At the outset, it is my pleasure to congratulate Mrs. María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés on her assumption of the presidency of the General Assembly at its seventy-third session and to wish her every success in her work. I

would also like to express my sincere appreciation to Mr. Miroslav Lajčák for the remarkable effectiveness and professionalism with which he led the General Assembly at  its previous session. I  would be remiss  if I did not also commend Secretary-General António Guterres for  his great efforts and noble  endeavours  to reform and steer our Organization in the service of international peace and security. And I want to offer my heartfelt and sincere condolences on the passing of former Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who was known for his honesty, compassion and noble spirit. I had the honour to work closely with him on several issues, particularly the situation in Syria.
As we meet today under this one roof,  our  peoples look forward to achieving  their  equitable and legitimate right to peace, development and a life of dignity. They are also trying to build a cohesive and integrated international system capable of confronting the challenges that threaten the existence and survival of human life, such as hunger, disease, epidemics, terrorism, wars, poverty, scarce resources, natural disasters and a lack of incentives for growth. Mauritania is confident that the noble values that underpin the foundation of this Organization can still build a world of understanding, peace, and prosperity.
The Islamic Republic of Mauritania, in  hosting the thirty-first African Union Summit in Nouakchott on 2 and 3 July  under the  theme “Winning the  war on corruption, a sustained course  on  the  path  for  the transformation of Africa”,  sought  to  contribute to formulating a comprehensive vision aimed at addressing the challenges posed by corruption, with the goal of freeing our African peoples from that heinous problem. Mauritania has accomplished much in its fight against corruption, adopting a series of measures and procedures aimed at reducing it. We have mobilized our oversight institutions and  adopted  transparency in all financial transactions. We have modernized and developed our tax-collection system, in addition to updating its methods and systems of payment through the introduction this year of a fiscal reform programme that has led to a change in the base national currency.
Under the leadership of His Excellency President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, we have adopted an integrated economic policy aimed at ensuring the welfare and prosperity of our citizens. We have built roads, airports and seaports, and our Government has made basic services available, including drinking water and electrical power. We have implemented reforms
designed to speed up growth throughout our economic, mining and oil sectors. We have also enacted a law encouraging investments and have established a free economic zone in the city of Nouadhibou. We expect our economic growth to exceed 4 per cent this year.
In order to mitigate the negative impact of climate change on economic growth and life in general, Mauritania has adopted a national policy designed to utilize renewable sources of energy. We are also working on combating sand invasion and have focused on environmental efforts, including the creation of nature reserves. Mauritania has ratified all the international conventions relating to climate change and, as is well known, Nouakchott hosts the headquarters of the African Agency of the Great Green Wall for the Sahara and the Sahel Initiative.
We are aware that achieving justice and equity for all members of society and distributing wealth equitably constitute one of the main foundations of a modern State. Mauritania has therefore enacted fundamental reforms in its legal system with the aim of entrenching the concept of the independence of the judiciary and making it known to litigants. We uphold freedom of the press as a strategic choice in our efforts to achieve and enhance democracy. We recently established a public fund to support the private press and streamline the electronic media, and we are working to launch a radio and television broadcasting service. We have abolished prison sentences for issues pertaining to press cases and made public media outlets accessible to all political actors. All of those achievements have  come  thanks to honest political will, aimed at spreading a spirit of freedom and democracy, and they have enabled our country to maintain a leading rank in terms of freedom of the press at the international level. According to Reporters Without Borders, for years Mauritania has repeatedly ranked first in the Arab world in terms of freedom of the press and of expression, a fact that was also confirmed in the most recent report of the United Nations Development Programme.
Mauritania has worked to encourage international accord and has adopted a permanent policy of openness. In that regard, many preparatory meetings and consultations were held with various factions of the opposition in order to reach agreement, culminating in an open political dialogue between the majority and the opposition in 2011, followed by another comprehensive dialogue, between 29 September and 20 October 2016, between the parties of the majority and certain parties

of the opposition, as well as large sections of civil society and independent personalities. These resulted in constitutional amendments that were adopted by referendum on 5 August 2017, which has enhanced  our democracy and the rule of law, as well as the rationalization of public resources.
The elections held on 1 and 15 September provided an opportunity for the Mauritanian people to choose their representatives on the legislative,  municipal,  and local councils. In establishing the concept of decentralization, for the first time in its history my country also witnessed the election of local councils tasked with developing various approaches to engaging local groups when dealing with their affairs. The elections were held under the supervision of an independent electoral commission in an atmosphere of peace, security, transparency and fairness, as testified to by politicians, international observers from the African Union and civil-society representatives. All politicians participated in those elections, and  women  occupied a significant position in terms of candidatures as well as the number of seats won. Indeed, a woman is now chairing the local council of the Nouakchott district. Those results show the progress that women have made in recent elections, thanks to national policies that have enabled them to participate at all levels of decision-making, including in political, military and judicial positions. There is also a quota for allocating seats to women in all elected positions.
Our national leadership also attaches special importance to young people and has established a multidimensional strategy based on comprehensive approaches that deal with all aspects of interest to young people in the areas of politics, intellectual achievement, education, vocational training and employment. We have also established a higher council for youth and a national employment agency.
Human rights are a very important part of our national policies and are embodied in our continuing efforts to entrench those rights, improve prison conditions, protect prisoners from torture and combat the abuse of women and children, as well as definitively eliminating any remnants of slavery. In that regard, our national legislation classified slavery as a crime against humanity as part of our 2012 constitutional amendments. The legal system has also been bolstered by a group  of laws and regulations that adopt new approaches, including establishing ad hoc  courts that  specialize in cases related to the remnants of slavery throughout
the country. In March 2014 we issued a road map that includes the implementation of 29 recommendations on combating slavery and its remnants, efforts that have been praised by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery. My Government has established a social-welfare agency working to combat poverty and remnants of slavery. Its tasks include helping our most vulnerable groups by offering health care and educational services and funding income-generating projects.
This year our country, which supported the South African people in their struggle against  the  policies of apartheid, welcomed the Nelson Mandela Peace Summit (see A/73/PV.4 and 5) honouring the great role of the late Nelson Mandela. In that regard, I would like to recall that we honoured the late leader and advocate Madiba by naming one of our capital’s largest streets after him. The African Union Summit also recently held events in Nouakchott specially dedicated to honouring his centenary, with a view to recalling the values and ideals for which he fought.
Mauritania’s unique geographic position, together with its Arab and African affiliations, gives it a particular responsibility with regard to the security, economic and human systems in the subregion. We have fully assumed that responsibility and played a pivotal role in establishing the Group of Five for the Sahel (G-5). Mauritania has worked practically to help form the Joint Force of the G-5 for the Sahel, which is currently fighting terrorist organizations in the region. In that connection, Mauritania is working to achieve harmony and amity in the subregion by adopting a firm policy of good-neighbourliness and disengagement from any conflict. We are also closely following the Western Sahara issue, and we support United Nations efforts to reach a settlement that is acceptable to the relevant parties and contributes to achieving economic integration between the countries of the Arab Maghreb Union.
The question of Palestine is extremely important to Mauritania and is reflected in our firm position on the issue. We have consistently called for a viable equitable solution based on the relevant Arab and international terms of reference and capable of leading to the establishment of an independent State of Palestine with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.
With regard to the Libyan issue, we support the United Nations efforts and other complementary

tracks, including the work of the African Union Ad Hoc High-level Committee on Libya, the Quartet and Libya’s neighbours.
Regarding the situation in Syria, we underscore the need to strive seriously for a political solution through a comprehensive national dialogue that preserves Syria’s unity and independence, as well as the dignity of its people and their right to live in security and peace. As for brotherly Yemen, we reiterate our support for the legitimate leadership of President Abdrabuh Mansour Hadi Mansour. We call for an end to division and the adoption of a peaceful solution based on the three terms of reference. We also support United Nations efforts aimed at reaching a political solution to that crisis. We affirm our support to the Government of Somalia in restoring security and stability in its territory and once again condemn all terrorist activities that target vital centres in Somalia.
Concerning the Rohingya Muslims, we reiterate our firm condemnation of the killings and displacement inflicted on that minority group, and call on the international community to shoulder its responsibilities in putting an end to that oppressed people’s suffering.
In conclusion, I would like to reaffirm Mauritania’s respect  for  all  of  its international  commitments. We honour the multilateral international  order  and the principles of the United Nations, which seek to establish a world of security and stability where people live in prosperity and peace. Mauritania stands ready to work with its partners to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.


