I would like to congratulate you, Mr. President, and the members of the Bureau on your election, and to assure you of our full support in the discharge of your responsibilities. I also appreciate the role played by Ms. Maria Fernanda Espinosa Garces as the President of the General Assembly at its seventy-third session. We commend Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for his reforms aimed at making the United Nations fit for purpose.
Today the world stands at a crossroads. The landscape of the global order is undergoing profound transformation. The problems of yesterday have not subsided and yet new challenges are looming. Our inequalities in income, opportunities, technology and capabilities are increasing. Trade tensions among the largest economies create unpredictability and the risk of recession. The ensuing insecurity and disorder hurt least-developed countries (LDCs), landlocked developing countries (LLDCs) and small island developing States the most.
The peril of climate change is outpacing our response. Its threat is truly existential in terms of the sustainability of the planet and the future of humankind. It is the poorest and most vulnerable countries that are hardest hit by the effects of climate change. Despite their negligible emissions, they face consequences that are disproportionate, unjust and undue. In that context, Nepal appreciated the Secretary-General’s leadership in convening the Climate Action Summit on 23 September. It was another milestone in charting a sustainable path in the face of obstinate ignorance of climate science. Nepal, as home to Sagarmatha, also known as Mount Everest, the highest peak in the world, lies at a hotspot of climate change. The Himalayas, as a barometer of such change, are seeing glaciers melt and fresh water dry up at an accelerated rate. A report published this year by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development predicts that one third of glaciers in the Hindu Kush and Himalaya ranges will melt away by the end of the century even if we meet the 1.5°C commitment. That is alarming. Climate-induced disasters wreak havoc every year. This year alone, several of our citizens were killed by floods and tornadoes. Bearing in mind the seriousness of the issue and our own responsibility, the Government of Nepal has decided to convene a global dialogue in April under the theme of climate change. It will be the first in a series of Sagarmatha dialogues, established by Nepal to deliberate on critical issues of current importance.
Nepal pins great hopes on the centrality of the United Nations in galvanizing multilateral efforts to address cross-cutting and global challenges such as reducing poverty and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We have an abiding trust in multilateralism and believe that there is no alternative to it other than a better and more effective, inclusive and responsive multilateralism. The adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development was a display of inclusive multilateralism at its best, but it can be implemented only if a similar spirit guides our actions with a renewed sense of partnership and with all stakeholders assuming responsibility for it.
In the past four years the SDG scorecard has shown mixed progress. Poverty has decreased, but the rate of its reduction is slowing. Unemployment rates have dropped, but wages remain stagnant. Food insecurity and hunger are getting worse. Greater collaboration is critical to mobilizing the resources needed to attain the SDGs and to ensure universal health coverage. Countries like Nepal need many resources if they are to fully realize the SDGs by 2030, and while mobilizing domestic financial resources is a priority for us, our national efforts, particularly those of LDCs and LLDCs, will have to be complemented by international support measures in the form of technical, financial, investment and other means of support.
The world has made great strides in wealth creation and the advancement of technology, and advances have also been made in life expectancy, literacy, basic education and the reduction of maternal and infant mortality. Sadly, that progress has not been evenly distributed. Women and girls, people with disabilities and the elderly still bear the brunt of poverty and inequalities. Inequality within and between countries is growing. In that context, the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women, the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the International Conference on Population and Development, as well as the midterm review of the Vienna Programme of Action for Landlocked Developing Countries for the Decade 2014-2024, will provide important opportunities to take swift action. In that context, Nepal appreciates the Secretary-General’s strategy on ensuring gender parity.
We welcome the reforms aimed at creating synergy and coherence within the United Nations system, in line with the principle of ensuring that all its activities are people-centred, and we hope that the new generation of country teams and Resident Coordinators can live up to expectations by delivering more. We also hope that the renewed thrust of United Nations reforms will propel the reform of the Security Council. We must focus on making the Council representative in structure, transparent in function, democratic in character and accountable in performance. The revitalization of the work of the General Assembly, including enhancing its role and authority, is long overdue, and we must make it a priority. However, the Organization’s deteriorating financial situation is a matter of serious concern, as it can only impede the fulfilment of its mandates and responsibilities.
Heightened geopolitical complexities, a defunct disarmament architecture, and the absence of order in cyberspace and outer space endanger international peace and stability. The intensifying arms race, coupled with growing distrust among major players, seems symptomatic of new forms of division with regard to the critical issues of peace and security. That is why a stronger and effective United Nations is critical to promoting trust and cooperation. Nepal supports the general and complete elimination of all weapons of mass destruction. We are concerned about the collapse of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, the withdrawal of an important party from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action on the Iranian nuclear programme, and the stalemate in the Conference on Disarmament. Such trends should not be permitted to encourage a penchant for nuclear weapons. Nepal supports effective and verifiable nuclear-weapon-free zones and a legally binding multilateral disarmament regime for ensuring global security and stability. As a signatory to the 2017 Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, we expect to complete our internal legal process for its ratification soon. In addition, for the greater benefit of humankind, we reiterate that outer space must not become a weaponized arena. As the host country for the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific, Nepal calls for strengthening regional approaches to disarmament, including the Kathmandu Process, in order to complement global initiatives.
The problems of transnational organized crime, human and drug trafficking and terrorism transcend national boundaries. The flow of illicit money for financing crimes must be countered with stringent measures and cooperation among States. Nepal condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. In that regard, we call for the effective implementation of the relevant existing conventions and resolutions, including the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. The conclusion of a comprehensive convention against terrorism should be delayed no longer.
The violent conflicts in Libya, Syria, Yemen and elsewhere continue unabated, leaving human suffering in their wake. Conflict-related issues, including human rights violations, exoduses of refugees and forced migration, have global ramifications. We believe in the peaceful settlement of conflicts and disputes through negotiation and dialogue, without external interference. Robust conflict prevention and peacebuilding measures are critical to sustaining peace. The underutilized tool of mediation can potentially help to bring about a mutually agreeable solution to conflicts.
We want to see meaningful steps being taken to resolve the protracted Middle East issue. We support a two-State solution for Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security with secure and recognized international borders based on the relevant United Nations resolutions.
Nepal welcomes the dialogues between the United States and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and between the two Koreas. We hope that the initiatives will lead to lasting peace and stability on the Korean peninsula.
True to our commitment to the Charter of the United Nations, Nepal has rendered one of the most dedicated, reliable and professional services to United Nations peace operations for more than six decades. Our peacekeepers have been deployed without caveats at the shortest notice, even in fragile and asymmetric threat environments. The safety, security and dignity of peacekeepers are therefore critically important to us.
In that spirit, we endorsed the Declaration of Shared Commitments in support of the Action for Peacekeeping initiative last year. We appreciate the role of the Department of Peace Operations, the Department of Operational Support and the United Nations as a whole in maintaining peace and security through peacekeeping operations.
Peace operations require predictable, adequate and sustained resources for their success. The timely and full reimbursement to troop- and police-contributing countries is essential to ensure that those brave personnel continue to give their best performance, even in adverse situations. Troop- and police-contributing countries should receive their due share of leadership positions, both in the field and at Headquarters.
Nepal is committed to progressively deploying more women peacekeepers. We do not condone sexual exploitation and abuse in peacekeeping missions. We have therefore endorsed the Kigali Principles on the Protection of Civilians.
The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 calls for global cooperation in order to reduce the risk of large-scale natural disasters. Nepal has harmonized its national strategies on disaster risk reduction with those of the Sendai Framework, the SDGs, the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and the outcomes of the World Humanitarian Summit. Learning lessons from the 2015 earthquakes, Nepal has focused on the resilience of infrastructure.
Even as a landlocked country, we care equally about oceans. We believe that there is an organic linkage between oceans and mountains. We are concerned because the health of the oceans is deteriorating alarmingly mainly due to climate change and reckless human activities.
We are confident that the new international legally binding instrument under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction currently under negotiation will prove to be a milestone in international law for the protection and conservation of marine biodiversity.
