Your Excellency Volkan Bozkir, President of the General Assembly Your Excellency Antonio Guterres, Secretary General of the United Nations Excellencies, Colleagues, Ministers and Permanent Representatives, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Introduction
Mr. President,
We are indeed at an unprecedented time during the historic anniversary for this global body of Nations. It would have been an honour for me to personally deliver my maiden address at the rostrum of the General Assembly. The onset and continued prevalence of COVID-19 has prevented this. Thankfully we can make optimal use of modern technology.
As President of the 75th session of the General Assembly you will undoubtedly face challenges in the conduct of international relations and conference diplomacy. Please allow me to pledge our full support in the successful discharge of your duties.
We salute your predecessor, Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, for his skillful leadership of the previous session and wish him well in his future endeavors.
To Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, we wish to pay tribute for his sterling efforts in guiding this organization.
Mr. President,
The COVID-19 pandemic is, apart from the human toll, turning food supply chains upside down, paralysing economies and eroding consumer purchasing power.
And the United Nations World Economic Situation and Prospects (WESP) mid 2020 report, has confirmed what we as leaders and communities have experienced, that the pandemic has unleashed a health and economic crisis unprecedented in scope and magnitude.
This compels us as an international community to embrace multilateralism as an effective way to win this battle and our best defense against future global threats, and to continue seeking effective means to support small and vulnerable nations.
The theme of this years’ session of the General Debate is therefore opportune.
Mr. President,
The United Nations remains the premier international multilateral organization and should exert its eminent role and place in the development and furthering of the principles pertaining to international relations, international law, international peace and — development.
At the same time, the UN has been instrumental in bringing the world together to defend human rights, democracy and democratic institutions, uphold the rule of law, and good governance, sustain peace and security and advance the path towards realizing the 17 sustainable development goals.
Despite considerable progress made in global discussions on a variety of matters — from climate change, sustainable development, migration, refugees, terrorism, cyber-warfare to nuclear proliferation — we have experienced that multilateralism has occasionally come under attack.
Since the founding of the United Nations 75 years ago, the geopolitical field has changed drastically. The Security Council membership and its working methods need a structured evaluation.
Can you imagine that we have been elaborating for more than two (2) decades about reform of this main Organ!
It is therefore fitting to ask ourselves if this organ is still relevant in its current form. Does it answer to the questions of today’s challenges and aspirations?
I hope, Mr. President, that we don’t have to ask ourselves this question again in 75 years!
It is therefore of utmost importance that multilateralism adapts to these changing times.
I call on the international community of nations to embark on a strategic assessment of the existing multilateral framework.
Let us, based on the current realities, and challenges, dare to create a new multilateralism that fundamentally focuses on peace and prosperity of all nations and allows for the increased efficiency in the supporting institutional framework.
A multilateralism, that acknowledges all nations, irrespective of their size and development level and place in the global order, as equal and with respect.
A multilateralism where compliance by every state with international law and internationally accepted principles forms the bedrock of our interactions;
A multilateralism, based on international cooperation to confront the many global challenges and seizing the common opportunities, that promotes a culture of inclusiveness and equality.
Unilateral actions have always proven counterproductive and will never lead to achieve any defined objective. Nevertheless, dialogue and the active involvement of all countries, taking into account international principles, is what we should strive for.
More importantly, Mr. President, a multilateralism that necessitates us to recommit to the vision of the UN Charter.
In this regard, we call for the lifting of the longstanding unilateral economic, financial and commercial embargo against the Republic of Cuba and its people.
Multilateralism for climate change
Mr. President,
While the focus of the international community is currently on managing and containing the further spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, we should continue to dedicate our attention to other challenges of equal or even greater impact on the sustainable development of countries and the entire planet.
Addressing the impact of climate change is one of these challenges.
As a country with 239 miles of a low-lying coastline, Suriname is among the top 10 of most vulnerable countries with respect to the disastrous effects of sea-level rise as a result of global warming.
