations contribution to sustainable development. We believe that the new changes will transform the United Nations system and will make it more capable of supporting the 2030 Agenda and delivering better on the ground.
The year 2018 was important for the water agenda, not only for Tajikistan, a country that actively advances that agenda, but also for the entire water community across the globe. We witnessed a series of milestone events, starting in Brazil with the eighth World Water Forum, then the launch of the Water Action Decade in New York, followed by the High-level International Conference on the International Decade for Action “Water for Sustainable Development” 2018-2028, which was held in Dushanbe, and culminating in New York with the 2018 High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development.
Each of those  events  had  a  profound  impact  and made a significant contribution to the overall advancement of SDG 6 and other water-related Goals of the 2030 Agenda. For instance, the joint United Nations and Tajikistan International High-level Conference on the International Decade for Action “Water for Sustainable Development”,  2018-2028, held in Dushanbe from 20 to 22 June, brought together approximately 1,500 people from 111 countries. The Conference also provided a timely and necessary platform for elaborating recommendations in the run-
up to the High-level Political Forum, where SDG 6 had been reviewed.
Among other things, the Conference helped to increase the attention paid to the water-related SDGs and targets at all levels and to the interlinkages between various Goals and targets; to strengthen cooperation and partnerships at all levels aimed at achieving the water-related SDGs; to better understand how water contributes to achieving sustainability and how the lack of sustainability impacts water resources; to discuss the role of the Dushanbe Conference in the implementation of the International Decade for Action on Water for Sustainable  Development;  and,  most   importantly, to discuss the importance of specific means of implementation, including monitoring, financing, capacity-development, innovation, technology, knowledge, information, data and best practices. It also helped to promote advocacy and networking and encouraged partnerships for action.
Encouraged by the success of the Dushanbe Conference and in fulfilment of the mandate of resolution 71/222, which declared the period of 2018- 2028 as an International Decade for Action on Water for Sustainable Development, Tajikistan is going to submit a draft resolution  to  the  General  Assembly on the midterm review of the implementation of the Decade this fall. We sincerely hope that, based on the success of the Water Decade resolution, which was sponsored in 2016 by the majority of Member States, the draft resolution will also enjoy their valuable support this time.