Migration, a phenomenon as old as human civilization, is a defining megatrend of our time. Ensuring the rights and well-being of migrant workers is a matter of priority to us. The Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (resolution 73/195, annex), adopted in December last year, is an important stepping stone and a good example of multilateralism at work. We urge all Member States to own the process and to be part of the outcome. As host to a large number of refugees for decades, Nepal firmly believes in the right of refugees to return to their home country in safety and dignity.
Nepal’s commitment to the universal values of human rights is total. The Constitution of Nepal is founded on the fundamentals of inclusive democracy, pluralism, the rule of law, secularism, representative and accountable Government, social justice and human rights.
We are fully committed to concluding the transitional justice process in line with the Comprehensive Peace Agreement between the Government of Nepal and the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), a directive of the Supreme Court, the relevant international commitments, the concerns of the victims and the realities on the ground. We hold that democracy, development and respect for human rights are interdependent and mutually reinforcing.
As a member of the Human Rights Council, we have been promoting those ideals in an independent, apolitical and objective manner. In order to contribute further, Nepal has presented its candidature for re-election to the Human Rights Council for the term of 2021-2023. We greatly count on the valuable support of all United Nations Member States.
Nepal’s foreign policy is guided by the five principles of peaceful coexistence, non-alignment, the United Nations Charter, international law and the norms of world peace. “Amity with all, enmity with none” has been our guiding motto. We believe in an inclusive, just and fair international order.
Nepal believes that regional processes complement global efforts for peace, security and economic development. We strive to enhance regional economic cooperation under the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multisectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation and the Asia Cooperation Dialogue. As the current Chair, we are striving to revitalize the stalled SAARC process.
Nepal’s democratic transformation presents a uniquely successful, nationally led and owned peace process. We would be happy to share our experience, which may be useful to those in conflict.
Building on the historic political transformation, the Government of Nepal is now focused on an economic agenda to sustain the political gains under the overarching national aspiration of “Prosperous Nepal, happy Nepali”. We have created an investment-friendly atmosphere with substantive policy and legal reforms. One window service is operational, with almost all sectors open for 100 per cent foreign investment.
We have recently adopted the fifteenth five-year plan with a longer-term development perspective. Graduation from the status of a less developed country is part of our plan. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and other internationally agreed goals and targets have been integrated into our national plans and programmes.
Peace, tolerance and harmony are intrinsic to Nepali culture and way of life. Lumbini in Nepal is not only the birthplace of Gautam Buddha but also a fountain of peace, the ultimate destination for tranquillity of mind and spiritual fulfilment. We want to promote that world heritage on the international stage. We aim to host the International Day of Vesak in 2021.
Before I conclude, let me reiterate Nepal’s profound commitment to the principles and purposes of the United Nations. We firmly believe in the centrality of the United Nations in promoting multilateralism. Viewed from the crossroads of history, we see no alternative to multilateralism to ensure peace, security and order in the world.
It is incumbent upon us, the Member States, to make the Organization a strong platform of collaboration and dialogue for resolving differences and finding solutions to the challenges. Only an empowered and reformed United Nations, reflective of the present-day reality, can achieve those critical responsibilities.


At the outset, I would like to extend the warm greetings of Pope Francis to the President and to all the delegations participating in the seventy-fourth session of the General Assembly.
Keenly aware that relationships in the international community today are experiencing particular tension and fragmentation, Pope Francis, who dedicated his 2019 New Year’s address to the diplomatic corps accredited to the Holy See to the theme of multilateralism, tirelessly urges every actor on the international stage to strive to promote dialogue at every level as an indispensable step and the antidote to all divisions. In recent years, we have seen the value of effective multilateralism, for example in lifting millions out of poverty, resolving various conflicts, protecting our common home, fighting infectious-disease epidemics and caring for migrants and refugees. At the same time, we are painfully aware of the many ways in which international cooperation and commitment have been inadequate to meet the challenges we face.
Among those challenges, we must consider the situation in the Middle East and the various conflicts, especially in Syria and Yemen, that demand effective cooperation and the courageous commitment of the family of nations in order to put an end to the immense suffering of so many people and to set out on the road to peace and reconstruction. The Israeli-Palestinian peace process, which has been under way for a long time, is of perennial concern and runs the risk of seeing unilateral measures and solutions being advanced instead of a collaborative response from the international community.
Another area of pressing concern involves the situations in Venezuela and Nicaragua, where institutional channels must be fully utilized to find negotiated solutions to political, social and economic problems, ease tensions and alleviate the suffering of the population. In that regard, it is important also that the recommendations presented by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights be fulfilled. Positive signs include the extension for another year of the mandate, as established in Security Council resolution 2366 (2017), of the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia. Notwithstanding the many obstacles facing it, the ongoing peace process in Colombia remains an inspiring example for a world of effective multilateralism.
One of the great challenges is the absence of peace and security in many parts of the world. In our common efforts to prevent conflict, end wars through mediation and build post-conflict peace and reconciliation, it is opportune to recall Security Council resolution 1888 (2009) on the tenth anniversary of its adoption. This anniversary is a welcome occasion to renew our dedication to protecting women and children from widespread sexual violence in armed conflict. The use of sexual violence as a weapon of war is absolutely unacceptable and must be stopped. We must never overlook the plight of the children conceived as a result of sexual violence in war. Both mothers and children are innocent victims. They must be protected, assisted and rehabilitated without being separated from their families or communities. No effort must be spared to ensure their full reintegration into society.
The proliferation of weapons is particularly alarming, as it spurs and exacerbates violence, conflict and war. The Secretary-General’s report (A/74/1) documents the fact that armed groups are multiplying, worldwide military spending and arms competition are increasing, and the threat of the weaponization of artificial intelligence, cyberspace and outer space is growing.
Greater multilateral cooperation is likewise needed to create the conditions and take the steps necessary for the elimination of nuclear weapons. The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) are both important steps towards a nuclear-weapon free world. They are the fruit of the efforts of many States and other stakeholders to promote greater awareness and understanding of the humanitarian consequences and environmental disasters that would result from the use of nuclear weapons and are complements to, not distractions from, to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), which will hold its tenth Review Conference next year.
One of the triumphs of multilateralism in recent years has been the global mobilization to lift people out of extreme poverty. The implementation of the Millennium Development Goals, in addition to other achievements, has helped lift nearly a billion people out of extreme poverty. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is an unprecedented multilateral commitment. Yet, as the Secretary-General’s report notes, while much progress has been achieved, if we continue at the present pace, the targets may not be reached by 2030.
When Pope Francis spoke to the General Assembly four years ago (see A/70/PV.3) immediately before the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, he emphasized that the new paradigm for development called for by the Agenda must begin with the core principle of the dignity of each human person and must recognize that extreme poverty is primarily a denial of that dignity. He said,
“above and beyond our plans and programmes, we are dealing with real men and women, just like the Government leaders, who live, struggle and suffer, and are often forced to live in great poverty, deprived of all rights.” (A/70/PV3, p. 4)
When we focus on the primacy of the human dignity of every impoverished man or woman, boy or girl, we immediately recognize the need to help them shape their own integral development as subjects, not objects.
Education is a fundamental enabler and key to the achievement of the Agenda for Sustainable Development. Recently, Pope Francis launched the Global Educational Alliance, in which he renewed the invitation to dialogue on how we are shaping the future of our planet and the need to employ the talents of all, since all change requires an educational process aimed at developing a new universal solidarity and a more welcoming society. Pope Francis believes that never before has there been such need to unite our efforts in a broad educational alliance, to form mature individuals capable of overcoming division and antagonism, and to restore the fabric of relationships for the sake of a more fraternal humanity. We are experiencing an era of change: a transformation that is not only cultural but also anthropological, creating a new semantics. In this transformation process, we must have the courage to place the human person at the centre and to work for the promotion of an integral ecology based on the inseparable bonds among concern for nature, justice for the poor, commitment to society and interior peace.
When it comes to care for our common home and the threat posed by climate change, the international community has been galvanizing its multilateral collaboration. We saw it with the Paris Agreement in 2015. We witnessed it again in December in Katowice, with the adoption of the Katowice rulebook to implement the Paris Agreement.
