It is an honour and a privilege to stand here once again at this high rostrum at the United Nations, the home of universal peace, cooperation and brotherhood. Mexico has always been a staunch ally of the United Nations and a nation that firmly believes in its transformative power. From this Hall, vital collective efforts have been undertaken in pursuit of humankind’s noblest causes.
For over seven decades, global voices have called for a better future. Each generation has taken on the challenges of its time with determination. It is incumbent upon us to continue in the same spirit to confront the enormous challenge of making sustainable development of the planet a reality. We have already taken the first step in that direction, specifically by defining the Sustainable Development Goals. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which we formulated and agreed on here at the United Nations, is without a doubt the boldest, noblest and most demanding action plan that the international community has adopted in recent history. It is a road map for national and subnational Governments, just as it is for all of society’s stakeholders that have the mission of improving the lives of billions of people and leaving no one behind. Because of its scope and goals, the 2030 Agenda is the framework that harmonizes the agreements reached last year in the areas of human rights, environment and sustainable peace.
What have the national efforts of Mexico been in this arena? First of all, we have taken on the implementation of the 2030 Agenda as a national commitment. Along the same lines, work is under way to establish a high-level council for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, which will be headed by the President of the republic. Its purpose will be to coordinate the work of the various stakeholders, including local authorities, lawmakers, and representatives of civil society, academia and the private sector. Mexico has also set up a specialized technical committee composed of the main federal institutions, tasked with measuring and monitoring the Agenda’s indicators. Similarly, we are creating a public monitoring dashboard in order to transparently share our successes and remaining challenges with the public. As part of that commitment to transparency and accountability, Mexico was one of the 22 countries that on 19 July presented their voluntary national review documents to the high-level political forum.
Mexico is also committed to promoting the implementation of the 2030 Agenda at the regional level. In April next year we will chair the Forum of the Countries of Latin American and the Caribbean on Sustainable Development. Given that human rights are now a cross-cutting element in the 2030 Agenda, my country has adopted a national social inclusion strategy focused on ensuring the full enjoyment of social rights, thereby reducing poverty and increasing equality.
We applaud the recognition in the 2030 Agenda of migrants as subjects of rights and as vital allies in the development of their countries of destination and origin. As I stated yesterday at the plenary meeting (see A/71/ PV.4B), Mexico will work actively for the creation of agreements on migration and refugees. To that end, we have offered to host an international preparatory meeting for reaching a better definition of the global compact for safe, orderly and regular migration. In the face of these challenges, we should leave behind our indifference and promote the shared responsibility and joint action of the international community with regard to migrants and refugees.
Another cross-cutting theme of the 2030 Agenda is gender perspective and the empowerment of women. In keeping with the commitments of last year’s Global Leaders’ Meeting on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment: A Commitment to Action, Mexico now has a more robust institutional framework in its national system for equality between women and men. The fact that that system is headed by Mexico’s President ensures that the policy of equality is upheld at the highest level and is reflected in the national Government’s actions.
Additionally, driven by a sense of urgency, Mexico has adopted the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. A few days ago my country’s Ssenate ratified that international treaty, which will be submitted for entry into force at tomorrow’s high-level meeting. Our priority now is to develop national mechanisms to coordinate, verify and report on compliance with the commitments assumed under that agreement.
We must henceforward change the way we live, produce and consume. We must harmonize economic development with social inclusion and environmental protection. One example of that balance can be seen in my country’s energy reform, which includes a law of energy transition whereby, by 2018, 25 per cent of its electric energy will be generated using clean sources, reaching 70 per cent by 2040. Similarly, at the regional level, the three North American nations have committed to reducing our oil and gas sectors’ methane emissions by between 40 and 45 per cent by 2025.
As part of its global responsibility to the environment, Mexico will host the thirteenth Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, to be held in December. That forum seeks to align actions to protect and preserve our natural heritage with the Aichi Biodiversity Targets and those of the 2030 Agenda. By the same token, next year we will host the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction, which will assess the first two years of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and will set goals for reducing and mitigating development risks.
Thirdly, Mexico has reaffirmed its pacifist vocation and its commitment to achieving sustainable global peace. The international community has confirmed that the stability of countries affected by armed conflict depends not only on their security conditions, but also on their respect for human rights, on the effectiveness of their institutions and the rule of law, and on their ability to foster inclusive development. This cross- cutting vision is fully in line with the Sustainable Development Goals. In that regard, the Goals are key to preventing and avoiding social and political crises and will also be crucial to finding peaceful solutions to the armed conflicts in many countries.
The most recent example is the peace agreement reached in Colombia. Mexico applauds that achievement, and we will show our solidarity with the attainment of its goals. Similarly, in the pursuit of reduced tension and greater understanding in our region, Mexico repeats its call for the lifting of the economic, trade and financial blockade imposed upon Cuba.
If peace is to last, it must be sustainable. To that end, the new paradigm entails focusing efforts on conflict prevention and using a proactive, strategic and long- term approach. We recognize that one of the greatest threats is the existence of nuclear weapons. Historically, Mexico has been a proponent of disarmament and has emphatically condemned nuclear tests. We will continue to work towards a world free of that global threat.
I would like to take this opportunity to recognize the positive work of Mr. Ban Ki-moon at the head of the United Nations Secretariat. Mexico appreciates his dedication and commitment. Thanks to his vision and leadership, agreements of great importance for the future of the planet have been reached in recent years. That is no minor feat, especially given the highly volatile and complex international context in which he has had to perform his duties.
In recent decades, the world has made great progress, including major improvements in the quality of the lives of millions of people. Even so, it is also true that many societies are clearly dissatisfied with their current conditions. That situation creates a divide between citizens and their authorities, which fuels mistrust in institutions and heightens uncertainty about the future. In Latin America, for example, the the clear deterioration in public support for democracy revealed by the Latinobarómetro survey is extremely grave. Faced with that challenge, the world cannot fall into the trap of demagoguery or authoritarianism.
The only viable path ahead, the only true response to a demanding citizenry, is democracy itself. The response must be more openness, more transparency and better accountability. As Governments, we must be able to listen to and to deal with an increasingly well- informed citizenry that has more means at its disposal for expressing opinions and participating in public affairs. Social networks are enabling greater public participation, turning each individual into a potential agent for change.
In that context, Governments must make greater efforts to better communicate with the societies they serve. Governments must communicate to publicize achievements, to recognize and explain missteps, but above all to map out the road ahead together with their societies. It is essential that we promote public debate, contrast ideas and assume shared commitments, using the new communication technologies that are increasingly available and accessible to the entire population. Let us recognize in our pluralism and ongoing dialogue the ideal tools for building in democracy a better future. The response to disillusionment with democracy lies in democracy itself. Our Governments must foster societies that are increasingly inclusive and participatory, where all citizens enjoy the benefits of development.
Going forward, we already have a clearly defined road map, based on the Sustainable Development Goals. These are very clear Goals for overcoming poverty and ensuring equal opportunity, gender equity, protection of the environment and justice and peace on which all our countries must concentrate our efforts. Mexico reaffirms its strong commitment to democratic principles as the only path to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.


Allow me, at the outset, to convey my sincerest congratulations to Mr. Peter Thomson on his election as President of the General Assembly at its seventy-first session. The Republic of the Congo, as one of the Vice-Presidents who will help to lighten his burden during the session, is fully committed to his success.
I would also like to take this opportunity to pay heartfelt tribute to Mr. Ban Ki-Moon, who is coming to the end of his term of office as Secretary-General. Thanks to his leadership, he has been able to mobilize world leaders and all actors on the international stage around the great global challenges of our time. He has laid the foundation for the reform of the Organization and created conditions conduciveto its fully undertaking its historic mission in global governance.
The Republic of the Congo welcomes the work accomplished by the outgoing President, Mr. Mogens Lykketoft, whose wisdom and foresight facilitated the unanimous adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The Agenda heralds the historic advent of a new era of sustainable development.
I would like to remind the Assembly that the Government of my country expended considerable resources on the implementation of the Millenium Development Goals. We now seek to build our future on these beginnings and continue our commitment by achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, the ultimate aim being to guarantee the welfare of the Congolese people.