At the outset, allow me to congratulate President María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés on her election as President of the General Assembly. Her unanimously recognized qualities and talent will certainly guarantee the success of the work of the Assembly at its seventy- third session. I would also like to welcome the presence of the Secretary-General and to acknowledge his courageous efforts to improve the effectiveness of the United Nations system, as part of the collective search for, in the words of Pope Francis, the “common good of humanity”.
Over the years, the General Assembly has been confronted with two underlying questions related to the main topics on its agenda. How can we optimize our mechanisms for maintaining international peace and security? And how can we translate the need for international solidarity into a much more effective system of cooperation, capable of promoting sustainable development and eradicating poverty in the world?
The United Nations has rightly shed light on the close links between the eradication of  poverty  and the promotion of  sustainable  development,  peace  and security. Similarly, the fight against poverty is inextricably linked to the promotion of human rights. Extreme poverty is a denial of human dignity and must therefore be at the heart of United Nations efforts, allowing hundreds of millions of men and women to cherish the hope of one day seeing its eradication.
Intensifying the fight against global warming, which is one of the most serious threats to humankind, must also be one of the international community’s urgent priorities. The 2016 Paris Agreement on Climate Change was a milestone in this regard. Every effort should also be made to ensure that international obligations and the commitments that arise from them are respected. We are well aware that climate-change adaptation and mitigation regimes and precautionary measures to alleviate damage are extremely costly. One component of any sustainable development strategy, the mitigation of natural hazards, is essential as an investment today in anticipation of events that may occur tomorrow. However, to date, the funding is clearly inadequate to a response that matches the scope of the challenges before us.
Mobilizing new resources for climate change is a top priority. We should point out that the world’s most vulnerable countries, especially small island States, and above all those in the Caribbean, including the Republic of Haiti, emit few greenhouse  gases,  and yet suffer most of the damage caused by increasingly frequent and violent hurricanes. The promises made at last year’s One Planet Summit in Paris to enable those countries to adapt their environments and mitigate the ravaging effects of climate change must be kept.
I would like to shed some light on the situation in Haiti one year after the closure of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), which was succeeded by the United Nations Mission for Justice Support in Haiti. Since assuming the presidency of the Republic of Haiti, I have worked tirelessly to consolidate the rule of law, deepen democratic gains and promote human rights, as I am firmly convinced of the absolute necessity of modernizing our economic, social and political structures in order to enable my country to emerge from the trap of underdevelopment. I have spared no effort to ensure that institutions are stable and create a safe and stable environment that is conducive to investment and restarting growth. In the

face of ever scarcer resources and the strong pressure of the population’s needs, the Caravan of Change is, in this respect, an innovative strategy that aims to put all the State’s resources at the service of the Haitian people.
The social, political and economic modernization processes undertaken by the Government have achieved numerous tangible results over the past 18 months. In this regard, I need only refer to the Secretary-General’s latest report on Haiti (S/2018/795), which highlights the important progress made in terms of political and institutional stability, the protection of human rights, strengthening the judicial system and improving the security environment. However, despite these advances, we must recognize that our sluggish economic growth continues to weigh heavily on the national strategy for development and sustaining peace.
The fact is that we are facing interrelated and wide-ranging challenges that are compounded by population pressure, major urbanization, environmental degradation and extreme vulnerability to natural disasters. The 2010 earthquake, the Assembly will recall, caused damage equal to 120 per cent of our gross domestic product (GDP). On top of that, the damage from Hurricane Matthew was equivalent  to 32 per cent of GDP. This structural and environmental vulnerability is not without consequences.
In July, following the enforcement of a law on a fuel price adjustment backed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), we experienced an unfortunate and painful popular uprising in response to the requirements of the IMF-backed staff-monitored programme. Haiti, which does not produce oil, is therefore dealing with the difficult requirement of having to continue financing Government fuel subsidies.
The violent expression of discontent from some parts of the population cannot be underestimated. It acutely highlighted the key issue of the risks associated with extreme socioeconomic insecurity and a lack of economic prospects, as well as the fragility of the gains we have made so far. However real and indisputable those hard-fought gains may be, they may be jeopardized without adequate long-term support.
One of the lessons that we have learned from the crisis is that while structural reforms are essential, they are lengthy processes that cannot be accomplished in a short time or subjected to the often overly rigid conditions that are imposed by technical and financial partners without taking into account the socioeconomic
realities of each country. While I do not wish  to assign blame, I should note that the recent uprising was in large part the result of an overly narrow vision of development aid that does not always allow our international partners to recognize the  need  for  a less fragmented and rigid, more integrated and more coherent approach to interrelated development and security issues that is much more in line with the five principles of the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness and the Accra Agenda for Action.
In other words, the success of the strategy for sustaining peace and the gains made, which is vitally important to us, depends largely on our ability to obtain the additional resources that will enable us to overcome our structural handicaps, including boosting public investment in critical infrastructure and overcoming obstacles to growth that keep nearly three quarters of the population below the poverty line.
I would like to reiterate here, before the Assembly, the solemn commitment I have made to the Haitian people and the international community to spare no effort in resolutely guiding the  country on  a  path to  a  sustainable development that is based on  the rule   of law, political stability, the tireless, relentless and persistent struggle against corruption in all its forms, the modernization of institutions, socioeconomic progress and the consolidation of democratic gains and achievements in the field of human rights, which, I am convinced, are irreversible.
The newly formed Government of National Unity has embarked on that task with a renewed plan of action and a number of priority objectives and benchmarks. They include immediately improving the living conditions of the most disadvantaged and vulnerable segments of the population through innovative programmes; improving the business climate; reviving public and private investment for growth and the creation of jobs, in order to foster the expansion of the middle class and significantly reduce social inequality and exclusion in all its forms; pursuing further reforms aimed at consolidating the rule of law, strengthening the justice system and the national police force, alongside the ongoing remobilization of the Haitian armed forces; fighting corruption in all its forms and manifestations; holding legislative elections in October 2019, as planned; and intensifying measures to strengthen the promotion and defence of human rights.

At this crossroads, I urge our partners in the international community to continue to offer the Haitian people active solidarity, within the framework of a renewed, coherent and substantial assistance programme, which will be aligned with national priorities and implemented in close  collaboration  with national institutions and the private business sector, and thereby better adapted to the realities on the ground. This paradigm shift will significantly strengthen national efforts and contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals that we have set for ourselves as a first step and to eradicating poverty by 2030.
We cannot repeat it often enough — peace, development and security go hand in hand . They must be adequately supported by appropriate long-term investment. In particular, they require an allocation  of resources better adapted to the real needs of recipient countries, taking into account their structural vulnerabilities. This resource allocation must be  more flexible and less subject to conditions that could ultimately undermine the very viability of reforms and key development goals, including long-term stability. Access to good electrical, digital, school, health, environmental, hydraulic and  road  infrastructure  is a prerequisite for any country that aims to achieve sustainable development. The Republic of Haiti received nearly $11 billion in donations and loans between 2006 and 2016, and yet some of that infrastructure is still not in place.
How can we talk about sustainable development when there is no drinking water in families’ taps? How can we speak of sustainable development when there  is no water for the irrigation of agricultural land? How can we speak of sustainable development when there are no good roads linking cities and villages? How can we speak of sustainable development when there is no electrical or digital infrastructure? How can we speak of sustainable development when there is no adequate school or sanitary infrastructure? It is those questions that we ask ourselves, the answers to which we are tirelessly striving to find for the Haitian people.
In order to build a suitable electrical and digital transmission and distribution network over Haiti’s 27,750   square   kilometres,   we   need approximately
$400 million. The Republic of Haiti has nearly 1 million hectares of agricultural land, half of which can be easily irrigated. Unfortunately, only 5 per cent of that land is irrigated, meaning that we need $675 million to
make an additional 450,000 hectares viable. We need only 220 million cubic metres of water each year to make household tap water available across Haiti. Yet 40 billion cubic metres of surface water are dumped into the sea every year. Approximately $300 million would enable us to treat the 220 million cubic metres needed to serve all of Haiti’s communes.
We need to produce 50 million fruit and forest tree seedlings each year to be able to reforest the country. The construction of 14 germplasm and plant propagation centres, which would be able to produce 63 million seedlings a year, costs approximately $35 million. With regard to education, we need 15,000 classrooms to enable the 500,000 children who are not yet in school to have access to a good basic education. We need approximately $450 million to build those classrooms. Moreover, we need 122 health-care centres to fill the deficit across communes, which will cost $20 million. I also take this opportunity to challenge the international community on the obligation to mobilize resources to eliminate cholera, which was introduced by MINUSTAH in Haiti, and to compensate the victims. In addition,  in order to connect and renovate the 146 communes of Haiti and improve certain sections of roads, we need
$800 million. From this rostrum, I would like to say to our technical and financial partners that together we must muster the courage to rethink development aid for Haiti and other countries in similar situations, using the 2005 Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness and the 2008 Accra Agenda for Action as our guides.
With the Republic of Haiti’s meagre financial resources, we have begun to rebuild the country. Today more than ever, we need that synergy to build the future of our country. We must work together, while scrupulously respecting Haiti’s priorities. The fight against corruption that began on 7 February 2017 cannot remain wishful thinking. It is a battle that will allow us to bequeath to future generations a better country in which life is worth living.