To enhance a multilateral response, there is a particularly urgent need for a transparent framework to promote trust among nations in fulfilling the commitments made. There is a need for more effective multilateral cooperation between the developed and developing world, for example, on financing measures to curb climate change, on technology transfer, on energy issues and on how to apply the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capacities in burden-sharing. We can and must achieve the goals we set out to accomplish for the sake of future generations. As encouraged by Pope Francis at the Climate Action Summit some days ago, we have to pursue this effort with honesty, courage and responsibility.
As we care for our common home, we must give special attention to the Amazon, where numerous fires have devastated the region. We all recognize how important the Amazon is for the whole world and indeed for the very future of humankind. Beginning a week from tomorrow, on 6 October, Pope Francis will gather in the Vatican a Synod of Bishops from all over the world for the Amazonian region, which will be focused principally on the ecclesial and pastoral challenges of the area, with particular attention given to the indigenous peoples living there and the human, ecological, social and economic issues that are impacting the region and, indeed, humankind.
To ensure that no one is excluded from the benefits of economic development, there must be a multilateral commitment to prosperity for all through the opening up of economic participation to individuals and peoples. People likewise need access to the enjoyment of all their fundamental human rights, which is often denied in situations of conflict or widespread violence, disasters and institutional failure. On this year’s seventieth anniversary of the Geneva Conventions, Pope Francis recalled that these important international legal instruments impose limitations on the use of force and protect civilians and prisoners in time of war. He urged States always to observe the limitations imposed by international humanitarian law, protecting defenceless peoples and civil structures, especially hospitals, schools, places of worship and refugee camps.
One particular right that the international community must ensure with greater vigilance is the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, as enshrined in article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In the past year, we have seen an increase in attacks against religious believers. We appreciate the international community’s calling attention to attacks on religious believers and its adoption of various initiatives to protect churches, mosques, synagogues, temples and other religious sites.
Finally, the challenges of international migration and forced displacement demand the comprehensive commitment and action of all States. The Holy See actively supported and engaged in the intergovernmental consultations and negotiations on the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration. Although the outcome of a compromise, the Global Compact, together with that on refugees, is a significant sign of political will, affirming our shared responsibility to act in solidarity not only as Governments but also with people on the move. Looking ahead, the International Migration Review Forum will be central to the follow-up and review of the Global Compact. All States, regardless of their political position regarding the Compact, should take advantage of that unique Forum to address the emerging challenges and concerns that they face in making international migration more safe, orderly and regular.
For the Holy See, the underlying principle of multilateralism is human fraternity. In that perspective, the Holy See hopes that, as we all look ahead to the seventy-fifth anniversary of the United Nations next year, the international community will revisit the reason why it exists and commit itself anew to the task of uniting nations, associating States and bringing peoples together as one family. The Holy See and the Catholic Church, which is a communion of peoples of all nations and races, is wholeheartedly dedicated to that challenging, noble and necessary common commitment, common work and common good.


At the outset, I would like to congratulate President Tijjani Muhammad-Bande on his election to lead the General Assembly at this session. He can count on our full support for the duration of his presidency. I am confident that given his extensive experience, he will lead this session very successfully. I would also like to commend his predecessor, Ms. Maria Fernanda Espinosa Garces, for her excellent work as President of the previous session.
The international community is facing myriad challenges. Many parts of the world have been experiencing more frequent and more severe effects of climate change, which has extensively affected the livelihoods of people globally. Heatwaves have swept across Europe and droughts have persisted in many parts of the world, while in others, floods have inundated residential areas and productive land. While developed countries may be more resilient to climate change and better able to adapt to it, developing countries, particularly the least-developed countries — including my own country — remain very vulnerable. In the past two months we experienced unexpected heavy rainfall throughout our country as a result of Tropical Storm Podul that inundated nearly every province, causing enormous damage to infrastructure, agriculture and people’s livelihoods. It has already cost millions of dollars to rehabilitate and restore normalcy in the affected areas.
Conscious of the importance of combating climate change, the Lao Government is now focusing on the implementation of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. We have already mainstreamed our nationally determined contribution, and we have integrated climate change efforts and natural disaster risk reduction into our national socioeconomic development plan. In addition, our National Assembly has approved a law on disaster management that is expected to be enacted soon. We are currently formulating a national strategy and action plan on disaster preparedness and risk reduction.
At the regional level, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has also made a common effort to address the impact of climate change and disaster risk management, among other things. In that connection, we very much appreciate the United Nations support to ASEAN through the implementation of the ASEAN-United Nations Joint Strategic Plan of Action on Disaster Management 2016-2020 and the World Bank Group’s Climate Change Action Plan 2016- 2020. But having this legal framework in place is not enough to combat climate change. While the full and effective implementation of these instruments is key, it will require joint efforts at both the national and international levels to ensure their full and effective implementation. In that regard, as we commit to action at the national level, we call on the developed countries and all our development partners to honour their commitment to contributing $100 billion a year to support the developing countries’ mitigation and adaptation needs.
Peace and security represent another important pillar that the international community must consolidate. We are fully aware that without peace, development cannot take root and human rights cannot be upheld. That was the core objective and firm foundation of the United Nations when it was founded. Since its inception, our Organization has made significant achievements on many fronts, including important contributions to the maintenance and promotion of global peace and security, creating an environment for countries and regions around the world that is conducive to making social and economic development progress and thereby lifting millions of people out of poverty. In that regard, multilateralism and the enhancement of regional and international cooperation remain highly relevant. We therefore believe that the reforms of the United Nations and other international organizations, including the international financial institutions, should be carried out in an inclusive, open, transparent, predictable and democratic manner, with a view to addressing regional and global inequalities and challenges. Otherwise, our journey towards eradicating poverty and narrowing the development gap within and among countries will remain an uphill task.
Against that backdrop, we welcome the operationalization of the repositioning of the United Nations development system so that it can respond effectively to addressing the development needs and priorities of Member States, with particular attention given to meeting the needs of countries in special situations, especially least developed countries (LDCs), landlocked least developed countries (LLDCs) and small island developing States, in order to help them deal with acute vulnerability and external shocks.
The Lao People’s Democratic Republic also continues to support the efforts of the international community to achieve the objectives of disarmament and non-proliferation, and we have therefore ratified the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. We also welcomed the commemoration of the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons, which took place here at the United Nations two days ago.
In the past few years, alongside existing challenges such as conflicts, terrorism, poverty, pandemics, climate change, natural disasters and trade friction, we have seen increasing confrontation and tension threaten international peace and security and erode development gains. We therefore call for strong political will and a genuine commitment to strengthening multilateralism by adhering to the Charter of the United Nations and the principles of international law, particularly the principles of the sovereign equality of States, independence, territorial integrity and non-interference in the internal affairs of others. We believe that is the best and only path to responding to and overcoming existing and emerging challenges. Yet despite the countless efforts of the international community to resolve conflicts in various parts of the world, many of them continue. In our region, ASEAN has enjoyed long-lasting peace, security and stability, creating favourable conditions for the national socioeconomic development of all its member States. In ASEAN, we continue to promote regionalism and multilateralism that emphasize the importance of inclusivity and mutual benefits and respect, forming a solid foundation for all of the essential cooperation frameworks within ASEAN.
On the issue of Palestine, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic reiterates its hope that the protracted Israeli-Palestinian conflict can be resolved by peaceful means and in accordance with the relevant Security Council resolutions. The application of unilateral measures with extraterritorial implications is not only contrary to the principles of the Charter of the United Nations and international law, it also hampers the national development of other countries. In that regard, my delegation once again calls for lifting the embargo on the Republic of Cuba so that sovereign country and its people can enjoy the freedom to participate in economic and trade relations with other countries in accordance with international law.
The Lao Government attaches great importance to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and is highly committed to it, with the goal of developing our economy and narrowing our country’s development gap. Despite the various policy measures that we have undertaken, progress remains slow as a result of capacity limitations and funding constraints, and the development gap persists, especially between urban and remote rural areas. In that regard, regional and subregional development plans tailored to people’s actual needs at the provincial and district levels are needed in order to deliver basic social services to the local population, especially in the areas of education, health care, income opportunities, better market access for agricultural produce and improving the livelihoods of people in rural areas. In order to finance those national development plans and strategies, we have mobilized the resources required from every source available, undertaking initiatives to promote domestic investment, attract high-quality foreign direct investment, carry out tax reform, diversify the economy and promote public-private partnerships in order to finance our national development agenda.