However, the efforts of our Government today require the support of the international community, specifically through financial mechanisms such as the Green Climate Fund, the Blue Fund, the Adaptation Fund and the Green Economy Fund in Central Africa. I can assure the Assembly that the Government of my country will invest all available resources and spare no effort to ensure that all Congolese people live in dignity and that no one is left behind. Such was the commitment undertaken by my country in adopting the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The Republic of the Congo appreciates the value and significance of the decision at the Group of 20 (G-20) Summit held recently in Hangzhou, China, to support the industrialization of developing countries, in particular in Africa, where this is greatly needed. This timely decision reassures us of the commitment of the G-20 countries with a view to implementing Sustainable Development Goal 17 in its target of revitalizing the global partnership for sustainable development. We fail to see how Africa can develop sustainably and modernize without first undergoing industrialization. We know that industrialization is contingent upon an energy supply, and it is for that reason that the Republic of the Congo fully supports the electrification plans for the continent that are currently being discussed. We trust that this is not a pious hope.
Five years ago, we all welcomed the birth of the youngest nation of this world, that is, the Republic of South Sudan. Unfortunately, two years after its independence this country was plunged into seemingly endless fratricidal conflicts, for which its civilians have paid a heavy price. From this rostrum, we encourage all stakeholders in that conflict to demonstrate their political will and perseverance by committing in good faith to the implementation of the peace agreement signed in August 2015 in Addis Ababa. The severity of the situation in South Sudan today requires the rapid deployment of a regional protection force under a Security Council mandate. Such deployment is imperative in all respects, for the time has come to end this intolerable bloodbath that risks compromising the future of this young nation forever. Equally imperative is the need to build a climate of trust among the various protagonists to the conflict in order to ensure that national reconciliation can indeed be achieved.
Just yesterday the Central African Republic fell prey to a grave crisis. Today, thanks to international solidarity and the commitment of the United Nations, the European Union, France, the United States and members of the Economic Community of Central African States, that country was able to successfully manage a political transition, which concluded with presidential elections, thereby paving the way for a better future with collective hope. The Republic of the Congo welcomes that accomplishment, which is an expression of the will of a people determined to rid themselves of their old demons and to restore peace and stability after several years of chaos. The Republic of the Congo encourages the efforts for peace, reconciliation and reconstruction that President Faustin Archange Touadera and his Government are undertaking with courage and self-sacrifice. My country reiterates here — just as it did at the ninth meeting of the International Contact Group on the Central African Republic, held recently in Bangui - our support for, and solidarity with, our brother country within the framework of both the Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic and the International Support Group.
We cannot but deplore the tragic events that have for nearly a week now shaken Kinshasa and plunged the brother people of the Democratic Republic of Congo into mourning. As the Secretary-General did a few days ago, we invite our Congolese brothers to seek peaceful solutions through an inclusive dialogue in a spirit of mutual tolerance.
The post-electoral crisis in Gabon has engendered acts of violence that continue to be a source of concern for us all. We very much hope that the brother people of that country will draw on that Bantu wisdom we share with them in order to emerge reconciled from that difficult ordeal.
I could not conclude my statement without mentioning the recent institutional developments that my own country has undergone following the referendum held on 25 October 2015. The referendum led to the adoption of a new Constitution, better adapted to the requirements of a law-abiding State in its most widely accepted form. We now have a Constitution that strengthens the principle of the separation of powers, enshrines the independence of the judiciary, abolishes the death penalty, affirms the equality of men and women, recognizes the fundamental rights of our indigenous peoples and lays the groundwork for a participatory democracy. We have a Constitution that, alongside our national human rights commission, establishes bodies whose duty it is to maintain social cohesion through justice and equity, but also by bringing peace and tranquillity to hearts and minds. They include a national dialogue council, a women’s advisory council, a youth advisory council, a national council of elders and an advisory council for people with disabilities.
In short, all of these many innovations, which seek to respond to the desires of our sovereign people and the many challenges facing us today, will undoubtedly improve political, economic and social governance in our country. All of them are intended to benefit the greater good of our people.


It is a great honour to address the Assembly once again. I would like to start by joining the previous speakers in conveying my Government’s congratulations to Ambassador Peter Thomson on his election as President of the General Assembly at its seventy-first session.
Last year, we, the leaders of the international community, came together in the realization that, in an increasingly interdependent world, all of our actions are, more than ever before, closely connected and impact one another. We therefore collectively pledged to implement the Sustainable Development Goals, so as to transform our world for the benefit of humankind. The universal, comprehensive and indivisible 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development represents a common reference point for all of us and our guiding tool as we attempt to effectively tackle the universal challenges that transcend boundaries and threaten regional and international cohesion.
Challenges such as poverty, hunger, child mortality, social and economic inequality, lack of adequate health standards and educational opportunities have, in turn, aggravated worrying phenomena such as religious fundamentalism, sectarianism, terrorism, civil war and ethnic conflicts. The combination of all those factors has resulted in the extraordinary humanitarian crisis we are witnessing in the forcible displacement of millions of people, with the consequent unprecedented wave of refugees and migration flows that we are all witnessing, some of us at our doorstep. In that regard, it goes without saying that, in order to reverse such disturbing developments and establish more prosperous, just and peaceful societies, we need to address collectively and in an effective manner the root causes that have led to the uncontrolled exacerbation of those flows, through a two-fold interrelated approach.
First, by directing and concentrating our efforts so as to finally make sustainable development possible in all of the countries and regions in need. That can be achieved only if we adopt a targeted and results-oriented approach towards development cooperation, which will create the political and socioeconomic conditions needed for institution-building, stability and economic growth by, inter alia, eliminating inequality and social exclusion, addressing gender inequality and combating gender-based violence, facilitating investment in human capital via capacity development and education, especially by promoting girls’ education, strengthening the role of key productive sectors, such as agriculture, energy and health, building resilience and fostering full respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, and enhancing good governance and promoting the rule of law, as well as combating corruption.
Secondly, we need to resourcefully confront the threats posed by ongoing conflicts, as well as prevent future ones, in order to achieve lasting and viable political solutions that will promote regional peace, security and predictability. To that end, I wish to recall that the current session of the General Assembly was preceded by the High-level Meeting on large movements of refugees and migrants, during which we confirmed our shared responsibility to collectively address the issue of enforced human displacement. In parallel, all of us should direct our efforts, in an inclusive way, to combat human traffickers and the enablers of terrorism. Given that in today’s globalized world, all of us, even if in different contexts and to varying degrees, inevitably face some or all of those challenges, meaningful and effective multilateralism should be reinforced. That is critical. To that end, we should reconsider the prevention and conflict-resolution mechanisms at our disposal, with a view to making them more efficient, effective and immediate.
That can be achieved only by strengthening our support for and commitment to the United Nations, which is the only international forum that was established by all of us with the aim of cooperatively resolving regional and international threats to peace and security. Otherwise, we run the risk of an indefinite perpetuation of the current humanitarian crisis and ongoing conflicts, which would serve the best interests of their perpetrators at the expense of our universal principles.
As his 10-year tenure is coming to an end, I wish to convey both my Government’s and my personal appreciation to Mr. Ban Ki-moon, the Secretary-General, for his service in the promotion of our common values, and for his hard work and accomplishments. In particular, I wish to commend him for his instrumental role in getting the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development adopted, for his work on the recent agreement on the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework and, of course, for bringing the United Nations Conference on climate change to a successful conclusion through the Paris Agreement. It is an agreement that Cyprus is committed to ratifying by the end of the year. Moreover, I wish to thank the Secretary-General for his active role in achieving a peaceful and comprehensive settlement on long- standing international issues, including the Cyprus problem — a problem that, sadly, is the second-longest- standing unresolved international issue on the United Nations agenda.
Following the tragic events of 1974 and Turkey’s invasion, the continuing military occupation of more than a third of the territory of the Republic of Cyprus and, at the same time, the forced displacement of approximately 40 per cent of the population, the Greek Cypriot side, in a spirit of compromise, accepted the transformation of the unitary State into a federal one. Since then, a plethora of Security Council resolutions have reaffirmed the basis of the settlement as a bicommunal, bizonal federation with political equality, as well as the high-level agreements, with a single international legal personality, a single sovereignty and a single citizenship. At the same time, successive leaders of the two communities have engaged unsuccessfully so far in numerous rounds of talks.
Following my election in 2013, a renewed effort at negotiation on 11 February 2014 led to the adoption of the Joint Declaration by the leaders of the two communities and the resumption of the negotiating process. On the one hand, the Joint Declaration encapsulates the following fundamental principles: the reaffirmation of the basis of the settlement; Cyprus’ continued membership in the United Nations and the European Union (EU); the values upon which the EU is founded shall be safeguarded throughout the island, with full respect for democratic principles, human rights and fundamental freedoms; and union, in whole or in part, with any other country or any form of partition or secession or any other unilateral change to the state of affairs shall be prohibited.