At the outset, I have the pleasure of congratulating

Ms. María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés on her election as President of the General Assembly at its seventy-third session. I wish her every success in her noble task.
I would also like to express my appreciation for the tireless efforts of Secretary-General António Guterres in reforming our Organization, strengthening its role and achieving its noble objectives. I reiterate Morocco’s full support for his initiatives, especially in the areas of peacekeeping, peacebuilding, modernizing the working mechanisms of the Organization and achieving sustainable development.
The world is facing various challenges and resulting transformations that require us to adopt innovative approaches in order to advance multilateralism, which is suffering a real crisis. We therefore need to define consensus concepts in addressing global issues and making international organizations effective and able to adapt to continuing transformation. Addressing and debating this reality is not merely an intellectual act but an explicit call to think realistically and objectively about the outcomes of the United Nations work with the aim of promoting its capabilities and realizing its goals.
In this context, Morocco, through the vision of  His Majesty King Mohammed VI, believes that the development of multilateral action requires particular attention to the three pillars of security, development and human rights. The year 2018 has furthered the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted in 2015. It is also a year in which we recall two historic events in our collective undertaking that established the identity of the United Nations, devoted to shared, universal human values and entrenched international peace and security.
The first historic event took place 70 years ago, when the United Nations deployed its first peacekeeping mission. That leads us to recall the fundamental role that the Organization plays in peacekeeping, based on the peaceful resolution of international and regional disputes, respect for the sovereignty of States and their territorial integrity and independence. At the sixty- seventh session of the General Assembly, His Majesty King Mohamed VI, through Prince Moulay Rachid, underscored from this rostrum that
“[a]chieving international peace and security remains the core historic mission entrusted to the United Nations. The tens of thousands of United Nations peacekeepers serving throughout the world to protect civilians and working to bring about the
right conditions for political dialogue between the concerned parties clearly attest to the vital role played by our Organization in that regard.” (A/67/ PV.16, p. 10).
In his letter addressed to the Secretary-General early this month, His Majesty also underlined the appreciation of the Kingdom of Morocco for his initiative to organize a high-level meeting during this session on developing the work of United Nations peacekeeping operations. Morocco fully supports the final communiqué of the meeting.
The second historic event is the adoption on
10 December 1948 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the seventieth anniversary of  which we will celebrate this year. The Declaration laid the first foundation stone for universal human rights, leading to established joint universal values in  the area of  human rights. It  also served as an incentive to adopt other international conventions on civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights. In that regard, Morocco underscores its commitment to human rights as internationally recognized. We call once again for the noble principles of human rights to be elements of convergence among nations, without any biased politicization.
Multilateral work that is based on balance, realism, effectiveness, openness and ambition is among the priorities of the foreign policy of the Kingdom of Morocco, as established by King Mohammed. Now more than ever we need to work together to identify consensus approaches based on humanity and solidarity in order to address shared challenges, particularly with respect to climate change, the fight against terrorism, and migration. It is in this  spirit  that  His  Majesty has launched an effort to mobilize the world to limit the impact of climate change. He made the United Nations Climate Change Conference held in Morocco a historical event for implementing the commitments undertaken at the Paris Climate Change Conference.
In the same spirit, Morocco has contributed with resolve and firmness to international cooperation in the fight against terrorism and cross-border security threats. Given our recognized experience, we have contributed to developing international, regional and national approaches in that regard. The Kingdom of Morocco has continued its contribution to mobilize international efforts to combat terrorism, including through its joint

presidency, together with the Netherlands, of the Global Counterterrorism Forum.
On the subject of migration, King Mohammed, as a pioneer in migration policies within the African Union, presented the African Agenda on Migration, which was adopted in Addis Ababa at the thirty-first summit of the African Union, in January 2018. At the international level, Morocco, together with  Germany,  co-chairs  the Global Forum on Migration. The outcomes  of these international and African  events  have  helped to strengthen the preparations for the global compact for migration.
In the past few months, and for the first time in history, negotiations have resulted in an international consensus on a global compact for safe, orderly and regular migration, which will be adopted at a high- level meeting scheduled to take place in Marrakech, in Morocco, on 10 and 11 December. That meeting will be a historically transformative moment in dealing with migration. It will establish a new global order based on dialogue, consultation and cooperation, while positively addressing migration as a fundamental human dynamic in the development of societies, bringing civilizations closer together and achieving development. Everyone is, of course, welcome in Marrakech.
Given our firmly anchored African identity and our close historic and human ties with the African countries, Morocco has made its relations with the African continent one of the top priorities of its foreign policy, within a framework of integrated and proactive strategic vision. Morocco is proud of its African nature and of its distinctive relations with its African brothers. King Mohammed is eager to propose African solutions to every African problem on the international agenda in order to support African and international efforts to attain peace, development and good governance.
Morocco supports all initiatives to achieve prosperity and stability on the African continent, which is why we are honoured to co-chair the Sustainability, Security and Stability initiative with Senegal, seeking to combat desertification in Africa by reclaiming arid lands and providing stability for their inhabitants, enabling them and their families to live a decent life. I would like to take this opportunity to call on the States Members of the United Nations to actively participate in the success of this important event related to Africa and its development.
Morocco is  a  member  of  the  African  Peace and Security Council and intends to shoulder its responsibility for mobilizing every effort to preserve security and peace while promoting stability on the African continent, in support of United Nations efforts in this area.
The dangers facing the Middle East demand that we come up with a just and lasting solution to the Palestinian question, which is at the heart of the conflicts in the region, along with its security and stability. The Kingdom of Morocco calls on the United Nations to focus its efforts on relaunching the political process on a basis of the relevant international and bilateral terms of reference so that the Palestinian people can enjoy their legitimate rights, particularly the creation of an independent State across the entire Palestinian national territory, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
The Kingdom of Morocco is aware of the importance of Jerusalem to the three monotheistic religions and the whole world. I emphasize that Morocco  rejects any change to the historic, legal and political status of the city of Jerusalem, in the light of the fact that King Mohammed presides over the Al-Quds Committee. We call for international efforts to maintain its status and protect it against any action targeting it.
Another source of concern in the Middle East and North Africa is the interference of certain regional Powers in the internal affairs of some Arab countries, including the Kingdom of Morocco, which undermines their security and stability and threatens their sovereignty, territorial integrity and national unity. Morocco wants to take this opportunity to reaffirm  its rejection and condemnation of such aggressive and destructive attitudes. We call on those Powers to refrain from this approach, which runs counter to international law, international relations and the principle of good- neighbourliness. We call on them to adopt informed options and to sincerely and courageously participate in establishing a safe, stable and welcoming region.
The contrived regional dispute over Western Sahara remains a principal source of instability in the region and an obstacle to joint action and the integration of the Maghreb. That is why it is essential to work diligently to find a lasting political solution through efforts in which Algeria, if it is serious, should be effectively and directly involved, given its historical and political responsibility for creating, fuelling and  prolonging the dispute.