We firmly believe that in addition to national ownership and leadership, we need to scale up global partnerships in order to accelerate progress towards the effective implementation of development agendas such as the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Addis Ababa Action Agenda, the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and programmes of action for groups of countries in special situations, with the ultimate objective of transforming our world into a healthy planet so that all humankind can live in peace and prosperity. On that note, I would like to take this opportunity to commend the successful deliberations of the first United Nations High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development — and other high-level events held on the margins of this year’s session of the General Assembly — since the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The Forum will provide strong recommendations and input for the realization of our common ambitious Sustainable Development Agenda and its lofty goals. The Lao People’s Democratic Republic stands ready to work closely with all Member States and other stakeholders to achieve a secure and prosperous world so that present and future generations can live in peace, harmony and development.
In conclusion, allow me to take this opportunity to announce that the Lao People’s Democratic Republic has decided to present its candidacy for membership of the Economic and Social Council for the term from 2023 to 2025, the first time ever that the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, which belongs to the vulnerable groups of both the LDCs and LLDCs, will seek membership of that important United Nations organ. The Lao Government would greatly appreciate the valuable support of all Member States for its candidacy.


On behalf of Ukraine, I congratulate Mr. Tijjani Muhammad-Bande on his election as President of the General Assembly at its seventy-fourth session. Ukraine supports the implementation of all the ambitious priorities on the Assembly’s agenda.
Let me be frank — all of us present here have different interests, views, values and issues. However, there is one thing that unites us all — each and every one of us once delivered a statement from this rostrum for the very first time. I ask that everyone recall the feelings they experienced at that very moment. Every one of these reputable and respectable leaders today was once a fresh-faced and, I am sure, honest politician. At that time, the cocktail of pragmatism, scepticism and a tough geopolitical reality had not yet extinguished their eagerness, romanticism and steadfast faith in their ability to change the world for the better. I ask them to recall how important it was then to convey the problems and troubles of their own countries and peoples, and how important it was then to get their message across and be heard. I am experiencing those same feelings today.
I am going to tell a story — the story of a person for whom being heard gave his life meaning. That is because this man had a divine voice. He was considered one of the best baritones and countertenors in the world. His voice filled Carnegie Hall, here in New York; Notre Dame and the Paris Opera; and the Royal Opera House in London. Each of us here today could have had the chance to listen to his incredible singing in person, but unfortunately that is now impossible. That is because of the bullet I have with me here. It is 12.7 millimetres long, and it ended not only his career, but also his life. By the way, it costs only $10. Unfortunately, that is the price of a human life on our planet. There are thousands of such stories and there are millions of such bullets. Welcome to the twenty-first century — a century of opportunities, where instead of being heard you may be killed.
The man whose story I have just recounted about was Vasyl Slipak. He was Ukrainian and a soloist at the Paris National Opera who was murdered in Donbas while defending Ukraine from the Russian aggression. The war in Donbas has gone on for five years. Five years have passed since Russia occupied Ukrainian Crimea. Nowadays, when there are thousands of pages of international law and hundreds of international organizations tasked with protecting it, our nation — with arms in hand — is losing its citizens as they defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity. More than 13,000 people have been killed and 30,000 wounded, while 1.5 million people have been forced to leave their homes. These awful numbers are reported here annually with only one difference — they continue to grow.
Ending the war, recovering all occupied Ukrainian territory and restoring peace are my primary objectives, but not at the cost of the lives of our citizens, our freedom or Ukraine’s right to make its own choices. That is why we need broad international support.
While I realize that every country represented here has its own challenges to tackle and that the problems of others should not concern us more than our own, I understand that in the modern world we live in, there is no longer such a thing as someone else’s war. None of those here will feel safe while Russia is waging war against Ukraine in the middle of Europe. The notion that none of this has anything to do them or will ever touch their interests could be fatal. We cannot think globally while turning a blind eye to small things or trifles, as some may consider them. Because that is how the foundation of two world wars was laid and as a result, millions of human lives were lost owing to negligence, silence, inaction and unwillingness to relinquish one’s own ambitions.
As the horrible lessons begin to fade from human memory, Ukraine remembers them. Ukraine has always demonstrated to the world its readiness to ensure peace in a civilized manner and has taken specific steps to ensure international security, such as when it abandoned its nuclear arsenal, which at the time exceeded the nuclear capacities of the United Kingdom, France and China combined.
We appear to believe in a collective effort to build a new world in which a country’s faults are heard and reckoned with, regardless of whether it possesses nuclear weapons or not, and in which a country is respected for its deeds and not for having nuclear warheads. At the end of the day, in this new world, my country has lost a part of its territory and keeps losing its citizens almost every single day. For that reason, Ukraine has earned the right to speak about the need to reconsider and review the rules that are still in force even as they are trampled upon. We are certainly not calling into question the credibility of international institutions, in particular the United Nations, but we have to recognize that the existing system is not perfect. It has begun to unravel and malfunction; therefore, it needs to be revised. Let us be candid. Are the nations indeed united nowadays? If they are, what unites them? Is it disasters, calamities and wars?
From here, the world’s highest rostrum, we continuously hear calls for fair changes, righteous promises and new initiatives. It is high time that those calls were supported by action. For, in a modern world where a human life is worth just $10, those words are cheapened. Let us remember that the goal when the United Nations was established in 1945 was to maintain and strengthen international peace and security. But what should we do when the very fundamentals of international security are endangered?
Every war today, be it in Ukraine, Syria, Libya, Yemen or elsewhere in the world, no matter the number of casualties, is the biggest threat to civilization as a whole. That is because in 2019, human beings — homo sapiens — still prefer to resolve conflict by murdering their own kind. In the course of its existence, humankind has always figured out ways to cover distances transmit information and cure diseases. The only thing that remains unchanged is that disputes between peoples and States are still resolved by missiles, not by words. Let us not imagine that war is somewhere far away. Methods of warfare, technologies and weapons have proven that our planet is no longer very big. The time I will have spent delivering this paragraph of my statement is sufficient to raze the world to the ground.
This means that every leader bears her or his share of responsibility, not only for the fate of her or his own country but also for that of the entire world. In my opinion, we all need to understand that a strong leader is not one who, without batting an eyelash, sends thousands of troops to certain death. A strong leader is one who cares about the life of every individual.
Let us ask ourselves: What results do our meetings produce for humankind? For some the General Assembly is merely a political stage where they can put on an act and declare their good intentions that will later be voided by the darkest of acts. But it is not merely a rostrum or a stage, and the planet’s 7.5 billion people are not merely spectators but participants. The fundamental principles of the script will be established here today, and the matter of whether life will go on depends on everyone here.
I will admit that I hope one day that this statement will be referred to as the 15 minutes that changed the world, but I am well aware that it is impossible to change in 15 minutes what has been happening for centuries. According to behavioural theories, war is an essential part of the human being, but the world is changing and humankind is changing together the world. The fact that we once developed writing and mathematics, invented the wheel, discovered penicillin and explored outer space means that humankind still has a chance. Acknowledging all the dangers and challenges of civilization, we must create new values and fight for a new mindset free from aggression, anger and hatred.
On this day, 25 September, in 1970, Erich Maria Remarque died, and his novel All Quiet on the Western Front was first published some 90 years ago. Its epigraph read: “It will try simply to tell of a generation of men who, even though they may have escaped the shells, were destroyed by the war.”
Ninety years ago saw the publication of another novel, A Farewell to Arms, in which Ernest Hemingway wrote: “War is not won by victory.” No one has ever stopped when they were winning. The world must remember that every new crippled generation is the path to a new war that cannot be won through victories. Someone may say today that there will be no Third World War, and that the Second was last. I hope that my words reflect an understanding of the danger facing the world and are not a mere announcement from the rostrum.