On the other hand, it established the methodology of the talks. All chapters would be discussed interdependently. The process would be led by the leaders, and only an agreement freely reached by them might be put to simultaneous referenda. Any kind of arbitration would, therefore, be excluded. Nothing would be considered as agreed until everything is agreed. The leaders would aim to reach a settlement as soon as possible, without any enforced or artificial timelines. Thus, both communities have agreed on the overarching rules and modalities that are to guide the negotiating process. That has enabled the two leaders to have a clear and shared understanding on the framework of the envisaged settlement and on the ways and means of achieving it.
Last year, following the change in the leadership of the Turkish Cypriot community, I spoke of my revived hope that the new round of negotiations would end the unacceptable status quo. This year, following a series of
frequent meetings between the two leaders, I have the pleasure of informing the Assembly that progress has been achieved on the important aspects of the Cyprus problem, confirming, inter alia, that United Cyprus will have a single international legal personality, a single sovereignty and a single citizenship, thereby guaranteeing, for all Cypriots, the freedom of movement and the right to acquire property, reside, practise a trade or profession and establish and operate a business or engage in any economic activity throughout Cyprus; full respect for the individual’s right to property; ensuring that the demographic character of the island on the first day of the settlement will reflect, with a slight deviation, the traditional demographic composition of the Republic of Cyprus as established in 1960; ensuring that the said demographic composition will not be altered by outside influences; the implementation of the EU acquis throughout the territory of Cyprus, without deviations or permanent derogations; and protecting the bizonal and bicommunal character of the settlement through specific clauses.
As agreed by the two leaders, the federal Constitution shall prescribe that the United Cyprus Federation shall be composed of two constituent States of equal status, establishing the mode in which political equality will be exercised, including the effective participation in decision-making at the federal level. I must admit that further convergence has been reached on most aspects in the chapters on governance, economy and the European Union to the benefit of all Turkish and Greek Cypriots. At the same time, what is also encouraging is that, in contrast to previous negotiations, discussions in the form of brainstorming have, for the first time, commenced in relation to the chapters on territorial readjustments and security.
I do not wish to overlook the significant progress that has been achieved; however, I feel obliged to stress that differences remain on a number of issues regarding the chapters on governance, the EU and the economy. But the most significant divergences lie in the core and fundamental chapters on property, territory, and security and guarantees, which will significantly impact whether a solution could be feasible in the very near future.
My aim is to avoid the failures of the past and to present to the people a clear and well-prepared settlement with no interpretive or other ambiguities and deficiencies, ensuring that the solution will be politically and economically viable, functional and lasting. In that respect, we need to address the financial dimension of the settlement, including costs related to the property issue and the institutional functioning of the Federal State; the safeguarding of the smooth implementation of the agreement; the first day of the solution and what it would entail; the introduction of the euro as legal tender on day one of the settlement; and, one of the most important issues, the speedy implementation of the various aspects of the agreement, among others.
I wish to reiterate yet again my resolve to continue working with the same determination and intensive pace, in order to reach a solution as soon as possible, hopefully, by the end of the year. I believe that this ambitious goal is achievable, provided that all interested parties and stakeholders show a similar degree of commitment, engage constructively and proceed with concrete and tangible steps that positively reinforce the negotiating process.
We need a solution that will reunite our country, its people, the economy and our institutions; create a win-win situation for all Cypriots — we do not want to create winners or leave behind losers; address the expectations, sensitivities and concerns of both Greek and Turkish Cypriots; ensure the building of a modern EU and United Nations Member State, enjoying full sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity; restore and fully respect the fundamental freedoms and human rights of all its citizens; establish Cyprus as an international paradigm of peaceful coexistence and prosperous collaboration between all of its citizens, irrespective of their different ethnic, cultural and religious diversity; and rid Cyprus of third-country military troops and guarantees, an anachronism in today’s world.
It is my firm belief that the solution of the problem in Cyprus would, first and foremost, be to the benefit of all Cypriots, by creating conditions of peace, prosperity and a flourishing society, and unlocking the country’s full potential for future generations. Regionally, it would turn Cyprus into a model country of stability and predictability, and would broaden the role of Cyprus as a security-provider in one of the most turbulent areas of the world. At the European level, it would end the oxymoron of one of its Member States being divided, while it would also positively reinforce relations between the European Union and Turkey, as well as strengthen the rest of the security architecture of the EU. Last but not least, solving an international problem that has been on the agenda of the United Nations for the past several decades will offer a beacon of hope, showing that even the most intractable problems can be solved peacefully through the United Nations.


It gives me great pleasure to congratulate Mr. Thomson on his election as President of General Assembly at its seventy- first session. I commend the exemplary manner of his predecessor, Mr. Mogens Lykketoft, who presided over the Assembly last year.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon marks the completion of his tenure this year. I recall our many meetings and conversations on a host of important issues. Always a true and trusted friend, he recognized Bangladesh’s development gains as a model for the rest of the world. I wish him and Mrs. Ban continued success and good health.
Bangladesh’s Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, standing before the General Assembly in 1974, stated:
“Our total commitment to peace is born of the realization that only an environment of peace would enable us to ... mobilize and concentrate all our energies and resources in combating the scourges of poverty, hunger, disease, illiteracy and unemployment.” (A/PV.2243, para. 12)
Our world is now at a juncture where the end of those scourges is in sight. There are many creative and practical solutions in our hands. The amazing power of technology, ideas and global citizens help us to imagine a brave new world. Yet our world is not free from tension and fear. Violent conflicts continue to rage in several places, with a heavy toll on human lives. Those fleeing from the conflicts are often denied protection across borders. Dire humanitarian needs are at times ignored and access to those in need is blocked. What was the crime of Aylan Kurdi, the innocent 3-year-old Syrian boy who drowned at sea? What was the fault of 5-year- old Omran Daqneesh, who was seriously wounded in his hometown of Aleppo by an air strike? As a mother, it is indeed hard to understand those cruelties. Will our global conscience not be stirred by such events?
We have just concluded the historic summit for refugees and migrants. The outcome of the summit should help redefine perceptions and realities of human mobility in our time. Migrants and refugees must be seen as potential agents for change both in their places of origin and destination. Bangladesh offers to co-facilitate the work of the global compact for safe, orderly and regular migration. We look forward to a constructive dialogue on all related issues at the Global Forum on Migration and Development, which we will host in December.
In 2015, we adopted a transformative development agenda with a set of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The political will behind the agenda needs to be translated into concrete and meaningful support for countries that are lagging behind. In order to catch up, the developing world needs access to transformative technologies. The internationally agreed development commitments for the least developed countries (LDCs) must be fulfilled in order to pave the way for their graduation. The Technology Bank for the LDCs should be geared to promoting innovation and predictable resource flows.
In Bangladesh, we have already mainstreamed most of the SDGs into our national development plans. A platform under the supervision of the Prime Minister has been created to coordinate and monitor the work. Consultations are now ongoing with local government, civil society, media and academia. They are being carried out in tandem with our Vision 2021 and Vision 2041 policies, which seek to realize Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s dream of building a “Sonar”, or Golden Bangladesh, that is free from hunger, poverty, illiteracy and exploitation.
Our aim is to build an inclusive, empowered, digital and knowledge-based society. My Government is focusing on innovative public service delivery, mass access to information, and enhanced transparency and accountability. We have set up about 10,000 digital centres across the country in order to deliver 200 different services to people’s doorsteps. Health services through mobile phones and a 24-hour web portal are complementing the work of 16,438 community and local health clinics. Digital laboratories and multimedia classrooms are operating in a growing number of educational institutions.
The growing web of physical and virtual connectivity is creating new opportunities for our people. As a key enabler of economic development, broadband connectivity should be available to every citizen of the world. I invite world leaders and other international partners to join hands in making this possible. Our Government is committed to providing a voice and data connection to every citizen by 2021.
Bangladesh’s strategic location makes it an emerging hub for regional connectivity, foreign investment and global outsourcing. We have embarked on large-scale infrastructure projects to match our development aspirations. Multimodal transport networks are being built to promote trade and people-to-people contacts among Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal.