Despite this position, Suriname has taken the lead as the country with the highest forest cover and low deforestation rate, to advocate for the mobilization of financial resources in support of our sustainable development, while making a significant contribution to mitigating global warming.
It is estimated that our standing forests store 12 gigatons of forest carbon per year. Not a small contribution at all, I believe!
However, these national commitments may only serve particular domestic concerns, but to maximize their impact strong international engagement is necessary with ambitious and attainable targets.
Suriname will focus strongly on generating investment and business opportunities. It is mainly for this reason that my Administration will develop and act on the widest implementation of SDG Number 17, by the promotion and facilitation of clean and corruption free Public Private Partnerships (PPP).
Reform of the international system
Mr. President,
In the past years we have realized reforms of the United Nations system, but much remains to be done.
Participation of developing countries, especially the small economies, in the global financial and trading system is one of the long overdue reforms that has to take place.
I believe that global strategic collaboration and complimentary financial — economic approaches are required. This can be achieved through closer partnerships between the IMF, World Bank and the WTO.
The way forward
Mr. President,
Developing countries and nations in the South should not be passive in their quest for development.
Consequently, South-South cooperation, not to the exclusion of North-South relations, should be further explored and expanded in articulating and promoting the collective economic and business interests.
This is in essence what our people elect us for. This is what the international community expects of its leaders, to be examples of inspiring leadership and vanguards of hope for our common humanity.
It is the same hope that allows us to break down walls of mistrust, which may take the form of intolerance, fear, or violence. It is the same hope that leads us to strive for peace and prosperity as our predecessors did.
It is particularly this hope that will give the upcoming generation of leaders the strength to elevate this global Assembly of World Leaders to a place where, collectively, the nations of the world should find ways to make a better life possible for all of the global community, for the next 75 years.
I congratulate all of us with reaching this milestone anniversary. Let us all in unity, respect and solidarity strive to make the next 75 years even better and save for our future.
I thank you.


President of the General Assembly, Ambassador Volkan Bozkir,
Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres,
Heads of State and Government,
National representatives and representatives of international organizations,
Ladies and gentlemen,
The seventy-fifth anniversary of the United Nations finds us once again amid a crisis, which, undoubtedly, looks very different to the disaster caused by the Second World War, but also forces us to reimagine our future in order to build on achievements and prevent future crises, be they economic, health, climate or all of them together.
The scale of the current pandemic and its distressing consequences — loss of life and its impact on the health of many people — are the focus of our attention because we must seek solutions for our peoples, in particular those who are most vulnerable and most at risk of being affected by the pandemic as a result of its impact on their health, as well as on their way and means of life.
But the commemoration of this anniversary should also challenge us about the future we want for our countries and societies beyond this crisis.
It is here before the General Assembly, Mr. President, that Uruguay wishes to emphasize once again that the road to be travelled, both for a way out of the pandemic and for the next 75 years, will always find us on the same side — that of multilateralism — supporting the quest for solutions that are protected by multilateral legal frameworks in all aspects of international life — health, environment, trade and migration.
Uruguay’s accession to membership a few months ago in the Alliance for Multilateralism, an initiative, launched by Germany and France, seeking to uphold multilateral order, is another sign of our country’s commitment to this cause.
Mr. President,
Uruguay supports the role of the World Health Organization and the role of the United Nations system in coordinating the global response to the pandemic, as we understand that international organizations play a fundamental role in coordinating and guiding the best possible solutions to the current critical situation and in the coordinated management of its medium- and long-term impacts.
My country, Mr. President, has adhered to the calls to achieve global and equitable access to health technologies, medicines and vaccines through the sharing of knowledge, intellectual property and data necessary for the detection, prevention, treatment and response to COVID-19.