The Kingdom of Morocco underlines its full commitment to the terms of reference adopted by the Security Council to address this contrived dispute. The Council is the only international body mandated to address the political aspect of the dispute, by adopting a spirit of realism and consensus and working to reach a realistic, practical and lasting solution, as provided for in the Council’s resolutions, particularly resolution 2414 (2018). In that regard, Morocco underscores its support for the efforts of the Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy for Western Sahara, aimed at achieving a final and agreed political solution to this dispute, based on the position expressed by King Mohammed in his address on the sixty-fifth anniversary of the Revolution of the King and the People, on 20 August.
His Majesty stressed that Morocco will continue to
“engage with full trust and commitment in the dynamic work generated by the Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy, based on the same terms of reference that we identified in the last Green March address. We note with satisfaction the growing harmony between these principles and the international positions”.
In parallel, Morocco continues to make every effort to promote the development model in the southern Sahara. We support an advanced, decentralized system that would enable the inhabitants of the Moroccan Sahara to manage their own affairs in an environment of democracy, stability and sustainable development.
It is with deep regret that we recall the disastrous situation in which our  detained  brothers  are  living in the camps at Tindouf. We reiterate our firm and non-negotiable demand for the international community to compel Algeria to assume all its political, legal and humanitarian responsibilities as the host country. It should allow the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to carry out its mandate by conducting a census of those people, on  the basis of Security Council resolutions and in response to the numerous appeals made by the Secretary General and various humanitarian bodies over the years.
We firmly believe that the major changes and transformations in our world today require urgent, strong and concerted efforts on the part of all members of the international community, whoever they are and regardless of their interests. Multilateralism is contrary to isolation and to perpetuating the status quo. It is a symbol of progress, understanding and adaptation. The
multilateral system, despite the criticism it faces, will remain essential to addressing the challenges and issues facing the international community.
The Kingdom of Morocco will continue to be an active and responsible Member of the United Nations and the international community. The Kingdom of Morocco will continue to believe in the principles of the Organization, in which we have confidence, thanks to its multilateral work.


Canada  is  honoured to help close the general debate at the seventy-third session of the General Assembly. Let me start with a simple question. Why does the United Nations matter? The answer is also simple. The magnitude of the contemporary challenges that the world is confronting, from climate change to terrorism, from economic inequality to irregular migration, from protracted crises to humanitarian emergencies, demands action. Each of those challenges is systemic. None can be solved by countries acting in isolation or bilaterally. All of them require the world to work together. The United Nations is the only place where we all come together to tackle those challenges. Indeed, the General Assembly — our Assembly — is the only forum where representation is global. That representation not only bestows legitimacy, it affords opportunities to harness diversity of thought and experience, skills and knowledge, and ideas, in support of better outcomes for all.
Since the beginning of the post-war project, Canada has been at the heart of the United Nations. We were among the drafters of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. We were there at the advent of peacekeeping. We helped to build the institutions at the core of the rules-based international order. But those rules and institutions were not, and should not be, seen as static entities, impervious to change. Notwithstanding their tremendous achievements, we should acknowledge that the benefits of those rules and institutions have not been evenly distributed. Too many remain excluded, economically, socially and politically, from the decision-making that affects their lives.
The great generation that came out of  the ashes of the Second World War was great not because times were simpler, or the challenges less complex. They were great because they found a way to work together, in common cause for collective outcomes. Their work helped to ensure stability and relative peace and security for over 70 years. We owe it to them, and to ourselves, to continue to work together to make our multilateral world order more efficient, fairer and more inclusive. That is why supporting the implementation of the current United Nations reforms, led by our Secretary- General, António Guterres, is so essential.
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is a phenomenal achievement of the United Nations. For the first time in history, we agreed on a comprehensive strategic plan to achieve a sustainable world. The plan brings us into uncharted territory. Sticking to old approaches will not help us meet its targets.
We should find new ways  of  doing  things  and for breaking silos open, not only here at the United Nations but also between Governments and civil society, between Governments and the private sector, between North and South and between the traditional so-called like-minded and non-traditional like-minded. We should do things differently at the United Nations and in our Governments so as to better deliver results for people on the ground. We should hold fresh, frank

and inclusive discussions. We should develop a greater sense of urgency. We should reconsider our approach to risk — inaction is a risk for Governments and people, but also for investors. We should identify the opportunities in our challenges. We should look at new partnerships to harness new opportunities.
As our Secretary-General says, climate change is the defining issue of our time. A significant component of the response to climate change requires new, greener and more resilient infrastructure. That represents a
$26 trillion opportunity for us all. To harness that opportunity, starting with the most vulnerable — the small island States — we must all work together with scientists, multilateral institutions, regional banks, investors and civil society like never before.
Not building essential infrastructure is not an option. As Prime Minister Trudeau and others have said, developing countries should  not  be  punished for a problem they did  not  create,  nor  should  they be deprived the opportunities for clean growth that developed nations are now pursuing. And we should all support Africa as it works to create opportunities for its youth and strives to meet the ambitions of its Agenda 2063 of the African Union through greater economic integration and prosperity. Doing so is key to a more secure world. Greater and more shared prosperity leads to greater peace.
Bringing people together is at the heart of Canada’s national identity. In Canada, we have come to understand that diversity is our strength. The indigenous peoples in Canada are the bedrock of our diversity. They speak more than 60 different languages, and their cultures are some of the richest on the continent. One in every five Canadians was born outside the country. Our largest urban centres are among the most cosmopolitan on earth. Over 50 per cent of the populations of both Vancouver and Toronto were born outside Canada.
Canada has become home to refugees and new Canadians for decades. While we are very proud to have welcomed more than 50,000 Syrian refugees over the past three years, we are fully aware that many countries have also shown great leadership in welcoming many more. I must say that one of the things that makes me very proud is that 40 per cent of the Syrian refugees that we have welcomed have been directly sponsored by private citizens of Canada, who wanted to do their part.
Of course, our track record in promoting economic and social integration will always require work and action. While we have made important progress, we have made mistakes and still face challenges — the most important of which remains reconciliation with First Nations. We in Canada understand that we need to listen and learn in order to contribute to better outcomes. It is what we intend to do, both at  home and abroad.
We are using our Group of 7 (G-7) presidency this year both to listen and learn from others, in addition to innovating and breaking down silos. For the first time, in order to ensure that Governments were delivering in a more cohesive manner, Canada convened ministers of finance and ministers of international development together to explore new ways of financing development. We can no longer afford to have discussions at the United Nations that are distinct from those at the World Bank or the International Monetary Fund.
We also felt very  strongly  that  the  G-7  needed to tackle the issue of climate resilience and disaster recovery. While Canada has its own extensive coastlines and borders on three oceans, we invited small island, coastal African and South-East Asian States to that critical conversation. Building on the United Nations Ocean Conference, that discussion produced a charter seeking to ban the use of plastics in our oceans and is paving the way towards the sustainable blue economy conference in November in Nairobi that Canada is so proud to be co-hosting with Kenya.
We partnered with the World Bank and other countries to raise  close  to  $3.8  billion  to  reduce  the barriers that women and girls face in accessing education in conflict and fragile States. Their inclusion will lead to exceptional benefits for their communities, and by extension, for the world. Last week, here at the United Nations, another $527 million were pledged by four other countries. We also need capital that flows faster and at scale in emerging and frontier markets. For that reason, we are also working together with partners from across the United Nations and the private sector to unlock capital that can connect people to opportunities.
As a direct result  of  the  work  that  we  do  here at the United Nations, just a few days ago at the high-level meeting on financing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Prime Minister Trudeau announced  the  establishment  of  a  Toronto   affiliate

of the Global Infrastructure Hub to do precisely that: leverage Canadian expertise in infrastructure to help connect capital to projects. Those projects fuel long- term economic  growth  and support  the  transition to a low-carbon economy, while making progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development  Goals and improving the representation of women and marginalized groups in sustainable infrastructure.
Our commitment to multilateralism — notably United Nations peacekeeping — includes a commitment to renewal and reform and to making the system that our grandparents built fit for purpose in the twenty- first century. Canada is proud to have increased its contribution to United Nations peacekeeping operations and to have adopted smart pledging — sending the people and equipment that are most needed to the places where they are most useful.
Canada is spearheading the Elsie Initiative for Women in Peace Operations — a practical plan to act on our shared promise to double the number of women in peacekeeping operations. We set that as  a  goal, first and foremost, because of our shared belief in the fundamental equal rights of women. We also know that having women in the ranks — and in charge — makes peacekeeping more effective and its results more durable. We look forward to working with our new partners, Ghana and Zambia, to better recruit, train, retain and promote women across all of  our  police and military forces. For the international rules-based order to work for all, the rules need to apply to all. Accountability cannot be a luxury afforded only when circumstances allow.
As is the case everywhere, Canada’s actions in Myanmar, Syria, Ukraine and Venezuela are guided by an unequivocal commitment to protecting and promoting human rights. The crimes against humanity committed against the Rohingya of Myanmar, including the systematic use of rape as a weapon of war, are utterly unacceptable. Canada’s Parliament unanimously adopted a motion naming those crimes genocide and urging the Security Council to refer those appalling acts to the International Criminal Court. The plight of the Rohingya people demands a response.
Canada is appalled by the crimes that the Al-Assad regime in Syria has committed against its own people, including, most horrifically, the use of banned chemical weapons. Syrians  rightly  demand  accountability and hope for an enduring political solution. The
White Helmets, many  of  whom  gathered  evidence of chemical-weapon attacks at the risk of their lives, rightly expect our support in seeking justice.
In Canada’s own hemisphere, an Organization of American States panel of independent international experts carefully documented many of the crimes being committed in Venezuela by the Maduro regime against its own people. Here too, Venezuelans hope for accountability. For that reason, we and our regional partners took the exceptional step of referring that case to the International Criminal Court.
The ongoing illegal annexation and occupation of Crimea is a clear breach of international law. Respect for State sovereignty and territorial integrity are not mere notions; they are the fundamental principles of the Charter of the United Nations. We must not allow Russia to continue its destabilizing actions.
Our determination to ensure that the perpetrators of those serious crimes in Myanmar, Syria, Ukraine and Venezuela are held accountable is accompanied  by a deep commitment to improve the humanitarian situation for the millions of people affected, both within those countries, as well as across those regions.
We recognize that the disproportionate share of the responsibility for providing lifesaving support to so many people has fallen on neighbouring countries, and we assure them that they can continue to rely on our assistance. We will continue to contribute to the work of the United Nations in addressing those challenges.
When the international rules-based order was designed, the General Assembly mandated the Security Council to authorize the use of  force,  if  necessary,  to keep the peace and to keep us safe. Seventy years later, that remains its core responsibility. The Security Council’s agenda is replete with persistent and emerging challenges. Some security threats we know all too well; others are emerging; and others still we have yet to anticipate. But all are systemic and require collective responses. Be they old or new, those threats will continue to test the Security Council’s ability to adapt and respond. That is why Canada is seeking a non-permanent seat on the Security Council in 2021- 2022. We are confident that we can contribute to effective, carefully considered global responses.