The work of the 6.15 kilometre-long Padma Multipurpose Bridge was commissioned with our own resources. Discussions are under way to build a deep seaport, while our third seaport in Paira has commenced operations. Work on the metro rail in our capital, Dhaka, is also under way. One hundred economic zones are being developed across the country to allow potential investors to invest in Bangladesh.
Such forward-looking thrusts in our progress are supported by the impressive performance of our macroeconomic and socioeconomic indicators. In the fiscal period 2015-2016, our economy posted a gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate of over 7 per cent. Bangladesh has experienced one of the fastest poverty reduction rates in countries with a modest resource base. We have brought poverty down from 56.7 per cent in 1991 to 22.4 per cent today. We have already gone from the low to the medium category in the United Nations Development Programme’s Human Development Report and have reached the World Bank’s lower- middle income status. Over the past seven years, despite the global recession, our export earnings more than tripled to reach $34.24 billion, remittance flows have increased nearly threefold, and our foreign currency reserves have multiplied 8.5 times, from $3.5 billion to over $31 billion. During the same period, power- generation capacity almost tripled, as did foreign direct investment. A key to our development strategy is our focus on addressing inequality through social security, decent work and financial inclusion. We allocate over 13 per cent of our budget to social-safety-net spending, which is 2.3 per cent of our GDP.
Climate change threatens many of our development gains. The landmark Paris Climate Agreement recognizes the importance of adaptation, loss, damage and climate justice. Bangladesh has ratified the Agreement, and we hope that the large carbon-emitting countries will ratify it soon.
We must join ranks to preserve our natural resources for succeeding generations. Bangladesh reaffirms the need for the conservation and sustainable use of marine resources so as to tap the potential of a blue economy.
The life-sustaining force of water is a finite resource. We have a shared responsibility to ensure the judicious and equitable use of our common waters. We must stand by our pledge to provide clean drinking water and sanitation for all. I shall continue to champion these issues as a member of the High-level Panel on Water.
I firmly believe that without women’s participation, sustainable development will simply not be tenable. A host of measures, including the promotion of girls’ education, undertaken half a decade ago have started to yield dividends. Women in Bangladesh are now increasingly becoming an integral part of our development endeavours. Around 3.5 million women are now working in the garment industry, a leading export earning sector. The percentage of women in all professions is rapidly rising. Bangladesh is perhaps the only country in the world today where women hold the posts of Prime Minister and Leader of the House, Leader of the Opposition, Speaker and Deputy Leader of the House. Presently, we have 70 women members of Parliament, constituting 20 per cent of the House. More than 12,500 elected women representatives are serving in local government bodies.
Last year, I mentioned terrorism and violent extremism as one of the two major global challenges of our time (see A/70/PV.19). We see these menaces sweeping across borders. No country seems immune, no individual beyond their reach. Terrorists are now often killing many innocent people everywhere, from the United States of America to Europe, and from Africa to Asia.
We believe that terrorists have no religion, caste or creed. We must unite in our resolve to defeat and degrade them in all their forms and manifestations. We have to identify the root causes of terrorism and violent extremism. At the same time, we have to identify the mentors, masterminds, abettors, financiers, arms suppliers and trainers of these terrorists and extremists, and we must take strong action against them.
As a victim of terrorist attacks myself, I have a zero-tolerance approach to terrorism and violent extremism. Our Government has succeeded in dismantling homegrown terrorist groups, plugging their regular financing pipelines and flushing out their regional operatives from our territory. With the vicious rise of certain international terrorist entities, it appears that some local fringe elements have drawn inspiration and managed to regroup and rebrand themselves.
Bangladesh, a unique country of religious harmony, experienced a grisly attack on 1 July 2016, when homegrown terrorists killed 20 people at a Dhaka restaurant. We were able to rescue 13 hostages unharmed, but that horrific incident left a deep scar on the hearts of the people of Bangladesh.
We are now battling this new wave of terrorism. We have undertaken massive programmes to awaken people and warn them against radicalization and to stand against militancy and extremism. The whole-of- society response I called for has been unprecedented. I am confident that with our people’s resilience and support, we will ensure that terrorists have absolutely no place on our soil.
I would also like to urge the world community to work globally to dry up the sources of funds, arms and ammunition as well as moral and material support for militants and terrorists.
Bangladesh will carry on promoting the culture of peace that is at the heart of the agenda of the United Nations. We shall uphold our contribution to peacekeeping and peacebuilding. Our decision to set up a peacebuilding centre in Dhaka will allow us to share our experience with other countries that are emerging from conflict.
Likewise, we will remain vocal about recognizing the role of national judicial processes in ensuring accountability and justice for mass atrocities. We have moved past decades of impunity to ensure the trial of the local perpetrators of genocide and crimes against humanity during our liberation war, in 1971.
The recent efforts to relaunch the Middle East peace process and end the hostilities against the brotherly Palestinian people must be pursued, in the right direction.
In our globalized world, there are challenges. But there are also potential opportunities and benefits for all, but only if we know how to manage the process properly. We are all gathered here to serve our one humanity. Let us work through our differences and find common ground to make the pragmatic changes we wish to see in the world around us. The United Nations provides us with a unique platform to do so. Let us renew our resolve to create an Organization of enduring relevance.


At the outset, may I warmly congratulate Mr. Peter Thomson on his election as President of the General Assembly at its seventy-first session. He may rest assured of the full support of my delegation in working towards the complete success of this session of the Assembly.
I would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate Mr. Mogens Lykketoft of Denmark on the outstanding way in which he presided over the previous session. May I also pay warm tribute to Secretary- General Ban Ki-moon, not only for what he has done since the previous session, but also for all the laudable work he has so untiringly carried out to achieve the noble objectives of the United Nations since he was elected 10 years ago. I particularly commend and am grateful for his personal involvement and focus on my country, the Central African Republic, during the hard times that it has passed through.
It is a great honour for me to address the Assembly to describe the evolution of the situation in the Central African Republic and to share with it my country’s vision regarding the major issues facing our Organization.
I stand before the Assembly today to bear witness to the entire international community of the recognition by the Central African people of the invaluable support to my country, the Central African Republic, which has now returned to stability and constitutional legality. From this rostrum, on behalf of the Central African people, I wish to pay tribute to all actions carried out by the United Nations system, particularly in connection with the deployment of the international forces who are at this very time working to bring security and peacebuilding in my country.
I wish to express once again the gratitude of the people of the Central African Republic to the international community in its entirety for its solidarity and constant support during our efforts to return to constitutional legality, thereby putting an end to the political transition that was established after the coup of 24 March 2013.
May I also acknowledge the spirit of the people of the Central African Republic, who, in such large and determined numbers, voted in an exemplary election, thus demonstrating their espousal of democracy and constitutional order. I also pay a warm tribute to the entire political class in the Central African Republic for the maturity it displayed to the entire world in respecting the voice of the people in the elections.
As President, in whom is vested the trust of the entire Central African people, I have taken stock of the immense challenges we face and the expectations of my fellow citizens, who understandably yearn for peace, national reconciliation and socioeconomic development.
The Central African Republic has turned the page on its dark history. Central Africans are more than ever determined to finally break the cycle of violence so as to be able to aspire legitimately to peace, security, justice, freedom and sustainable development. Since my accession to the presidency of the country, steps have been taken to ensure that the Government and all State institutions share the common goal of rebuilding the country through the necessary reforms.
No State can claim to be able to develop while its economic, social or indeed its political fabric remains plagued by the evils of corruption, injustice and impunity. I can assure the Assembly that the fight against corruption is at the heart of our concerns. Therefore, the Government that I have the heavy responsibility of leading will spare no effort to establish a mechanism for the relentless fight against corruption and financial crime.
The Central African Republic has certainly begun to revive the democratic process, but the situation still remains fragile. Much remains to be done. That is why as soon as I was inaugurated as President of the Republic, I expressed my ambition to bring together all Central Africans around a State reconstruction project, so that we in the Central African Republic would become the masters of our own destiny and of the development of our country.
I am committed to leading the work for a political, economic, social and cultural transformation that will enable us to dispel the evils of insecurity, the dysfunction of political institutions, corruption, the deterioration of living conditions and the loss of moral standards, all of which have undermined our society. The priorities of my Government are therefore based on four main pillars: peace and security, national reconciliation and administrative reform, economic recovery, and justice and human rights.
With regard to peace and security, the imperative for the Government consists in the rapid application of the disarmament, demobilization, rehabilitation and repatriation programmes so that all Central African men and women of all walks of life can live in peace and security with one another throughout the land.