Our country’s response to the pandemic has focused on a multidisciplinary approach that covers its social, economic and epidemiological aspects and is monitored by an Honorary Scientific Advisory Group of which we are very proud. Our approach is based on our citizens’ responsible use of their freedom, with solidarity and generosity, which, together with a strong and resilient health system, has allowed us to resume work and educational and cultural activities.
We would also like to call on the international community to ensure that the current pandemic does not result in our failing to fully honour the commitments made at the multilateral level. We must avoid falling prey to nationalism and protectionism, which would in any way harm international relations in international trade or disrupt supply chains and the distribution of the medical supplies that are so necessary for emerging from this health crisis.
At the beginning of the Decade of Action to deliver on the Sustainable Development Goals, moving from words to action will be essential for ending poverty, protecting the environment and improving the living conditions of the world’s population.
The United Nations has promoted Agenda 2030 and, despite the considerable current challenges, it should remain the main guide to achieving sustainable development.
Uruguay has worked hard since its recognition for effective compliance. Our country continues to honour its history of reducing inequalities, as well as its commitment to decent work based on investment and growth.
Our Government has also made the necessary commitment to education at all levels, as education is essential for the full actualization of human beings and for ensuring that all citizens have equal opportunities.
This global pandemic has shown that in the face of ever-changing challenges, it is important to maintain the necessary environment and support for international cooperation, so that all States, and in particular developing countries, can move towards sustainable development.
In this scenario, it is paradoxical that countries classified as high-income developing countries, such as Uruguay, do not have access to the majority of sources of international cooperation or more favourable lines of credit. That is why we will continue to promote the revision of that classification or graduation, which is based solely on per capita income.
For these categories to be truly adequate and equitable, a multidimensional criterion should be considered to define classifications of development and the international support needs of each country based on its specific situation.
In this regard, I wish to underscore the support of ECLAC for the development of a multi-factor approach. Sustainable development will not be such if we are not concerned about caring for the environment. That, too, as with the pandemic, is a challenge that countries cannot face alone, but requires collective will to meet the challenges facing humankind.
Uruguay continues to take steps in this direction with its recently established Ministry of Environment to demonstrate that this issue is a priority for the Government.
Mr. President, Uruguay wishes to reiterate its support for the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and its firm commitment to objectives in that area.
Uruguay has developed a National Climate Change Response Plan, which addresses risk prevention, mitigation and adaptation.
We understand that productive efforts, good experiences and effective and efficient management, subject to accountability in the light of current challenges, should receive greater attention and recognition.
We also welcome the holding of the Summit on Biodiversity, which will take place next week. We express our commitment to promoting strategies and practices for the sustainable use of biological diversity and natural resources, while developing mechanisms to improve their management and use.
My country would like to reaffirm here at the Assembly its support for the Secretary-General’s Road Map for Digital Cooperation. Uruguay understands that for these initiatives to prosper and contribute effectively to the fulfilment of the SDGs, digital technologies must enable us to bridge the digital and connectivity divide, among countries and within each country alike.
It is also essential to promote respect for human rights in such networks, the protection of privacy and personal data, as well as access to information and freedom of expression, both public and private.
Lastly, it is necessary to work on digital security, with the broad participation of State actors, the private sector and civil society.
With regard to the Secretary-General’s initiatives, I would like to focus for a moment on his call for a ceasefire — a global ceasefire — which was endorsed by my country.
A peaceful environment is indispensable for addressing the pandemic, which is why we must now recommit to dialogue, peaceful dispute resolution and the rule of law in order to alleviate suffering and bring hope to the most vulnerable populations.
My country is strongly committed to United Nations peacekeeping forces, as it is a main contributor of troops per capita worldwide. A clear demonstration of this national commitment is the offer made by our Government to establish a laboratory to increase medical diagnostic capabilities within United Nations peace operations in response to the pandemic.
In this context, it is worth recalling Uruguay’s calls to protect hospitals and schools under attack in conflict zones and the need to support Security Council resolutions on this matter.