We have a proven record of working with other Member States to bring fresh ideas and innovative approaches to the tackling of complex  problems, from peacekeeping and policing to peacebuilding and transitions. We are confident that we can harness the diversity of ideas and experience necessary to fashion forward-looking approaches that can work. After all, bringing people together is our calling card. A capacity for cooperation defines our national character. Inclusion is part of our identity.  When Canada has served on  the Security Council in the past, we have done so inclusively. We brought other States and civil society into the conversation. We championed  the  women  and peace and security agenda and human security. We fought for the protection of civilians caught in the crossfire of armed conflict.
If elected to the Security Council, we will bring to bear our long-standing dedication to peacekeeping, our more than 30 years of service as Chair of the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations, and our active membership in the Peacebuilding Commission. If elected, we will work with others to tackle climate change and violent extremism, and to promote economic security and the empowerment of women and girls. We will champion inclusion and accountability, openness and transparency in all of the Security Council’s deliberations. We will help to find solutions so as to build a safer, fairer, and  more  secure  world  where the benefits of the international rules-based order are distributed more evenly. We are confident that the institutions that we have spent more than seven decades building can be renewed and revitalized. But we can do that effectively only if we do it together.


At the outset, I wish to congratulate Her Excellency María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés on assuming the presidency of the General Assembly at its seventy-third session. We wish her every success. I also express our appreciation to His Excellency Miroslav Lajčák for his valuable efforts during the seventy-second session. We pay tribute also to the relentless efforts of Secretary-General António Guterres to promote the role of the United Nations and achieve its lofty goals.
I would like to express our sincere condolences to the family of Mr. Kofi Annan and to the United Nations on his passing. He was one of the most important symbols of the United Nations and a promoter of international cooperation, development and peace among nations.
The world faces serious security, political and economic threats and challenges that do not respect borders, which represents a real test for the collective security of the United Nations. If the international community wants to achieve international peace and security, we must go beyond crisis management and seek comprehensive and just solutions, in accordance with the provisions of international law and the resolutions of international legitimacy, while rejecting selectivity, double standards and policies of the imposition of force.
We recognize and appreciate the vital importance of having an international and comprehensive point of reference reﬂected in a legitimate international order that respects the rule of law. We must expedite the reform process of United Nations institutions in order to enable the Organization to shoulder its responsibilities, achieve its lofty goals and respond to the aspirations of peoples. That would enable us to bring about peaceful, equitable and sustainable societies, which is the theme
that the President of the General Assembly has chosen for this session.
More than a year after the illegal blockade imposed on the State of Qatar, many facts have been revealed about a pre-arranged campaign of incitement against it, as well as the insinuations and fabrications used to create the crisis. In the meantime, the international community also recognized the falseness of the allegations made against my country to justify the premeditated measures taken under the pretext of those fabricated and untrue allegations, in ﬂagrant violation of international law and basic relations between nations, as well as the values and norms of our peoples.
Despite all the measures taken to undermine Qatar’s security and stability and to create hardship for its people, in addition to the economic warfare launched to hinder its development process, the period that followed that unjust siege has witnessed the strengthening of the status of the State of Qatar and the consolidation of its role as an active partner in the regional and international arenas. Moreover, the Qatari economy has continued to grow, proof of its vigour and consistency. The State of Qatar has also maintained its advanced and leading rankings compared with other countries of the region in global indicators, especially in the areas of human security and human development. That has strengthened the Qatari people’s faith in their potential, values and principles and increased their cohesion and unity.
Believing in the soundness of our legal  position, in the need for the peaceful settlement of disputes and in dialogue as the best way to resolve crises, we have been, and remain, positively responsive to all the efforts of brotherly and friendly nations, which we appreciate, to end this crisis through unconditional dialogue, based on mutual respect for the sovereignty of nations.
It is not reasonable for differences of opinion on the handling of some regional issues to lead to paralysing the effectiveness of an important regional organization such as the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). The blockade on Qatar has harmed the reputation of the GCC countries, and the paralysis of the GCC has reflected negatively on the role it aspires to play in dealing with regional and global issues. We hope that we will all be able to transform the current plight of the GCC into an opportunity for reform and to put forward binding mechanisms to resolve the differences among

its States through dialogue, so as to avoid any similar recurrence in future.
It is not right that our Arab region remains hostage because of some marginal differences — fabricated,  in our case — which consume efforts and energy and waste more funds than we allocate to the just causes upon which we are supposed to agree.
Little progress has been made on the lingering Middle East issues, especially the Palestinian question, which represents the last vestiges of our world’s colonial past. The political process that began 25 years ago was an example of a departure from United Nations terms of reference to frameworks outside the Organization, which were perceived by some as the best and fastest way to settle and find solutions to that question. That process was supported by the Arab States and respectful of the Palestinian decision, but it has resulted in further stalemate and complexity. We are now witnessing attempts to eliminate the Palestinian question by disregarding issues relating to a permanent solution, such as those of Jerusalem,  refugees,  sovereignty  and borders.
Just national issues cannot be resolved by becoming entangled in the balance of power between the occupier and the occupied. Such issues can be resolved only in accordance with certain principles, such as the right  to self-determination and the inadmissibility of the annexation of territories of others by force, which have become part of international legitimacy.
The deterioration of the situation in the Palestinian territories, particularly the inhumane conditions  in the Gaza Strip, the suffocating siege to which it is subjected and the continued construction of settlements in occupied Jerusalem and the West Bank, are having grave consequences and place a historic responsibility on the Security Council. We reaffirm the importance of negotiations, whose resumption is vital and which will require a commitment to resolutions of international legitimacy, foremost among which are the two-State solution and the Arab Peace Initiative, based on East Jerusalem as the capital of the Palestinian State, along the 1967 borders. Moreover, there can be no solution to the Arab-Israeli conﬂict without a just and lasting solution to the Palestinian question.  We  abide  by  that position, which is consistent with international legitimacy and morally just. However, Israel rejects such a just settlement.
The State of Qatar will spare no effort in providing various forms of material and political support to the brotherly Palestinian people and in continuing to work with all international actors involved in the Middle East peace process so as to overcome the difficulties that are obstructing the resumption of peace negotiations, in accordance with the terms of reference and resolutions of international legitimacy.
After more than seven years, the international community  remains  unable to  find  a  solution  to the worsening Syrian crisis  in  all  its  aspects  and  its dangerous consequences. The Syrian people, in addition to the tragedies they have experienced, are concerned and frustrated that the crimes of genocide, mass displacement and large-scale death in prisons, under torture, could become common practice and that the international community might get used to it.
Failure to deter the Syrian regime from committing crimes by waging a  war against its own people, on  the one hand, and failure to hold it accountable after the commission of such crimes, on the other, would render the provisions of international law and human rights law devoid of meaning. That would have serious consequences for the prevailing values of our world,  as it would promote the use of violence as a means of suppressing peoples’ aspirations and trampling on the rights of citizens and peoples of our region.
We are facing a humanitarian, moral and legal disaster that requires the international community to urgently reach a political solution that stops the Syrian bloodshed, fulfils Syrian aspirations to justice and freedom, maintains Syria’s unity and sovereignty and achieves security and stability in Syria and the region, in accordance with the first Geneva communiqué (S/2012/522, annex) and the relevant Security Council resolutions. We emphasize the necessity of abiding by international humanitarian law and protecting civilians.
Regarding the Yemeni issue, we underscore that the firm position of the State of Qatar is to remain committed to the unity, independence and territorial integrity of Yemen. We call upon all Yemeni  parties to achieve national reconciliation and end the conﬂict, on the basis of Security Council resolution 2216 (2015), the Initiative of the Gulf Cooperation Council and the outcomes of the national dialogue. From  this rostrum I appeal to States that are active in the international community to help the brotherly Yemeni people to overcome current conditions, which we hope will soon