Similarly, security-sector reform remains a major concern of the Government. A delegation of the Central African Republic outlined the strategies and programmes for such reforms in the Central African Republic at United Nations Headquarters in June. A decision was taken to support my country’s endeavours in the recognition of the efforts at dialogue with armed groups that I have undertaken since my assumption of responsibility. That is why I am taking this opportunity to urge a major mobilization of our partners at the next Brussels Conference for the Central African Republic, scheduled for 17 November, with regard to their contribution to finance the security-sector reform component.
On the issue of the restoration of State authority and the process of redeploying the Administration, the Government has undertaken, with the assistance of the international community, including the United Nations, actions to ensure the presence of public authority throughout the territory and tot ensureg peace and security. The defence and security forces must therefore continue to bolster our border control against the threats of cross-border crime, the proliferation of small arms and light weapons, money-laundering, trafficking in drugs and narcotics, and terrorism, particularly by the Lord’s Resistance Army, and human trafficking.
The Government has undertaken emergency measures aimed at rebuilding the Central African armed forces, which will help to enable the establishment of an inclusive republican army. To achieve that, the Central African Republic, through me, calls for the total lifting of the arms embargo imposed on it. It must be remembered that the ban, even if necessary at the time, is no longer justified today in this new era of national reconstruction.
Justice and human rights involve the rehabilitation of the institutions of the judiciary so as to guarantee the rights of citizens and strengthen the fight against impunity. In that regard, it is appropriate to strengthen the Special Criminal Court for the Central African Republic so as to bring the perpetrators of crimes to justice before the competent courts and to deal with the issue of reparations for the harm suffered.
Concerning economic recovery, the Government has implemented reforms aimed at improving the business climate in order to attract private investment and has committed itself to reestablishing State infrastructure to support growth. The cyclical, repetitive crises in the Central African Republic have led to the precarious living conditions of our people and to widespread impoverishment. I welcome the fact that the international community has understood what is at stake here.
My Government, for its part, is firmly committed to peacebuilding, national reconciliation, the re-establishment of the defence and security forces and an economic recovery plan. Those are our goals; those are our priorities. I have every confidence that, together, Central Africans will pursue those goals with all their strength and all their energy.
The Central African Republic is once again among Member States. The Central African Republic has taken its place as a free and democratic State among the community of nations. It is ready to contribute to building a world of peace, tolerance, freedom, justice and democracy. Despite our determination to take charge of our destiny, the Central African Republic is still fragile, absolutely in need of the support of all our partners, both bilateral and multilateral. On behalf of my country, I again call for the support of fellow Member States.
The United Nations remains the indispensable forum par excellence for addressing global issues and researching appropriate solutions. As a Member, the Central African Republic can assure the Assembly of our abiding commitment to the ideals of the Organization, founded on the values of equality, peace, security, justice and development, to which all peoples throughout the world aspire.
I welcome the relevance of the theme of the seventy-first session of the General Assembly: “Sustainable Development Goals: a universal push to transform our world”, chosen a year after the adoption of the new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The choice of that theme is justified by the desire to see those Goals realized by 2030. For the time has come to reverse the trend of extreme poverty, which continues, unfortunately, in many parts of the world, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. The time has come to reduce inequalities between rich and poor and to create an environment that provides a good place to live for the well-being of everyone.
It is recognized that the majority of the least developed countries and post-conflict countries, including the Central African Republic, did not attain the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). There are several reasons for that, chief among them political instability. In fact, in 2011 the Government developed a framework for accelerating the effort to achieve the MDGs dealing with hunger and food security, but the crisis of 2012 ended those actions, leaving them incomplete.
The Central African Republic has officially launched the implementation process for the Sustainable Development Goals, involving all national stakeholders — the public administration, civil society, the private sector, international partners, development partners and international non-governmental organizations. That clearly indicates the willingness of the Government resolutely to lead the process of achieving the SDGs and avoid the uneven results that characterized the process of the attainment of the MDGs, for the reasons I cited earlier.
The Government learned lessons from the experience and has undertaken to implement the SDGs on new bases involving partnership and the participation of all strata of our society. Thus the Government has undertaken, within the framework of its national reconstruction policy, the preparation of a recovery and peacebuilding programme in the Central African Republic that includes humanitarian assistance, early recovery and development. There are three main planks: peace, reconciliation and security; the renewal of the social contract between the State and the people; and economic recovery and the revitalization of the productive sectors.
To achieve this, the Government intends to develop a partnership with national and international non-governmental organizations, the private sector, development partners and community-based organizations so as to create the synergies necessary to emerge from the crisis. To that end, the planned study on the vision of the Central African Republic through 2040 will be carried out within the framework of the 2063 Agenda for Africa and will include concrete objectives.
With the support of technical and financial partners, we will set up an appropriate institutional framework for the follow-up and monitoring of the work to achieve the SDGs. Under its auspices we will define our priorities in the context of the recovery and peacebuilding programme, the recommendations of the Common African Position and the conclusions of the consultative regional meeting on the SDGs, held in October 2013.
The issue of migrants and refugees, which affects the entire world, has in recent years worsened and is now a major concern of the international community. It is a very pressing problem that requires the attention of every country, regardless of their involvement in the management of migratory flows.
The high-level meeting that was just held was an opportunity to highlight the pressing global challenges caused by these mass movements of peoples, in order to devise well-thought-out solutions within a framework of international responsibility-sharing. I welcome the commitment of Member States to seek a more humane solution to the issue. At the Valletta Summit on Migration and the first Global Humanitarian Summit, held in Istanbul, world leaders shared their views on the root causes of migration and displaced persons.
In the Central African Republic, sustainable solutions to ensure the return of our compatriots who have been displaced within our country to their areas of origin, as well as to the issue of refugees, are being studied in order to create a national platform for disaster risk management and the prevention and management of poor socioeconomic conditions such as low wages, unemployment, underemployment in rural areas, poverty and lack of resources, which are very often the cause of these movements.
On climate change and sustainable development, it is urgent that the world adopt sound policies that can generate growth and take into account the problem of climate change. Such growth must be able to reduce poverty. Protection of the environment, effective management of resources, and economic growth integrated into green growth provide a valuable opportunity for African countries. It is not fair that Africa should pay a higher price when it is but a victim. That is why I urge the international community to focus in particular on the adoption of an appropriate mechanism to support Africa. The commitments made at the Paris climate summit must be respected so as to bring about true sustainable development.
Before I conclude, let me say that we trust that Member States all will decide to provide our Organization with the means to attain the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. The Central African Republic will continue to make its modest contribution to our Organization and in our common quest for peace, security and development for all.


I congratulate the President on his election, and I commend his predecessor for his effective leadership at the previous session.
Let me also, on behalf of the Government and the people of Sierra Leone, applaud His Excellency Mr. Ban Ki-moon for his dedication and commitment to the advancement of global peace and development during his 10 years of service to our Organization as Secretary- General. I commend him for his vision and initiatives, including the major high-level panel reviews, the historic adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the signing of the Paris Agreement on climate change and convening the first World Humanitarian Summit. We in Sierra Leone will always remember the Secretary-General with deep appreciation for his exemplary role in mobilizing support for the successful fight against the deadly Ebola disease.
The theme chosen by the President for our debate this year, “The Sustainable Development Goals: a universal push to transform our world”, could not have been more thoughtful. In order to achieve that goal, we must universally promote the Sustainable Development Goals. We must push forward with energy, compassion and resolve to save the millions of women and children still trapped in poverty, bring peace to our troubled region, and prevent and contain disease outbreaks.
In Sierra Leone, drawing on the lessons learned from the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals, we have taken action to quickly integrate the SDGs into our national development planning processes by linking each of the 17 Goals and 169 targets to our national development programme — the Agenda for Prosperity. Sierra Leone was one of the 22 countries reviewed during the Economic and Social Council’s High-Level Political Forum in July. We shared our views on how we want to implement the SDGs, on the challenges we foresee and on how we hope to overcome them. At the same time, we have formulated a national integrated results framework that aligns the SDGs with our Alliance for Prosperity monitoring and evaluation mechanism. We have also established an international benchmarks system for Sierra Leone, which will enable us to address the challenges involved in obtaining the reliable statistical data we need in order to report on our progress.