Paraguay reaffirms its commitment to multilateralism as the most effective tool for tackling global challenges and to the importance of strengthening the international legal architecture and respecting international law and universally applicable principles and values. We emphasize the value of the United Nations in promoting justice, development and peaceful relations among the nations of the world, as established in the foundational Charter of the United Nations.
As they work to achieve sustainable development, landlocked developing countries face specific challenges that require special attention. In that context, the commitment of the international community, and particularly of neighbouring countries of transit and partners, is essential. We want to emphasize that the right to development protects all peoples and must be guaranteed, especially for the most vulnerable. We would like to express our solidarity with the least developed countries and small island developing States, with whom we will continue to work jointly and in coordination to ensure that the special needs of all of us are duly addressed.
It is Paraguay’s spirit of progress that drives its participation in regional and inter-regional integration processes. We are working to use those platforms to contribute to internal and international peace and prosperity with a proactive, participatory and dynamic approach. Those efforts have resulted in the recent conclusion of negotiations for free-trade agreements between the Southern Common Market and the European Union, as well as the countries of the European Free Trade Association, agreements that represent a firm commitment to liberalizing trade and removing obstacles to free trade.
Paraguay is determined to generate inclusive opportunities for the benefit of its citizens and is working to gain control of its future by strengthening its capacities and economic competitiveness and promoting active participation in processes that will help to improve the international legal system. Through the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, we are seeking a new model of governance for Paraguay whereby we can ensure that social welfare reaches all of our people without discrimination. Paraguay has chosen to progress along this path towards sustainable development by implementing the valuable set of tools represented by the 2030 Agenda under the leadership of the United Nations and through State action in every area, while integrating every sector of society and working to generate a real and lasting impact in every corner of the country. However, we will not be able to achieve that without a real transformation of the paradigms currently influencing the behaviour of our citizens. Paraguay is committed to the 2030 Agenda as a fast track towards its institutional goals, and we see the Sustainable Development Goals as key to eradicating poverty, hunger, disease, ignorance, discrimination, unemployment, inequality and shortages, among the evils that afflict millions on a daily basis. In Paraguay, it is our responsibility to leave no one behind.
We believe that South-South cooperation should be strengthened. In line with the conclusions of the second High-level United Nations Conference on South-South Cooperation, we therefore want to add our offer to share good practices and lessons learned with the global space and reaffirm our commitment to continuing to institutionalize South-South and triangular cooperation at the regional and international levels.
This year is a very important one for Paraguay, a multicultural country that has Guarani and Spanish as official languages. Amid the celebration of the International Year of Indigenous Languages, we are warned that the hundreds of indigenous languages are dying every day. The 19 surviving indigenous languages in my country are a cultural treasure and are part of our identity. We will therefore continue to work to protect, respect and promote them.
As a form of Government and a way of life, democracy cannot be shaped simply by exercising the right of suffrage. It is an organized system, in which men and women can elect and be elected, where all citizens, without distinction, can access the material benefits of progress and where the rule of law prevails, without exception, for the body of society over sectarian interests.
Democracy cannot be interpreted. Its definition is not malleable or adaptable to the needs of tyrants or autocrats. It is a concept that does not respond to whims or opportunistic or capricious decisions. Democracy is built on legal norms and is achieved through institutions governed by law because politics cannot, and should not, be above the law. As a system of Government, democracy is achieved by empowering citizens, enforcing their rights and strengthening the institutional structure. Similarly, it is achieved by easing political and social tensions by using the tools provided for in the legal system.
My country has continuously demonstrated its strong will to strengthen its democracy and to preserve and keenly foster the legitimate expression of the people. The international community has played a key role in cooperating with the citizens and the Government of Paraguay, helping to preserve the democratic order and civic responsibility without disruptively interfering in internal affairs. We therefore believe in that cooperative approach, which we see as an antidote to anti-democratic upheaval.
That line of thought represents the basis of Paraguay’s position on the tragedy experienced by the sisterly Republic of Venezuela, causing a deep regional crisis, the consequences of which are felt throughout the world. The news, reports and images that circulate through various media faithfully portray the sad reality of so many people who today suffer at the hands of a regime that openly flouts human rights and democracy.
We need to join forces to restore democracy in Venezuela to ease the humanitarian crisis that is severely affecting its population and to reverse the exodus that is forcing thousands of people to leave every day. The tragedy today is in Venezuela but the crisis is regional.
Anyone who expels his fellow countrymen through hunger, poverty or oppression spreads suffering and discontent, becomes the executioner of the poor, the sick and the hungry, denies rights and eliminates any chance for a better future.
We need to jointly respond to the migration and humanitarian crisis that has led to the flight of millions of people who are forced to leave their homes to flee poverty, violence and extreme hardship. That has become particularly evident in Latin America, which, despite its own difficulties, has generously and magnanimously opened its arms to its brethren migrants.
Paraguay is an open-door country that believes in the ability of migration to contribute to the economic, social and cultural development of all countries. Consistent with that conviction, we call for the decent treatment of migrants, in particular children and young people in displacement.
We are facing difficult times for human beings and the planet. The adverse effects of climate change have an impact throughout the world. While some countries have more resources than others to cope with post-disaster reconstruction, if we continue along this path, we will reach a point of no return, where no one will be able to escape the consequences of environmental degradation.
As a landlocked developing country, Paraguay is severely affected by such consequences. Recently, hundreds of thousands of hectares of forests were devastated by fierce fires that destroyed much of the rich ecological diversity of the Gran Chaco Americano. I would like to thank all the countries that offered us their help in such difficult times.
The changes that the planet so badly needs will be achieved through joint efforts developed in global platforms, where each State will have to responsibly address the immediate and medium-term challenges in line with their capacities and resources. Strategic partnerships will also assist that effort. In that regard, in cooperation with the Green Climate Fund and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Paraguay has recently concluded negotiations to establish a special reforestation fund and to thereby combat extreme poverty, which affects the most vulnerable in society.
Similarly, the hydroelectric project that Paraguay shares with Brazil, known as Itaipu Binacional, is part of that initiative. It was developed to promote the benefits of shared natural resources and is a successful example of an initiative to produce clean and renewable energy.
In the near future, together with Brazil, we will promote a process to review the financing of Itaipu Binacional. We will work to ensure that such as exercise leads to a fair and balanced approach to economic development and well-being.
The Republic of Paraguay affirms its commitment to non-proliferation, disarmament, the rejection of war and the peaceful settlement of conflicts. Paraguay calls on the international community to avoid escalations that fuel tensions and threaten international peace and security, while reaffirming the need to use dialogue and diplomacy as tools for resolving disputes. In that regard, we reaffirm our belief in the principles set out in the Charter of the United Nations to those ends.
Paraguay recognizes the important role that peacekeeping operations have played, and continue to play, in helping many countries to resolve conflict situations and to protect civilians and the most vulnerable. We therefore maintain our political commitment to continuing to contribute qualified personnel trained prior to their deployment.
We need an effective, agile Organization that responds to the calls for peace, justice, freedom and development of all peoples of the world. We therefore strongly support the revitalization of the General Assembly, its most democratic and representative organ. It is a space that belongs to all nations, in which we can express our views, our demands and our needs on an equal footing and in a sovereign way. We support the reforms proposed by the Secretary-General, including repositioning the United Nations development system, in order to appropriately address the challenges of implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and other international development frameworks.
Paraguay joins States that advocate Security Council reform so as to thereby transform the Council into a more inclusive and transparent body, capable of addressing threats to international peace and security.
Before concluding, I wish to congratulate Ambassador Tijjani Muhammad-Bande on his recent election as President of the General Assembly at its seventy-fourth session and to wish him every success in his new functions. Similarly, Paraguay recognizes the work done by the former President of the General Assembly, Maria Fernanda Espinosa, and her team, who guided the work of this organ magnificently and efficiently. I commend Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who has shown great leadership and vision in continuing to promote a more efficient and transparent organization that is closer to the people it is intended to serve. As Chair of the Group of Landlocked Developing Countries, Paraguay urges for the implementation of the Vienna Programme of Action for Landlocked Developing Countries for the Decade 2014-2024, which is an integral part of the 2030 Agenda. Its midterm review will take place on 5 and 6 December, and we invite all delegations to participate in that review at the highest possible level.