end, take all measures necessary to address the grave humanitarian situation and facilitate free access for humanitarian assistance to all areas of Yemen. In that regard, I wish to announce Qatar’s agreement with the United Nations to fight cholera in Yemen by supporting projects related to combating the causes of the disease and to halting its spread. We call upon other countries to join us in supporting that vital effort.
Turning to the Libyan crisis, which has recently witnessed developments that place the country’s security and territorial integrity at risk, we look forward to the restoration of security and stability despite the tremendous challenges facing our Libyan  brothers. We note that foreign intervention in Libyan affairs further complicates the crisis, prevents the reaching  of the national consensus that is sought by our Libyan brothers and contravenes Security Council resolutions. We reiterate our support for the Skhirat Agreement, signed in December 2015, and all its outcomes. We  call upon all Libyan brothers to uphold the country’s national interests and participate in a dialogue, without excluding any component of Libyan society, in order to reach a comprehensive political settlement that preserves Libya’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and realizes the aspirations of its people to security and stability.
Turning to brotherly Iraq, we once again express our appreciation for the efforts of the Iraqi Government in restoring stability and achieving national reconciliation by cooperating with all political parties and components of the Iraqi society. We value the successes and sacrifices of the Iraqi people in the fight against terrorism and extremism in all its forms. We reaffirm our commitment to supporting brotherly Iraq in the process of its reconstruction and development and assisting in every effort to seek to ensure its unity and sovereignty and enhance its security and stability.
There is consensus that terrorism  has  become one of the most persistent challenges facing the world because of the real threat it poses to international peace and security. We underline the firm position of the State of Qatar in rejecting terrorism in all its forms and manifestations anywhere in the world, regardless of reason or pretext. The fight against terrorism is a priority of the State of Qatar’s policy at the national, regional and international levels. We have developed legislative and institutional systems, fulfilled our international obligations related to the fight against terrorism and its
financing, and participated in all relevant international
and regional efforts.
In our view, the following prerequisites are necessary to ensure that the war on terrorism achieves its goal and does not turn into a self-contained struggle. First, we need international cooperation in combating violence resulting from extremism and violence directed against civilians as a form of terror and aimed at damaging civilian facilities for political ends. Those phenomena must be  addressed  firmly and rigorously. Secondly, we must unify standards for fighting terrorism so that its definition is not selective and does not depend on the religious or ethnic identity of the perpetrator. Thirdly, we must address its root causes and research the political, social and cultural backgrounds that contribute to fuelling it while working earnestly to achieve the just settlement of outstanding issues that give rise to anger and frustration. Fourthly, we must avoid giving any partisan connotation to the term “terrorism” by tailoring it to fit into the narrow interests of some nations and using it to justify tyranny and the repression of political opponents, which affects the credibility of the combat against terrorism and undermines the international efforts made in that field.
With that in mind, the State of  Qatar  believes that educating young people and ensuring their comprehensive participation represents the first line of defence for the collective security system, as they are an important factor in fighting terrorism and building peace and stability. We have therefore committed to educating 10 million children and providing economic support to half a million young people in our region. In collaboration with the United Nations, we have carried out projects to promote  employment  opportunities  for young people through capacity-building and have launched programmes to prevent violent extremism.
Human development and the protection and promotion of human rights are at the forefront of our priorities. The State of Qatar is  pursuing efforts at  the legislative and institutional levels  to implement its 2030 national vision, which emphasizes human development. This month, the State of Qatar acceded to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. The State of Qatar recently enacted a law regulating the issue of political asylum in the country, following the steps of developed countries, and another law granting the right to permanent residence in the State under conditions prescribed by

law. It has also decided to invite several international human rights organizations to establish regional offices in our country.
No one doubts the importance of the development of information and digital technology and digital means of communication. The economy and day- to-day life would be inconceivable without them. However, a series of recent events in several countries have reminded us that new needs are emerging, such as the need for freedom of access and the need to protect the private lives of citizens from the risk of hacking. It also alerted us to the cybersecurity of nations, which is a cross-border issue because of the nature of the technology itself.
Accordingly, we must regulate how those issues are dealt with and control their risks internationally. Qatar and other countries have suffered from digital piracy and digital espionage,  which  has  prompted  us to strongly emphasize the  issue.  We  are willing  to work with United Nations bodies to devise legal regulations. In that regard, we propose the convening of an international conference to examine means of regulation in that area by international law, and we express our readiness to host such a conference.


I have the honour to address the General Assembly for the first time as President of the Republic of South Africa.
It is nearly a quarter of a century since the founding father of our democracy, President Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, stood at this rostrum to declare that
“The millions across our globe who stand expectant at the gates of hope look to this Organization to bring them peace, to bring them
life, to bring them a life worth living.” (A/49/PV.14, p. 10)
As we mark the centenary of the birth of this great global leader, Nelson Mandela, we are bound to ask whether the United Nations has met the needs and expectations of the millions who stand at the gates of hope. We are bound to ask what contribution the United Nations has made to a more peaceful, more prosperous and more equal world. More important, we are called upon to ask — as we did yesterday during the Nelson Mandela Peace Summit (see A/73/PV.5), which was held here — what the United Nations and the assembled global leadership must do to secure lasting peace, reconciliation and stability across the globe.
Allow me to express the deep gratitude of the Government and the people of South Africa to the international community for convening the Peace Summit to honour the memory of Nelson Mandela and advance his legacy. We applaud the political declaration of the Summit (resolution 73/1), which recognizes the period from 2019 to 2028 as the Nelson Mandela Decade of Peace. It reflects a new and sincere commitment by the world’s leaders to comprehensively advance peace and security and resolve all conflicts and wars. To succeed in giving effect to that commitment, the United Nations must become what billions of people across the world want it to be, that is, a representative and truly democratic global parliament of the people of the world.
Throughout its seven decades, the United Nations has been a source of hope for the oppressed, exploited and poor around the world. During the dark days of colonialism and apartheid, we drew strength, inspiration and encouragement from the United Nations and its Charter in our quest for freedom and self-determination. With the support of the United Nations, 24 years ago, we as South Africans were able to  bring an  end  to the nightmare of apartheid. Nelson Mandela led us to freedom and gave us the great opportunity to transform our country. We have now embarked upon a journey of transformation and are making progress to deal with the ugly legacy of the past system of apartheid.
Madiba’s vision continues to guide us as we seek to improve the lives of our people in many respects, among others, by improving educational outcomes for our youth and transforming our economy, which was constituted to serve the interests of a few. We have started a comprehensive dialogue on the question of land reform in our country, which is guided by our