But whatever we do at the national level, whatever efforts we make on the global stage, whatever projects the brightest among us design, we will not be able to deliver on the SDGs’ promise of an inclusive, fairer and better world without the reform of the United Nations. Let me be blunt. Our premier global institution lacks the democratic characteristics needed to tackle the development, security and other challenges facing Africa and many other parts of the world. Without strong African voices at the highest level of our premier global decision-making body, without the energetic voices of the region that is home to the world’s largest number of young people, and without the decisive contribution of the continent that is most affected by Security Council decisions, no solution that the United Nations might propose to our challenges can be sustainable, inclusive or lasting.
Yes, Africa’s position is about righting historical wrongs and enhancing its voice in the United Nations. But most of all, Africa’s position relates to our contribution to making the United Nations more effective, democratic and forward-looking. That is why we believe that the dilution of any of its key elements is akin to continuing a status quo that is unfair, unjust, non-inclusive and unfit for the requirements of the twenty-first century. Africa has asked me, as Coordinator of its African Union Committee of Ten Heads of State on United Nations Reforms, to tell the world that we will stand united behind the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration. At the African Union’s July summit in Kigali we reaffirmed the African position, and we deplore any attempts to weaken any of those positions through divide-and-rule policies that are reminiscent of the colonial era.
In September last year at the Leaders’ Summit on Peacekeeping, we committed to enlarging and modernizing United Nations peacekeeping operations. I made a pledge at the Summit to contribute further to United Nations peacekeeping with commitments to provide two formed police units, special weapons and tactics units and police guards to the United Nations Stand-by Arrangements System, and we are now ready to deploy at short notice.
Sierra Leone welcomes the Secretary-General’s report prepared for the World Humanitarian Summit (A/70/709) and its annex, the Agenda for Humanity. This year’s World Humanitarian Summit was a turning point at which we collectively pledged to improve our response to people caught in natural disasters and conflicts, empower them as agents of their own recovery and summon greater political will for preventing and ending the wars that have caused so much suffering. Millions of people need humanitarian help, and millions more have been forcibly displaced from their homes. We must set the right tone in addressing the lingering challenges facing our world. My delegation endorses the Assembly’s adoption of the New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants (resolution 71/1) and fully subscribes to its call to address the root causes of the problem, including efforts aimed at preventing crisis situations before they erupt.
Sierra Leone also welcomes the simultaneous adoptions in April by the Security Council of its resolution 2282 (2016) on post-conflict peacebuilding, and by the General Assembly of its resolution 70/262, reviewing the United Nations peacebuilding architecture. The parallel resolutions demonstrate our commitment to take a comprehensive approach to transitional justice and to accountability in the security sector, both of which are critical to consolidating peace, reducing poverty and preventing countries from relapsing into conflict.
In Sierra Leone, our commitment to continue to address the key underlying causes of fragility and the drivers of conflict is underlined by our participation as a pilot country in the New Deal for Engagement in Fragile States. As the current Chair of the Group of Seven Fragile States Plus, Sierra Leone emphasizes the importance of incorporating SDG 16 into our efforts. We also recognize that the effective management of our natural resources is central to ensuring sustainable socioeconomic development and a resilient future for Sierra Leoneans.
My Government remains committed to good governance and will continue to build on our post- conflict peacebuilding and democratic gains by further strengthening our democratic institutions and by providing access to the justice sector and establishing a level playing field there. To that end, we have taken steps to improve the conditions of service in our justice sector in order to attract and deploy more qualified personnel to the bench and as state counsels in every region and district of Sierra Leone. We have established a legal-aid board so as to ensure that every indigent person has legal representation, that no one enters our correctional institutions without an indictment, and that court cases are speedily heard and justice is fairly served. Those strides represent important contributions to our journey towards attaining a resilient and inclusive Sierra Leone. They remain the bedrock of our aspirations to become a middle-income country by 2035.
That is why we have hastened to put in place major relevant policy decisions and enacted appropriate legislation to empower women, improve the situation of youth and ensure that the physically challenged are not marginalized. My Government’s vision for the empowerment of women as enshrined in pillar 8 of our Agenda for Prosperity is consistent with global aspirations, in recognition of the crucial importance of women and gender parity in our development process. Most of my Government’s programmes are youth- oriented and range from education to health, community development and employment.
Efforts to address youth empowerment and unemployment remain at the heart of our Agenda for Prosperity. My Government has also made a record number of appointments of youths and women into top- level decision-making positions, including ministerial, ambassadorial and leadership posts in Government departments and agencies and in the military, police, Parliament, the judiciary and local government.
The Ebola outbreak in West Africa shone a spotlight on the critical need for the world to have a more robust and effective global health architecture, with strong and accountable leadership to deal with health crises, including pandemics. In this context, my delegation commends the High-Level Panel on the Global Response to Health Crises for its comprehensive report. We strongly consider its 27 recommendations as the way forward for appropriate action at the national, regional and international levels. We must collectively commit ourselves to the full implementation of the Panel’s recommendations in order to protect humankind from the scourge of future health crises.
On behalf of the Government and the people of Sierra Leone, let me express our appreciation to the international community for supporting us in our efforts to defeat the Ebola virus. We are now implementing our post-Ebola recovery programme. We applaud the support that we have received, but we still face enormous resource gaps. I would therefore like to remind our bilateral friends and the international community to fulfil their pledges to our recovery programme.
Though we contribute almost nothing to global warming, Sierra Leone is the third most vulnerable country to the effects of climate change. Dealing with climate change is therefore an urgent life-and- death matter for us. That is why we welcome the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, and we will implement its provisions in Sierra Leone. My Government, in collaboration with our development partners, is implementing projects on adaptation, including climate information and early-warning systems. We remain committed to these efforts, and we seek further collaboration in confronting this global threat against humankind.
As we move into the implementation of the first phase of the SDGs, we must remember that fragile States were unable to make remarkable progress in the implementation of the MDGs largely owing to the absence of peace, justice and effective State institutions. It is therefore urgent for all parties to cooperate with global initiatives in finding enduring peace in Syria, South Sudan and Libya. This is why the world must accelerate its efforts to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, in fighting terrorism and in stemming the dangerous escalation in the arms race.
We cannot sustain this world with bombs and the unending threat of war. We cannot achieve a universal push towards development when armed conflicts continue to drive millions into refugee camps and when millions find themselves trapped between warring factions. We cannot champion the cause of justice and legitimacy when Africa remains excluded from and underrepresented in the highest decision-making organ of our global Organization. The reforms must start here, and they must be deliberate and enduring.
While we acknowledge the gradual progress made so far, particularly in the transparent process of selecting and appointing the next Secretary-General, let me again reiterate that African Member States are unhappy about the slow pace of Security Council reform.
In concluding, let me once again reiterate Africa’s strong concern over the continuous failure of the United Nations to adopt measures, including text-based negotiations, that will lead to a comprehensive and early reform of the Security Council to reflect contemporary realities. I would therefore urge that the reform process move faster so that Africa can take its rightful place in the Security Council. The United Nations must change with the times and must do so by effecting the relevant reforms.
Redressing the much-acknowledged historical injustice done to the continent will be a remarkable step in our universal push to transform our world. We cannot effectively deal with the evolving challenges of our time if we continue to hold on to the edicts and structures established 71 years ago. Equitable geographical representation, with the attendant privileges in the membership of the Security Council, will only make it more legitimate, representative, effective, transparent and accountable.


At the outset, allow me to congratulate the President on his election as President of the General Assembly at its seventy-first session. Allow me also to thank Mr. Mogens Lykketoft for his tireless efforts throughout his presidency during the seventieth session. I would also like to extend special thanks to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. We thank him for his annual report on the work of the Organization (A/71/1) and for the high priority that he has given to the issues of the Middle East and Lebanon.
I take this opportunity to reiterate Lebanon’s commitment to assuming its role in achieving the lofty goals of the Organization. My country had the honour to have been among its founding Members. Foremost among those goals is the maintenance of peace and security, the promotion of world peace, securing the right of peoples to self-determination and ensuring respect for human rights.
In 2016 we have witnessed tremendous international efforts to mobilize goodwill, reduce the number of armed conflicts and strengthen communities. Such efforts have come about either under the auspices or with the contribution of the United Nations, with the goal of improving the international community’s ability to meet the unprecedented challenges that are the mark of our era. Perhaps the most noble milestones were the signing by 175 States of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, which took place in April, and the holding of the World Humanitarian Summit, which was held in Istanbul in May.