In conclusion, I want to reaffirm Paraguay’s unwavering commitment to multilateralism and diplomacy in support of peace and sustainable development. We will continue to work to preserve the United Nations and its tireless work for the noble and just causes of humankind. That is one of the best legacies we can offer to our current and future generations.


On behalf of the proud nation of the Kingdom of Thailand, I would like to say to the Greta Thunberg generation of the world that we have heard their heartfelt plea to preserve and protect their planet and their livelihood. In fact, it is the duty of all of us who gather in this forum to demonstrate that we are trying in good faith to do our very best and that we will continue to do so.
The world is witnessing a sea of change in many respects, and with it, challenges and opportunities abound. The twenty-first century is often described as the Age of Disruption. The question is whether we are all ready for it.
Growth and prosperity require peace. Political and economic advancements require stability. Technology requires conscience. Environmental preservation requires hard work and sacrifice. Progress requires sustainability. These tautological notions are age-old, yet their achievement remains elusive. The thorniest question is not the why, but the how — specifically, how to meet those requisites and reach the desired objectives.
The past few years have seen accelerating retrenchment from multinationalism to misguided nationalism, from globalization to anti-globalization, from free trade and a rising-tide-lifts-all-boats mentality to beggar-thy-neighbour policies and mercantilism. We have also been observing a worsening wealth gap, environmental degradation, segregation instead of inclusion and a winner-takes-all approach, all of which lead to conflict and confrontation. This is a great tragic irony because we are living in a world where connectivity and interconnection are the norm rather than the exception. And yet we still manage to dig in our heels in the trenches we ourselves dug, steadfastly clinging to posts that are extremely wide apart, often merely for myopic, self-serving reasons. Reaching out is considered weakness rather than strength.
Meanwhile, the fourth industrial revolution has arrived, whether or not we are prepared for it, bringing with it an avalanche of technological advancements that will have far-reaching and weighty ramifications for all matters affecting our lives, livelihoods and future. More seriously, unlike the previous three industrial revolutions, the fourth will give us little or no time to adjust. Therefore, in addition to the worsening traditional challenges with which we are relatively familiar, we now have to overcome new, unfathomable non-traditional challenges in the realm of technology. How successful we are in dealing with them will determine the future of humankind. Nations have no choice but to put our heads together — not against one another — so as to get through this latest round of trials and tribulations and come out ahead.
That is one reason why Thailand, as Chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) this year, chose the theme of advancing partnership for sustainability to be the core focus of ASEAN’s goals and undertakings. Embedded in the notions of partnership and sustainability is the fundamental requirement of a mindset that calls for conflict to be turned into cooperation. These notions also entail inclusiveness and far-sightedness, through which the prisoner dilemma and lopsided short-term gain would be replaced with sustainable, long-term advancements that reflect the principles of shared interest and mutual benefit.
At the margins of the opening of the seventy-fourth session, our Prime Minister attended three leadership events, thereby reflecting Thailand’s resolute commitment to the respective topics, namely, universal health coverage, climate change and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). For Thailand, these causes are not just abstract; we have realized them in earnest through the implementation of policies, because they matter so much to the livelihoods not only of our peoples but also of people around the world.
Thailand now ranks sixth globally in terms of our health-care system. Providing health care is not an easy task considering the countless competing demands on our resources. It requires a balanced approach to managing budgets and setting priorities. It also requires unwavering political will on the part of the leadership to remain on track despite all the distracting claims against it. Our achievements speak volumes about Thailand’s commitment to the people-centric policy that aims at leaving no one behind.
On climate change, as Chair of ASEAN, Thailand has pressed successfully for our regional grouping to adopt, for the first time, a collective stand on one of the most critical environmental disasters, namely, marine debris. We also ratified the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, because we believe that environmental crises are a global problem and that they therefore demand a global solution and a collaborative global effort. The acceleration of environmental degradation at rates never seen before obliges all of us to do more to right the wrongs we have committed against the environment. For so long, we have taken the sustenance of nature for granted, and nature has suffered boundlessly from both neglect and abuse. This time, nature is getting back at us, telling us this far but no further.
As for the Sustainable Development Goals, Thailand has adopted the sufficiency economy philosophy espoused by our late King Rama IX, as its fundamental approach to the SDGs. In fact, if the philosophy is adequately and wisely implemented, SDG 1, on poverty eradication, will no longer need to be part of the equation. In fact, as the Chair of the Group of 77 two years ago, Thailand shared this approach with the members of the Group. Striving for balance between development and progress and between social factors and coherence is inherent to the approach. Without balance, the road out of an economically deprived existence for millions of people will lead nowhere.
The foregoing three issues have been among the pillars of our Government’s foreign policy. Equally important is our recognition that none of them can be achieved without preserving their underpinning prerequisites, namely, peace and stability. That leads us to our current dedicated efforts, which we are undertaking together with other ASEAN members, to push for partnership and turn conflicts into cooperation so that development and progress can be sustainable. This approach may sound too idealistic given the current global trend of choosing confrontation over dialogue to settle our differences, but, in fact, it is not. Essentially, it is the duty of all of us gathered in this Hall today to give partnership and cooperation a chance and prove that, with a different mindset, peace and common benefits can be achieved and sustained and that they are not mere reflections of an idealist’s zeal, with no practical wherewithal or real-life application.
The onerous task for us is how to convince all nations, large and small, that in the face of our current tumultuous challenges, both traditional and technological, and for the sake of future generations, there is absolutely no room for winner-takes-all and zero-sum mindsets. We shall sink or swim together, not alone, and not at the expense of others drowning. It is a not such a bad cliche at this juncture to say that we are all in the same boat, all of us together.
Lastly, we have to address the rising anti-globalization movement. It is the elephant in the room that the world can no longer afford to ignore. The movement, including xenophobic populism, stems mainly from the disenfranchisement people feel from economic globalization, which in many cases leads to what the British economist William Forster Lloyd dubbed “the tragedy of the commons”. Many anti-globalization activists do not oppose globalization in general; they simply want to change the way it has been allowed to run unchecked, resulting in exclusion, alienation, human rights violations, unfair trade and development that is detrimental rather than beneficial to many segments of society.
Military conflicts and extreme climate change, both of which trigger ravages and mass migration, exacerbate the rising distrust and disgruntlement that has been thrown into the mix of the anti-globalism narrative and actions. That is why Thailand has been promoting its people-centric national and international policy as an essential part of our economic and social development policies. Needless to say, each nation, individually and collectively, must put the balanced improvement of the livelihood of its people at the top of its priorities. We must foster the development model that aims at leaving no one behind. It is the duty of every Government and the United Nations to create and adopt an approach to growth that gives a chance to people at large, and not just a privileged few. To do otherwise would lead to the subsidence of the economic order and widespread calamity.
Thailand is a country that geographically straddles two vast oceans — the Pacific and the Indian Oceans. Throughout time, Thailand has conscientiously maintained its centrality, while promoting partnership via regionalism and multilateralism. History has shown us time and again that the great Powers are first in line to write the rules. History has also shown us that the privileges that come with great strength do have limits. Most importantly, privilege comes with even greater responsibility and accountability.
Without due regard to the lessons that history has taught us, we shall remain trapped in the vicious circle that has brought this body into existence in the first place. We owe it to future generations to prevent history from repeating itself. To that end, Thailand has been trying to do its part, and we are certain that we are not alone. We would also like to believe that it is the reason why we are gathering in this Hall today. If we fail to learn from history how to conduct ourselves differently, all shall be lost, including our collective future.


We are gathered here on the eve of the seventy-fifth anniversary of the United Nations. Gatherings and anniversaries are usually a time of reflection and introspection. One such global occasion is the United Nations General Assembly. Here the world meets, reflects, exchanges ideas and sets goals for the future. It is a unique forum in human history.
I believe that we must use the coming months and the seventy-fifth birthday of our Organization in 2020 not only to emphasize its accomplishments and global relevance to the spheres of peace and security, development, climate action, human rights and humanitarian assistance, but also to take a bold leap forward and reiterate our commitments. However, time is of the essence.
The Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, said in January, “[t]he best-selling brand in our world today is indeed fear. It gets ratings. It wins votes. It generates clicks”.
Indeed, fear is present and it inhibits us from taking that step in the right direction; it is hampering our potential and our creativity. We who are gathered here should lead by example. It is incumbent upon us to fearlessly use the instruments we have at our disposal and to boldly think of new ones to advance our nations and our planet, right now. It is incumbent upon us to address the greatest challenges of the globalized twenty-first century — climate change, sustainable development, migration, terrorism, weapons of mass destruction and new technologies. How do we prevent unfavourable scenarios and harvest the benefits? How do we mobilize States and joint resources to respond adequately to emerging threats?
We all know the answer, which is at the same time simple and ever more difficult — by joining forces. We cannot deny that multilateralism is facing challenges, the reasons for which may be numerous and complex. However, multilateralism is still our best chance of achieving our common goals. Standing alone and isolated, one fails, but many of us, together, united around common ideas and working in good faith, have the tools in our hands to succeed. Let us use the existing mechanisms, transform them for the better and make them more effective.
No doubt, reforms are necessary. We also need to take a deep look at our Organization — its strengths and weaknesses — and trace the path for decades to come. In that connection, I affirm Croatia’s full support for the United Nations reform agenda and the Secretary-General’s continued efforts. We have to revitalize the United Nations and redouble efforts to make this building a home to true global leadership and a platform for the promotion and development of the rules-based international order.
The goals before us — poverty eradication, quality education, inclusion and climate action — cannot be achieved without individual national efforts coupled with our common dedication and action. For its part, Croatia is doing its best to fulfil the goals we have set for ourselves.
First, we are combating poverty and social exclusion and reducing social inequalities. Secondly, we believe that quality education is key to long-term social stability and economic progress. Thirdly, with regard to inclusion, the ultimate values of our constitutional order are freedom, parity, gender equality and respect for human rights. Finally, Croatia is dedicated to fighting climate change through the implementation of innovative solutions that will transform our economy and society, and remains committed to the efficient fulfilment of its obligations under the Paris Agreement.
Just as accession to the European Union (EU) provided a blueprint for the transformation of governance, the economy and society, so does Croatia see the Sustainable Development Goals as a matrix for our future and an obligation to our citizens and the international community. We need to reinvigorate the political momentum and renew our enthusiasm for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. For us, the 17 Sustainable Development Goals are guidelines for our own development and a framework for securing a better and more sustainable future, both locally and globally.
Together with other EU member States, Croatia strives to become a leader of sustainable development. Our focus is and will be on a green Croatia and the balanced regional development and territorial cohesion of all our geographic areas, including the sustainable development of our more than 1,000 Adriatic islands.
I have spoken more than once at this rostrum. Together with the Assembly, I have raised many issues that trouble our nations and the world. I want to focus today on the environment, in particular our seas and oceans. They are the essence and foundation of all life on Earth. Without them, we would not be here.
Croatia is both a Central European and a Mediterranean country, with great biodiversity. The number of known species in Croatia is about 40,000, including significant populations of many species that are threatened today in Europe and worldwide. Besides our talented people, biodiversity is our greatest treasure.
In that connection, Croatia pays particular attention to the environmental protection of the Adriatic Sea. We are focused on preserving and facilitating the recovery of the marine and coastal environment, protecting biodiversity and ensuring the sustainable use of the sea and coastal areas. Croatia’s national ecological network covers 37 per cent of our entire land area and 15 per cent of our marine area.
However, climate change and pollution threaten our natural resources, our delicate ecosystems and our Adriatic Sea. We cannot continue to neglect its severe implications for our environment and the significant economic losses we can expect in future. Marine litter is a problem of increasing concern. It threatens marine life in the world’s oceans and in the Adriatic Sea, having already impacted more than 700 marine species. Croatia’s coastal areas, some of the world’s cleanest and most wondrous, are at times severely affected by poorly managed waste from our neighbouring countries to the south.
The plastic pollution in our seas and oceans is one of the greatest threats that humankind is facing today. Without the preservation of our waters and our marine life, there will be nothing to leave to future generations. About 8 million tons of plastic debris ends up in our oceans and seas every year. Plastics are found throughout the marine environment, from the surface of the water down to the sea floor.
We know that pollution has an annual financial negative impact measured in billions of dollars, which reflects only the immediate costs of the impact of plastic on marine life, tourism, fisheries and businesses. However, plastic pollution carries toxic pollutants into our own food chain. A recent study has revealed that, in general and on average, people may be ingesting approximately 5 grams of plastic every week, the equivalent weight of a credit card. What we throw into the sea today, we consume in our food tomorrow.
The renowned Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, in Split, has been monitoring the Adriatic Sea since 1930. Its scientific activity encompasses very complex research in the fields of biological, chemical and physical oceanography, sedimentology, fisheries biology and aquaculture. More than 100 scientists and experts are diligently working on the preservation of the sea as one of our greatest assets. One of their main projects involves cooperation with fishermen — plastics and litter from the sea floor that is found in their fishing nets is collected and disposed of. A number of fishing ships are involved in the project and to date have collected more than 50 tons of waste.
In the Croatian part of the Adriatic Sea, 97 per cent of beach water is of exceptional quality. We do not take that for granted, nor can we allow ourselves to do so. That is why more and more local communities are organizing beach clean-ups and encouraging tourists to take part in those activities as well. From this rostrum, I encourage everyone to please stop throwing waste into our oceans and rivers. Our own future is at stake.
I spoke last year (see A/73/PV.8) about the Ocean Cleanup project, the first feasible method to rid the world’s oceans of plastic and remove 50 per cent of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch in just five years. The media has named it Pac-Man, referring to a popular video game. I spoke about the inventor of this method, the brilliant young Croatian scientist living in the Netherlands, Boyan Slat. But what we need is more deeds like that, not just words. The clock is ticking.
Today, instead of a lengthy speech, I want to use the remaining time to give real people a voice and emphasize again the need for real actions that inspire further action. In that connection, I will tell the Assembly about Zlarin, one of the 1,246 Croatian islands. It is a small island, inhabited by about 300 people — people with hearts and minds dedicated to the preservation of their environment and their home. Last year, young environmental enthusiasts gathered the entire local community to start an action called “Take a break from plastic”. The goal was to make Zlarin the first Adriatic island free of single-use plastic and plastic waste within a year. Their action was local, but their efforts are indeed global. Since I could not project any videos in the Hall, I kindly ask those gathered here to watch their short video message entitled HRT— An Island Without Plastic, which is subtitled in English, via the web link provided in the written version of my speech.
The people of Zlarin and the activists that appear in the video had the vision and courage to transform their island community. Within just one year, the island has been transformed. By signing a symbolic declaration, all residents, caterers and merchants banned disposable plastics from everyday use. Today the children on Zlarin educate hundreds of visiting tourists that plastic is not welcome on their island. Those children are our future, and they deserve recognition for what they have been doing.
We in this Hall are running out of excuses for not following the example of the people of Zlarin and doing the same globally. Let us make all of our communities as responsible as the people of Zlarin. Let us not hesitate or be discouraged by past and present failures, but rather provide strong leadership for our common success in the future. Fear steals time, and time is scarce. In the words of Saint John Paul II, “Be not afraid”.


It is a special pleasure for me to offer, on behalf of the President of the Gabonese Republic, His Excellency Mr. Ali Bongo Ondimba, my congratulations to President Tijjani Muhammad-Bande on his election as head of the General Assembly at its seventy-fourth session. I would like to assure him of the support of my country throughout his mandate.
I would also like to pay a well-deserved tribute to his predecessor, Ms. Maria Fernanda Espinosa Garces, for her outstanding commitment and the diligence with which she led our work during the seventy-third session of the General Assembly. Allow me also to convey my congratulations to the Secretary-General, Mr. Antonio Guterres, on the scale of the reforms that have been undertaken and committed to in order to render our Organization more efficient and able to address the challenges facing our world today.