Constitution and the rule of law, as we seek ways to ensure that the land is shared among all who work it, as set out in our Freedom Charter. Even as our country is experiencing difficult economic challenges, we  have made progress. We are reforming our economy and creating an environment that is conducive to investment and have embarked upon an investment drive to attract $100 billion in the next five years. To the poor, vulnerable and marginalized, the United Nations today is a beacon of promise in a landscape of doubt. To billions across the world, the United Nations is the most powerful instrument we possess to achieve a more equal, humane and inclusive world.
There are men and women with dreams and aspirations that transcend the hardships of the present, who want to contribute to a new global civilization defined by care, justice and solidarity. They want an end to the greed, ignorance and conceit that is driving the destruction of our only home, the Earth. It is within our ability, as the leaders assembled here today, to forge a more representative, equal and fair United Nations that is empowered and equipped to lead the struggle to end poverty, unemployment and inequality in the world.
We are a youthful world: more than half the global population is under the age of 30. That is even more pronounced on our continent of Africa, where two thirds of our people were not yet born when Nelson Mandela was released from 27 years in prison. We are living in the age of youth. That places a responsibility on us as leaders not only to put the interests of young people at the centre of our efforts, but also to empower women and young people to be more prominent in directing the course of global affairs. It is young people who are fighting the wars that we started. It is women who are bearing the brunt and hardships of the wars that continue to destroy their lives and their families. As we speak, young lives are being lost and futures are being destroyed.
There is an urgency to the measures we must take to end conflict and war. Not only must we stop the death, destruction and human suffering that is visited daily on millions of people, but we  must act with purpose  to prevent the loss of another entire generation to its aftermath. We must accept our shared responsibility for, and our shared interests in, ending conflict and using the outcomes of the Nelson Mandela Peace Summit to empower the United Nations to be a more effective instrument for mediation, peacekeeping and post-conflict reconstruction.
Our resolve to end ongoing conflicts and our determination to root out terrorism must be matched by action and the appropriate deployment of resources. We must act with the same urgency to resolve some of the world’s most protracted and intractable disputes. The fact that the people of Palestine have endured occupation and suffering for nearly as long as the United Nations has existed makes their plight no less pressing and their suffering no more acceptable. We must likewise intensify our efforts to secure the right of the people of Western Sahara to self-determination and full national sovereignty.
One of the greatest challenges to the achievement of global prosperity and development is the continued exclusion of millions of women and young people from meaningful economic participation. It is therefore vital that we deploy all the means at our disposal to address youth unemployment and ensure universal access to educational opportunities appropriate to the changing world of work. We need a deliberate programme to ensure that the digital revolution, which carries such great potential for both disruption and empowerment, is effectively harnessed to promote social justice as well as human progress. The call to leave no one behind requires that we strengthen the institutions of global governance and make them more responsive to the needs of young people, particularly in the developing world.
Institutions such as the United Nations, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the World Trade Organization need to be reshaped and enhanced so that they may more effectively meet the challenges of the contemporary world and better serve the interests of the poor and marginalized around the globe. Reform of the United Nations, and of the Security Council in particular, must be a priority if we are to give full effect to the values and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations.
We must resist any and all efforts to undermine the multilateral approach to international trade, which is essential to the promotion of stability and predictability in the global economy. The history of the global economy informs us that no country can prosper at the expense of all others and that no people can hope to live in comfort and security as long as millions of others languish in poverty.
It is therefore essential that we take collective responsibility for the development of all nations and for the improvement of the lives of all people. That

responsibility is manifest in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda on Financing for Development, among other agreements. Together they represent our common commitment to tackle poverty, underdevelopment and environmental degradation. They represent our common commitment to tackle diseases such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, diabetes and cancer. Our task as global leaders is to pursue the policies required to turn intent into implementation and mobilize the resources needed to turn implementation into impact.
We have made significant strides as Africans in addressing the challenges that have confronted our continent for many decades. We continue vigorously to implement our commitments set out in the African Union Agenda 2063, which is our collective plan as Africans to rid our continent of under-development,  poverty and conflict and to improve democratic governance, the rule of law and the promotion of human rights. We have recently reached agreement on the establishment of an African Continental Free Trade Area, which will fundamentally transform African economies, giving rise to a new industrial age on the continent. We are working to silence the guns in Africa by 2020, to bring an end to conflicts that have cost the lives of millions of our people, displaced more and stunted economic growth and human development.
As the continent  with  the  youngest  population in the world, Africa has the potential to be the next great frontier for global growth and development. With effective investment in education, improved health care, good governance and greater economic integration, Africa has the potential to develop its productive capacity on a scale and at a rate that will lift tens of millions out of poverty. The youth of Africa are poised to transform their continent.
We the people of South Africa are committed to being part of that transformation. From the ashes of a system that was described by the General Assembly as a crime against humanity, we are building a new, democratic nation, united in its diversity. We are working to correct the injustices of our past and to build a society that is free, inclusive and sustainable. We are pursuing an economic path that draws on the resources and capabilities of all our people to eradicate poverty, unemployment and inequality. We are determined through our international relations to be a force for progress, good, peace and global equality, and
will continue to advance the interests of the African continent and the global South.
Allow me to conclude by once more drawing on the wisdom of Nelson Mandela, who said, “Sometimes it falls on a generation to be great.” This is not the generation that will stand expectant at the gates of hope; this is the generation that will change the world. It is the generation of young people who want to see change. This is their time and this is their age. Let their greatness blossom.


As  I  am participating in the opening  of  this  session  of the General Assembly, it gives me great pleasure to congratulate Ms. María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés on her election to preside over this world forum as the first Latin American woman and the fourth woman in history to hold the position. I wish her success and have no doubt that she will do an excellent job throughout this session.
On behalf of the Government and the people of Guatemala, I would like to thank the international community and the various humanitarian assistance organizations for their solidarity and support in the face of the tragedy that occurred in my country on 3 June as a result of the volcanic eruption that caused irreparable human losses, hundreds of injuries, extensive material damage and resulted in more than 1.7 million victims.
Today we have the opportunity to reflect on the role played by the United Nations in the world order, respecting the sovereignty of the countries that make  it up, and I am more than ever convinced that our task is no greater than our forces. Behind me is a symbol that in this era, in which we find so  many barriers and differences, we can associate with peace and cooperation, and see as a meeting point for dialogue, tolerance and respect. At the same time, I represent Guatemala, a country with strong traditions and a people that believes in God, that loves and respects the family as the basis of society, that sees life as starting at conception, and that is dedicated to freedom and the construction of a peaceful society. One example of this view of our country and of our search for permanent peace is Guatemala’s iron determination to resolve peacefully and definitively the territorial, insular and

maritime dispute that we have had with Belize for more than a century and a half.
I am pleased to share with the Assembly that, on 15 April, a referendum was held in Guatemala on the question of submitting this case to the International Court of Justice, resulting in a resounding “yes”. Ninety-six per cent of voters voted in favour in the most participatory referendum in the country’s history. We are convinced that the resolution of this dispute will bring economic, social and political benefits to both countries. We therefore also welcome the decision of the Government of Belize to set the date of 10 April 2019 for its own referendum, and we look forward to the results with great enthusiasm.
The pursuit of development in the region also leads to peace and prosperity. We can share with joy that Central American economic integration continues to grow in strength and make progress after half a century. This year, we took a historic step with the establishment of a customs union between Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador. For Central America, this customs union means that 80 per cent of bilateral trade will enjoy the free transit of goods, thanks to tariff harmonization. Similarly, the cost of moving goods has been reduced by between 21 and 25 per cent, boosting exports and generating an increase in our countries’ gross domestic product and improving tax collection and our companies’ competitiveness. According to data from the World Bank, transit across our borders has been reduced from between six and 55 hours to 15 minutes. This customs union turns the three Central American countries into a market of 32 million people.
Guatemala’s efforts to combat transnational threats are unprecedented in the region. The determination and commitment of the Guatemalan security forces have enabled us to eradicate more than 471 million poppy plants, worth $1.4 billion, over the past two years, with the cooperation of United States agencies. We have seized 34,000 kilos of cocaine and increased heroin seizures by 400 per cent over previous years. This means that in two years we have seized more drugs than in the previous eight years combined, preventing more than 30 million United States and European citizens from being affected by the consumption of these drugs.
Guatemala has made important advances in the areas of transparency and the fight against corruption. Our Open Government initiative and mechanism are working on the basis of our third national action plan, for
the period from 2016 to 2018, which has fulfilled 87 per cent of its commitments in the areas of access to public information, fiscal transparency, civic participation, technological innovation and accountability.
Guatemala  has  worked  hard  to  comply  with the international  standards  of  the  Global  Forum  on Transparency and Exchange of Information for  Tax Purposes, and has ratified the Convention on Mutual Administrative  Assistance  in  Tax  Matters  of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). These efforts have enabled us to be removed from the list of countries considered to be tax havens. In the same vein, the General Secretariat of the Presidency  of  the  Republic  of  Guatemala  has received ISO 9001:2015 certification for the quality of its management, and it recently  received ISO 37001:2016 certification for its anti-bribery management system, the only such  certification  in the world. The management system helps institutions to improve their overall performance and provide a solid basis  for  sustainable  development  initiatives.  It is also a tool for nurturing integrity, transparency, honesty and compliance with standards that minimize the risk of bribery by complying with legal obligations. In addition, 16 years after the last census, we carried out a national population and housing census this year with   state-of-the-art   digital   cartography,  reaching
96 per cent of households, which will contribute to
quality statistical information that will be vital for the evaluation and measurement of our public policies.
I will now address the issues of security and justice, because my Government has been and always will be respectful of the law and the rule of law. With my head held high, I can say that there is no sign of corruption in the management of our Government. On the contrary, as President of the Republic, I have led the fight against corruption and efforts to increase governmental transparency and accountability. Proof of this is that we have taken important steps with the OECD to improve good practices in favour of governmental transparency.
In line with the foregoing, we believe it necessary to respect the sovereignty of each country and to guarantee full freedom and recognize the beliefs, values and principles of each State, and not to impose a global bureaucratic agenda that dictates how that bureaucracy thinks things should be.
After almost four decades of internal armed conflict, Guatemalans signed a strong and lasting