Lebanon emphasizes the need to reactivate and revitalize the role of the General Assembly so as to make it more effective in addressing issues of concern to the whole of humankind. Lebanon laments that the Security Council has repeatedly failed to address the conflicts raging in many countries, particularly in the Middle East. Lebanon stresses the importance of reforming the Security Council in a way that would reflect the latest political, economic and demographic realities emerging in our world.
My country is undergoing a severe political crisis, the most salient aspect of which is the inability of Parliament for the past two and a half years to elect a President of the Republic. The crisis has led to the near paralysis of the legislative authorities and the slowdown of the work of the executive branch. It has also had negative repercussions on our economic situation.
All countries that consider themselves brothers and friends of Lebanon — all those who are familiar with the Lebanese scene — are well aware of the specificities of the political situation in my country and the extent to which it is influenced by external factors. The main external factor has been sharp regional polarization, which has turned into an open conflict in the entire region. Realism compels us to recognize that the solution to the problem of the presidential vacancy is not just in the hands of the Lebanese. I therefore call on all of Lebanon’s friends and supporters and all who are keen to avoid the emergence of a new area of tension in the Middle East to help the Lebanese elect a President of the country. The election of a new President will help rebalance our constitutional institutions and protect the Lebanese model of coexistence, which is the last surviving model based on plurality in the Levant.
We reiterate that the distressing war in Syria has produced a displacement crisis that has imposed an unbearable burden on Lebanon that exceeds our capacities. My country, with its limited surface area, is hosting numbers of displaced Syrians equivalent to one third of our population. We are shouldering our humanitarian duty towards those people with our limited resources and with insufficient support from the international community. We are disappointed with the level of international response to our needs as a host country — a response that is not commensurate with the pledges made or the goodwill expressed on so many occasions.
Lebanon cannot and will not assimilate additional displaced persons. Lebanon urges the United Nations to craft an overarching vision for resettling displaced Syrians living in our territory in areas inside Syria and for working with the parties concerned to turn such a vision into a workable plan at the earliest possible time. As we await the realization of that plan, we stress once more the temporary character of the Syrian presence in Lebanon. Let me declare that Lebanon is not a country of permanent asylum. Lebanon is the homeland of the Lebanese and only the Lebanese.
Lebanon continues to suffer from the threat of terrorism. Lebanon is engaged in an open confrontation with terrorism — a confrontation for which we have paid dearly with the lives of our soldiers, civilians and children. We declare a commitment to fight the scourge in all its forms. We stress the importance of regional and international cooperation in that fight.
We believe that the isolationist tendencies of some communities — retreating behind separation walls with the unhealthy encouragement of Islamophobia — are aimed at an Islam that is being deceitfully brandished and branded by terrorists to justify their crimes. Such isolationist tendencies do not represent a panacea against terrorism. Rather, they are a recipe for the emergence of violent, extremist and racist tendencies, which have been rejected by advanced democracies for a long time. Combating terrorism is a long-term process that requires major efforts at all levels. A precondition for the successful elimination of the terrorist phenomenon lies in eradicating its roots and the contributing factors that fuel it. We ought to address deprivation and injustice, which are the incubators of extremism, by meeting the legitimate demands of people for freedom, dignity and equality and by rejecting all forms of violence and exclusion.
On the tenth anniversary of the adoption of Security Council resolution 1701 (2006), Lebanon reiterates its commitment to that resolution with all its provisions. Once again, Lebanon calls on the international community to compel Israel to cease its violations of Lebanese sovereignty, to fully cooperate with the United Nations peacekeeping forces and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, to demarcate what is left of the Blue Line and to withdraw from the northern part of Ghajar, the Shaba’a farmlands and the Kfar Shouba Hills.
Lebanon reiterates its strong determination to safeguard its full rights over its water and natural resources, including oil and gas, within its exclusive economic zone. Lebanon called on the Secretary- General, during his visit to Beirut last March, to make use of his good offices in resolving the issue of the delimitation of the exclusive economic zone between Lebanon and Israel. We look forward to his heightened role in that area.
We condemn Israel’s continuing occupation of the Palestinian land and its blockade of the Gaza Strip, as well as its obstruction of the efforts to rebuild what was destroyed by the Israeli aggression in the summer of 2014. We call for the principle of legal accountability to be applied in the case of the war crimes committed by Israel, to prevent those crimes from going unpunished.
We hold Israel responsible for foiling all attempts to reach a peaceful settlement, and we stress the need for a just, comprehensive and lasting solution to the conflict, based on Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973), the Madrid terms of reference, including the principle of land for peace, and the Arab Peace Initiative. We furthermore stress the right of Palestinian refugees to return home, pursuant to international resolutions.
At this very moment, as I speak before the Assembly, a major cycle of violence continues to rage in the Arab Levant, causing the destruction of homes and livelihoods, hospitals and places of worship. Communities are being uprooted from their homelands and hurled into the abyss of an unknown future. Great cities are being razed to the ground and erased from the map without any consideration for their historical importance, or indeed their human heritage value.
We renew our call to all influential Powers to cease procrastinating and hesitating and to assume their responsibilities by acting with determination to stop the bloodshed and restore security and stability in our region. We appeal to everyone to join wholeheartedly and effectively in the fight against obscurantist terrorism. We warn against the dangers of tampering with maps, demolishing existing entities and changing the demographic nature of communities or threatening their social cohesion and religious diversity.
We believe that the main prerequisite for consolidating stability and eliminating hotbeds of extremism in the Middle East is to meet the just demands of the people to live independently, with dignity and freedom, and to find a just solution to the Palestinian cause. We would like to stress the importance of establishing peaceful relations among the countries of the region, based on good-neighbourliness, respect for the sovereignty of other countries and the principle of non-interference in their internal affairs. We call for the promotion of the culture of peace and dialogue to protect the oases of diversity in the Levant.
Amid the violent maelstrom that is sweeping across the Levant, where everything is in flux and endless waves of displaced persons are leaving their homes and communities, a small entity called Lebanon stands firm against the aftershocks of the crisis that is tearing everything apart around it, and offers the world a model other than that which is intended to prove the inability of our region to tolerate the possibility of coexistence among different entities.
Lebanon is a shining star, an example of affinity among various affiliations and a model totally opposed to the notion of a single-colour racist State that rejects all other shades. It is a laboratory of partnership at a time when sects, nationalities and ethnicities are fighting one another and populations are fleeing their countries. Yet that model is suffering from political weakness and needs the world to offer it a helping hand. Meanwhile, the Lebanese people will remain in the heart of the oppressed Levant — firmly committed to living together in one unified State.


The tenor of our times is change — accelerating at a pace and on a scale unprecedented in all of human history. In less than a generation, billions have been lifted out of poverty, and billions more have been enabled to connect to each other and to a world of knowledge and ideas in a manner barely imaginable a generation ago. Economic freedom between markets and within them, supercharged by the Internet, innovation and technology, has made possible the longest run of economic progress in the history of the world.
There are threats. At the meeting of the Group of Twenty we focused on how to resist the rising tide of protectionism, which is not a ladder to escape the low-growth trap, but a shovel to dig it deeper. But most important of all is the threat of conflict and instability. Where there is peace and the rule of law applies to both governors and governed, to both large States and small, we have seen remarkable strides in every measure of human progress. But in too many places there is no peace — wars that seem to have no end, intractable disorder that, in a connected world where technology has trumped geography, affects us all.
And yet despite setbacks to secure lasting peace, notably in Syria, over the past five years the United Nations system has produced a global Arms Trade Treaty, a pivotal global agreement on climate change, a transformational set of Sustainable Development Goals and a global blueprint for disaster-risk reduction. These successes add to the less high-profile, but hugely important work of the United Nations in the field — whether it be vaccinating children, helping subsistence farmers to improve their crop yields, facilitating democratic elections or delivering emergency humanitarian support. They demonstrate the approach we need to take as we face the challenges of the future.
We need strength to respond firmly and decisively in the face of tyranny and abuse, to stand up to those who seek to divide societies through terror or to exploit desperation for their own benefit. We need compassion to assist those less fortunate than ourselves and to help rebuild communities that have been devastated by war or natural disasters. And now, more than ever, we need to work together towards common solutions.
That is why Australia’s response to the global surge in migration is based on three pillars. First is strong border controls, with effective measures to combat people-smuggling and terrorism, supported by a planned migration programme. Second is a compassionate humanitarian policy, one that does not focus merely on the numbers that we take in, but offers substantial resettlement programmes and supports those countries hosting large numbers of refugees themselves. The third pillar is effective international and regional cooperation. These three pillars are inherently interlinked. They cannot and do not work in isolation. We believe that in order to secure and maintain public support for immigration, multiculturalism and a generous humanitarian programme, the public needs to know that it is their own Government that controls their borders.