This session is being held at a time when the world is suffering the terrible effects of climate change. The devastation of Cyclones Idai and Kenneth in southern Africa and, more recently, Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas and on the east coast of the United States, to mention only those recent cases, remain a tragedy of grim memory that demonstrates the extreme vulnerability of our planet to the unprecedented scale of evidence of climate change.
As the people of Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe struggle to recover from the dreadful damage and trauma of those destructive disasters, our conscience must be to recall the need and urgency to act together against that threat, to which no one is immune. In saying that, I have in mind and pay tribute to former French President Jacques Chirac, who has just departed from us and who used to so aptly say: “Our house is burning and we are looking elsewhere”.
The theme of our discussions is particularly relevant and topical. How can we galvanize multilateral efforts for poverty eradication, quality education, climate action and inclusion in an international context in which multilateralism is tested more than ever and in which terrorism and violent extremism continue to spread death, fear and insecurity in many parts of the world? It is a context in which famine, malnutrition, endemic diseases and social exclusion prevail as predators of human dignity and an international context marked by an unprecedented migration crisis, which requires the international community to be even more united in order to ensure an inclusive and united response to a phenomenon that jeopardizes the well-being of the life force of our nations.
More than ever, the diverse threats and dangers that jeopardize our civilization challenge us as much as the harsh reality that the destiny of future generations will depend on our ability to make bold decisions today.
The theme of our work highlights our interdependence, our interconnection and humankind’s common destiny given the global threats that transcend both the illusion of national borders and the barriers of social classes and human inequality. We are bound more than ever before to act collectively to reconcile development with lasting peace and the preservation of the environment for current and future generations. This is the place to reaffirm the expectations and needs of Governments to see the United Nations respond to the ongoing tireless legitimate calls of the peoples of the world for a lasting peace, for greater justice and for respect for human dignity.
It is four years since the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (resolution 70/1), followed by the signing of the Paris Agreement. Yet we note with regret the limited results in combating climate change, which remain well below expectations. Worse still, some actors continue to clearly doubt the relevance of climate change and operate in a contradictory dynamic. Despite that distressing observation, we must not wait any longer to translate our various commitments into concrete action to accelerate the pace of their implementation. It is now more than ever the time to measure the progress made and to understand the difficulties encountered, while taking into account the new challenges that sometimes require us to adapt our strategies.
It is undeniable that the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals requires a significant mobilization and pooling of both human and financial resources and a greater mobilization and involvement of the private sector. The pooling of our efforts is all the more crucial given the fact that the ongoing fluctuating and depreciating prices of oil and a number of other raw materials have greatly weakened the economies of the producing countries, such as my country, Gabon. High budgetary dependence on oil revenue has led to a worsening of the public deficit and a significant slowdown in public investment, particularly in the social dimension.
In that respect, from this rostrum President Ali Bongo Ondimba launched a solemn appeal for international solidarity and robust and coordinated actions for the benefit of developing countries towards the effective implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (see A/72/PV.11).
It is therefore urgent to meet the commitments made towards developing countries, particularly in the areas of clean technology transfer and improving people’s access to renewable energy, to accelerate their transition from a traditional polluting industry to a low-carbon, environmentally friendly one.
In the light of that requirement, we welcome the recent convening of the Climate Action Summit, while commending the interest in and the amount of the pledges made, which were in line with our aspirations and needs. It is now up to us to go beyond solemn commitments and formal announcements to realize the developed projects in order to further protect biodiversity. Similarly, it is essential to ensure the effectiveness and greater prominence of the financing and resource mobilization strategy so as to more specifically support the implementation of our initiatives. That support must take into account the specific national characteristics and particular needs of each State.
In the same vein, it is appropriate to assume our common but differentiated responsibilities, in line with our respective contributions, and to determine a governance model that not only incorporates regional parity and the participation of all stakeholders but also enhances consistency among the key bodies dedicated to protecting the environment.
For Gabon, climate change action is based on three pillars, namely, improving living conditions, implementing climate adaptation projects and protecting biodiversity. That bold choice, in view of the scale of the challenges, has already earned my country’s recognition by our development partners, which have just declared us the very first African country to benefit from international funds to continue our efforts in the fight against deforestation.
Development cannot be sustainable without peace and stability. Yet peace continues to be harshly tested in several regions of the world. Ongoing terrorist attacks show us that no nation is immune to the threat, to which our response must be collective. We unequivocally condemn those many acts of barbarism and reiterate our full solidarity and our support to the countries and peoples who fall victim to them.
The cost of instability due to terrorism and the fear of armed groups is particularly high for many African countries that are forced to devote significant resources to such phenomena, which are maintained by the trade in small arms and illicit trafficking in fauna and flora, among other things. It is clear that the good intentions and concern of the international community are no longer enough to combat those sources of instability and poverty in several parts of Africa. A comprehensive and united approach is essential and must be achieved by eliminating the root causes of such phenomena as well as the awareness that the threat against one nation is a threat against all.
My country, Gabon, advocates a concerted approach to peace. In the light of that vision, we remain resolutely committed to working alongside the United Nations, in particular to promote stability and peace in the Central African Republic. We believe that besides the inclusive nature of the Political Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in the Central African Republic, negotiated in Khartoum by all the parties involved in the crisis, a lasting solution depends on strengthening the State’s capacities. That is why Gabon advocates for completely lifting the arms embargo still in force in the Central African Republic. In Gabon’s concerted approach, led by President Bongo Ondimba, we have consistently worked to promote dialogue in most of the areas of tension at a subregional level, together with our peers in the Economic Community of Central African States, which Gabon currently chairs. This is also the place for us to welcome the announcement of a national dialogue in Cameroon, which shows our neighbour’s willingness to find a lasting solution to its challenges. Incidentally, my country denounces the separatist tendencies in African States, which not only help to weaken the social fabric but distract from our progress towards development.
Gabon, like many oil-producing countries, has been hit hard by the impact of the drastic drop in commodity prices, a situation that has led to a slowdown in economic activity. In that context, the Government has initiated a series of recovery measures aimed at reducing imbalances that include adjusting the budget, developing infrastructure and promoting the private sector, so as to diversify and transform our economy. The main objective of the economic recovery plan we have implemented is to ensure sustainable and inclusive growth capable of profoundly transforming our economy and boosting investment. Today we can welcome the encouraging signs emerging from the three-year evaluation of the implementation of the recovery plan, particularly in terms of balancing public finance and mobilizing and controlling expenditure and debt. As a result of this improved growth, thanks to the economic reforms, the Government is gradually regaining the margin it needs to finance the areas where investment is most urgently needed, particularly quality education, an area for which the President has just announced a major reform, aimed at optimizing the education system in order to align it better with the demand for excellence and to meet a real need in the labour market.
Inclusion is a major policy concern for Gabon. Our President emphasized how crucial it is in a recent address to the nation in which he reiterated his call for involving all sectors in building a stronger and more prosperous country. That is definitely the purpose of our equal-opportunity programme, which is the guiding principle of the Government’s actions promoting more equitable development and which focuses particularly on women, young people and the disabled in order to ensure that no one is left behind.
Speaking of international solidarity and inclusion, I would once again like to call from this rostrum for the total lifting of the decades-long embargo imposed on the Government and people of Cuba, in order to remove the obstacles to their achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, which is a legitimate aspiration for all the peoples of the world.
In conclusion, on behalf of Gabon, I want to call for a reform of global governance characterized by greater justice and fairer sharing of responsibilities between North and South. The best expression of that would be reform of the Security Council whereby the African continent is represented based on the African common position, as outlined in the Ezulwini Consensus. Such a reform, which we all hope for, will have the advantage of bringing the world into line with the demands of the times and above all with the values that are the foundation of our common faith in order to forever banish the spectre of war and raise high the flag of peace. Given those values, we cannot deprive more than 1 billion people of the right to have a say in the direction of the global agenda.
Finally, I would like to reiterate Gabon’s commitment to multilateralism, to which we believe there is no credible alternative in our common desire to confront the increasingly complex challenges of sustainable development and in our quest for appropriate solutions to the challenges and threats facing humankind.