peace, and we have undertaken the very arduous and difficult task of building and maintaining it. Building peace is no easy task, as the grave consequences of the armed conflict weakened our institutions. Guatemala is the only State to have signed a cooperation agreement with the United Nations Secretariat establishing an international commission against impunity,  known  as the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG), which was originally to last for two years. In weighing the initiative’s value, the State of Guatemala decided to extend that period five times. Under the direction of three Commissioners, the CICIG had its high and low points, and as a sovereign State Guatemala decided not to request a sixth extension, as we believe that more than a decade has provided it with enough time to fulfil its mandate. At the same time, we have asked the Secretary-General to begin transferring capacities to those Guatemala institutions responsible for ensuring justice, in accordance with the mandate.
The State of Guatemala is grateful for the technical support provided by CICIG in strengthening its democratic institutions, and we appreciate its contributions to fostering a culture of transparency and combating impunity and, especially, corruption. We are also grateful to the  international community for its financial support in sustaining CICIG throughout these years. For the sake of transparency, it would be very fitting for the Secretary-General to report on the details of the use of resources since the establishment of the Commission so as to inform the international community on the allocation of the approved funds. Given the circumstances, it is essential to familiarize the international community with the reasons why it was decided not to extend CICIG’s mandate.
First, it violated the political Constitution of the Republic, our laws and the very agreement on which its establishment was based, while overreaching the limits of its mandate, manipulating justice and undermining the presumption of innocence and due process. Secondly, Commissioner Velásquez meddled in the country’s internal affairs, while politicizing justice and judicializing politics; those abuses have polarized Guatemalan society and led to an environment of instability jeopardizing national security. In recent years, increasing doubts have been raised about CICIG at the national and international levels and, to our astonishment, a case involving the persecution of a Russian family, the Bitkovs, became known throughout the world. The United States Helsinki Commission has
requested CICIG to provide it with information on that matter, and the  Commission has repeatedly refused  to do so. That refusal to demonstrate accountability entirely contradicts the spirit of the Commission’s fight against impunity.
I reiterate my country’s astonishment that despite the fact that the Guatemalan Government expressed  its concerns about CICIG abuses, it took a case affecting international interests to get the international community to understand the  injustices  committed by that United Nations Commission. In that regard, I want to point to the indifference and passivity of the Secretary-General, whom I personally and officially informed for more than a year of the concerns of the Government of Guatemala about the bad practices of CICIG and its Commissioner. I want to make it clear that I will not defend those who are corrupt or advocate for anyone involved in a judicial process pitted against the Guatemalan justice system. At the same time, however, no one can deny that, just like the Bitkovs, many Guatemalan people and families have also suffered illegal persecutions and violations of their human rights and constitutional guarantees at the hands of the Commission, which has enjoyed total impunity.
How is it  that the principles of  the presumption  of innocence  and  due  process  have  been  violated by CICIG in Guatemala? Contrary to the guidelines for international human rights instruments and the Guatemalan constitutional order, the Commission’s statements always began with press conferences, mediating cases in violation of the presumption of innocence, because through such mediation pressure was exerted on judges and magistrates with regard to their decisions. The statement made by the jurist who heads the Commission — to the effect that persons become less innocent as investigations and the criminal process move forward — violates the political Constitution of our Republic, which guarantees the human right to the presumption of innocence. A person remains innocent until a final finding of guilt is handed down.
We would be remiss if we did not mention another abuse, which is the occurrences involving the excessive use of force and abuse of power that have become popularly known as “CICIG black Thursdays”, which, in addition to the aforementioned press conferences, include arrests and raids characterized by the use of excessive force accompanied by the presence of dozens of heavily armed police with high-calibre rifles. In that regard, Guatemala was astonished by one such

raid, on 2 November 2016, which involved illegal entry into the presidential residence. This abuse was deplorable because, in addition to breaking through the three security perimeters of the presidential residence, the very institutional integrity of our country was jeopardized. CICIG personnel and United Nations vehicles took part in that raid.
Those facts were included in a document addressing the concerns of the State of Guatemala delivered personally to the Secretary-General more than a year ago. The fact that CICIG has made the excessive use  of pretrial detention the rule in Guatemala, when it should be used only in exceptional circumstances, must also be addressed. Under the laws of Guatemala, no one must remain in pretrial custody for more than three months, but in cases involving CICIG, some were held on remand for more than three years and remained incarcerated for an additional five years as the judicial process unfolded, only to be found innocent later.
To date, hundreds of people have remained in years- long pretrial custody. In one such case, the so-called Peacock case, one person was tried in Guatemala, another in Austria and yet another in Spain. In all three countries, the evidence presented by CICIG was judged insufficient, and they were found not guilty. Today we mourn five deaths caused by the abuse of pretrial detention, in which pressure from CICIG on judges led them to fail to provide alternative forms of incarceration that would have ensured the delivery of adequate medical treatment. I call attention to the fact that such inhumane treatment has not been meted out to even the most dangerous criminals or drug traffickers.
Another case that I would like to bring up is that of Alfredo Zimeri, a young man of 19 years of age, who was brutally beaten by members of the CICIG staff, causing multiple and serious fractures to his face and skull. Mr. Velásquez exceeded the authority of his mandate, in addition to finding himself in a conflict of interest, when he requested recorded footage from the surveillance cameras, which is evidence that only the public prosecutor is authorized to handle. Should this be described as justice or as impunity?
Essentially, CICIG has  become  a  threat  to peace in Guatemala. It has set up a system of terror whereby anyone who thinks differently is tracked down, investigated and accused by or referred to the Commission so as to coerce witnesses, whom it later turns into effective collaborators by offering them
summary trials and reduced sentences. Unfortunately, the CICIG ideal has been lost in the bureaucracy of  the United Nations and in the cult of the individual, which as a matter of principle should never be greater than the institution it represents. What is certain is that today Guatemala is more polarized than it has been for decades. Some say that we did not have this kind of polarization even during the armed conflict in Guatemala in the 1980s. Groups of people with extremist views have sought to take advantage of the fight against corruption, applauding selective persecutions that have been turned into overt demonstrations by an ideologically biased CICIG. We in Guatemala do not want more confrontation, we want peace and justice. With the same respect that we have always shown, I am publicly asking the Secretary-General, before the Assembly, if we can agree on appointing a new CICIG Commissioner to carry out the transfer of technical capabilities to the appropriate bodies. Guatemala has acted in good faith at all times and we continue to believe firmly that disputes can be resolved amicably through dialogue.
Turning to other subjects, we should point out Guatemala is a country located in a vulnerable tropical zone that is suffering increasingly seriously from the effects of climate change. We are once again dealing with a prolonged drought affecting the most vulnerable sectors of our population. That is why we have invested in rehabilitating all of our irrigation and mini-irrigation systems, which can help to ensure low-income farmers’ production. We have focused our public investment budget on our national development priorities and have also been able to contribute to global environmental efforts by designing a technology called bio-fences for decontaminating rivers, beaches, seas and oceans that has been recognized by the World Economic Forum. We continue to work to combat chronic malnutrition through our 2016-2020 national strategy and policy for the prevention of chronic malnutrition, which is directly related to the Sustainable Development Goals aimed  at ending hunger, achieving food security, improving nutrition and ensuring quality education.
I am very pleased to know  that  the  Assembly  has made progress with the negotiations for a global compact for safe, orderly and regular migration. My Government is clearly focused on improving security and development conditions in order to reducing migration and the risks that migrants run when embarking on dangerous journeys in their quest to improve their

quality of life. In the meantime, we will continue working to strengthen our entire consular network.
In conclusion, I would  like  to  send  a  message of unity and peace to my people and to the entire international community. I will return to my country with the vision and hope of a  better tomorrow for  all. I would like to end by quoting the great Ruben Darío when he said about his country: “If your homeland is small, dream it big”.