In the year before Australia’s strong border protection policies were introduced, over 25,000 irregular migrants arrived in Australia by boat. Over 1,200 people tragically died as a result, the victims of the criminal enterprises that prey on vulnerable people for profit. Without policies to ensure that we can decide who enters Australia, it would not have been possible for our Government to maintain the world’s third- largest permanent refugee resettlement programme. It would not have been possible for Australia to commit to taking an additional 12,000 refugees displaced by the conflicts in Iraq and Syria, or to increase our broader humanitarian intake by more than 35 per cent.
We are one of the most successful multicultural societies in the world. We are both as old as the oldest continuous human culture of our first Australians and as young as the child in the arms of her migrant parents. We are not defined by race, religion or culture, but by shared political values of democracy, the rule of law and equality of opportunity — a “fair go”. More than a quarter of us were born overseas, almost half of us have a parent born overseas, and each year we welcome around 200,000 permanent migrants to join our 24 million. We have a long experience of, and commitment to, settlement services to ensure that our immigrants, especially refugees, become successfully integrated into our society. We are indeed a nation of immigrants who are as diverse as the society that they have joined.
One such story is that of Aliir Aliir, who grew up in a refugee camp in Kenya after his family fled the bloody civil war in the Sudan. For Aliir, his family, and 150,000 other men, women and children, the Kakuma refugee camp was home. The camp provided the bare necessities of meals and shelter, but sports equipment was unimaginable. Aliir and his friends would improvise with a balloon wrapped in strips of old clothing to serve as a football. He was seven when he and his family came to Australia. Tall, fast and agile, Aliir was a natural for Australian Rules Football, and he has not looked back since he took up the game. Earlier this year, I was delighted when Aliir debuted for the Australian Football League (AFL) team I support, the Sydney Swans. Now 22, Aliir is one of the first Sudanese immigrants to play for the AFL and has become a role model in our multicultural nation, especially for young people in Sydney. There are thousands of migrant stories like Aliir’s — leaders of Government, of business, of science and of the arts.
Australia would not be the country it is today without their contribution. Their stories are our stories, their successes are our successes. Of course, each country must adopt approaches that meet the needs of its own population and geography. But Australia’s experience sheds some light on what the solutions are — strong borders, vigilant security agencies governed by the rule of law, and a steadfast commitment to the shared values of freedom and mutual respect. These are the ingredients of multicultural success. And they are lessons we can share to drive more effective, coordinated approaches to meet our humanitarian responsibilities.
That is why the New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants (resolution 71/1), adopted here at the United Nations on Monday to drive a more orderly and coordinated approach to migration and refugees, is so important. And that is why Australia and Indonesia, as Co-Chairs of the Bali Process on People Smuggling, Trafficking in Persons and Related Transnational Crime, are working with the countries of our region to protect migrants in vulnerable situations and to combat people-smuggling.
Now we need to see the world as it is, not as we would like it to be, or as we fondly imagine it once was. Secure borders are essential. Porous borders drain away public support for multiculturalism, for immigration and for aid to refugees. Most important of all, the only way to stop the scourge of people-smuggling is to deprive the people-smugglers of their product, and secure borders do just that.
Another fact we must recognize is that, while it would be desirable for more nations to increase their humanitarian intake, as Australia is doing, the truth is that the scale of the refugee and internally displaced persons problem is so great — 65 million — that resettlement in other countries can never come close to being near enough. The most urgent priority is to re-establish stability and ensure security in the regions of conflict and, in addition, ensure that there are greater opportunities for economic advancement in the source countries of so much of this irregular migration. All of this requires cooperation, and that includes, as noted in the New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants, the willingness of Member States to accept the return of their citizens who do not qualify for protection, whether on a voluntary or involuntary basis.
Regional and national initiatives are crucial in our response to the surge in displaced people. Ultimately, we will find sustainable solutions only by addressing the root causes and drivers of this displacement. The largest of these are conflict and instability. Conflict — in Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, South Sudan, Libya, Yemen and other countries — is taking an unprecedented toll on innocent civilians who, like all of us, wish to live their lives and raise their families in peace and security.
Australia’s armed forces are supporting the Government of Iraq in its efforts to liberate its territories from Da’esh. In defence of Iraq, we are joining with our coalition partners to defeat Da’esh in Syria. It is of vital importance that Da’esh’s so-called caliphate is defeated in the field. As Nadia Murad said on Monday in the General Assembly (see A/71/PV.3), we must defeat these terrorists, these monsters, who killed or enslaved her family, once and for all. Our support has helped to put Da’esh on the back foot — it has now lost around 50 per cent of its territory in Iraq.
But conflict resolution is not enough. Establishing and maintaining a credible peace in the aftermath of conflict is just as important. In that regard, the United Nations must play a vital role in building and sustaining peace.
Australia is proud to have worked with Angola to facilitate a resolution to reform the United Nations peacebuilding architecture. As the sixth-largest donor in 2015, Australia is pleased to be a key supporter of the Peacebuilding Fund, which provides crucial assistance to peace agreements and supports capacity-building and rule-of-law projects in post-conflict societies. The United Nations role illustrates that vigilance against the risk of new conflicts requires investing in and protecting the international rules-based order.
We were all reminded of that recently when North Korea launched three medium-range ballistic missiles. Days later, Pyongyang conducted what we understand to be its largest-ever nuclear test. The provocative and dangerous actions of this rogue State breach unanimously agreed Security Council resolutions and threaten global peace and security. This shows why it was important for Australia and Myanmar to secure agreement at the East Asia Summit on a new commitment to end the proliferation of nuclear weapons and to work to support non-proliferation. Such provocation requires action, and Australia will work with the Security Council to support additional sanctions against North Korea.
It is this maturity and honesty that Australia would bring to the Human Rights Council should we be elected for our first-ever term, from 2018 to 2020. Rather than denying problems, we will seek to identify them, address them and learn from them. And we will hold others to the same standard as we hold ourselves.
Australia has prioritized five key areas in our approach to human rights: gender equality, governance, freedom of expression, the rights of indigenous peoples, and strong national human rights institutions and capacity-building. We are committed to providing principled and pragmatic leadership across these five areas — both through our actions at home and our advocacy and cooperation abroad. Over the course of the next decade and beyond, working together to combat terrorism and conflict, prevent global health pandemics, ensure universal access to clean water and sanitation, and address climate change will require enhanced global cooperation.
I do not need to reiterate the significance and complexity of the threat of climate change. We all understand what is at stake: the future of generations around the globe and the well-being of our planet itself. If we are to be successful, we must all, every one of us, act together to build a better world. And we are. The Paris Agreement last year was a shining example of global cooperation for the common good. In a historic display of commitment, over 170 nations signed the Paris Agreement in New York in April. Even more have submitted plans for action, and Australia will play its part. We are committed to ratifying the Paris Agreement, and we are confident that we will meet our ambitious 2030 target of cutting our per capita emissions by 52 per cent — just as we will meet and beat our Kyoto Protocol commitments.
Australia has also increased the profile of climate change in our overseas aid programme, including through our $200 million commitment to the Green Climate Fund, because we know climate change amplifies many development challenges. We also know that our commitment to action creates new opportunities for innovation and growth, which means more jobs.
We are combining reductions in emissions with strong economic growth, which, from a rate of 2 per cent a year ago, has been running at 3.3 per cent over the past year. Our new cities policy, too, is focused on clean development, enhanced amenity, sustainability and livability. And, as the land of droughts and flooding rains, we have learned how to make every drop count and share our experience in water management with other nations, including earlier today at the High-level Panel on Water.
It would be remiss of me not to offer our deepest thanks to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for his leadership and his commitment to addressing, over the past decade, so many of the challenges I have mentioned here. The Secretary-General leaves an important legacy that his successor must now take forward with the international community. And as his successor does so, we, the United Nations, must stay the course. We must remain committed to displaying sufficient strength and courage to do what is needed in the face of great adversity. We must continue to show the compassion and understanding needed to ensure that our societies are inclusive, diverse and resilient. And we must continue to cooperate at the regional and international levels to find common solutions to these global challenges. I am confident that together, as the United Nations, we will ensure a better future for all.