Uruguay reiterates its national commitment to the human rights agenda and will continue to actively uphold human rights, including the protection and rights of children, the plight of civilians in conflict situations and women’s rights, and promote respect for such rights among actors in the international community. In this regard, we will continue to ensure the effective implementation of advocacy mechanisms by the United Nations.
We would like to make special mention of the vulnerable sections of the population, who are particularly affected by the pandemic, such as women who are victims of domestic violence, which is of particular concern for Uruguay. It has prompted us to develop specific policies to respond to this situation. We cannot forget migrants and internally displaced persons, who are also doubly vulnerable to this pandemic.
We again underscore the open policy of our country, which welcomes voluntary migration, based on the values of democracy and equality before the law and respect for the rights of all people, regardless of their origin.
Mr. President, by strengthening human rights, not only will protection be advanced, but those called to be key actors in building peace and promoting development will be empowered, more specifically women and young people.
Lastly, I would like to underscore the role of the International Criminal Court and the importance of its deterrent effect on mass genocides and atrocities and their perpetrators. Uruguay reiterates its commitment to the international justice system and, in particular, its support for the International Criminal Court as an independent and impartial judicial institution with a central role in the fight against impunity and in the pursuit of justice.
In this forum, where peace was sealed 75 years ago, I would like to express my concern about the threats posed by non-compliance with or the withdrawal of some parties from disarmament agreements, which may lead to the resumption of an arms race that will take us back to a time when the world lived in the spectre a possible nuclear conflict. Global peace cannot be achieved without serious commitments by the international community on disarmament and non-proliferation.
The region and my country are concerned about the proliferation and illicit trafficking of small arms and light weapons, which pose a threat to the stability of regions and global security, incite crime and insecurity and affect peaceful coexistence in society.
Our Government is committed to combating insecurity and crime and we will work hard to do so. We will also continue to cooperate with the United Nations in the fight against terrorism, transnational organized crime and the links between the two.
Mr. President, the future we want for our peoples is one in which we can move ahead with common and supportive solutions to challenges that emerge, in order to achieve sustainable and inclusive development, where the rights of all are respected and opportunities are offered for the development of each and every citizen of this world, leaving no one behind.
We want a peaceful future in a world where States are committed to dialogue and negotiation; where we find a way to emerge from today’s conflicts that considers the rights of all parties. We therefore need to redouble our commitment to preventive diplomacy and mediation, as well as to conflict prevention. To this end, we need a United Nations that focuses more on coordination, both in word and in deed. We need an Organization that actively cooperates with other international organizations, including financial institutions, to implement a variety of mechanisms that enable countries to overcome external and internal obstacles to development, given its multidimensional nature.
Uruguay is particularly interested in increasing the relevance of the overall efforts of the United Nations, and in particular the General Assembly, as well as its Member States to ensure the potential for effective participation.
Uruguay has always sought to contribute to the overall transparency of the functioning of the United Nations and all its organs, including the work of the United Nations Security Council.
In today’s world, the possibility for increasing the efficiency and efficiency of the Organization will be appreciated, while cutting operating costs and increasing transparency and accountability with regard to its spending.
We particularly appreciate the Organization’s efforts to include civil society and the private sector, as part of the solution to the economic, social and environmental issues that arise, as inclusive and sustainable development requires the participation of the entire society.
The leaders of the world must rise to the level of the circumstances and of our peoples and be capable, just as our leaders were 75 years ago, of thinking beyond the current crisis and consolidating the multilateral mechanisms and instruments that enable our societies to achieve sustainable and inclusive development, respecting democracy, freedoms and the rights of all human beings.
We world leaders must take charge.
Thank you very much.


His Excellency Mr. Volkan Bozkir, President of the seventy-fifth session of the United Nations General Assembly
His Excellency Mr. Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations
Heads of State and Government
Distinguished delegates,
History has taught us that decisions made in times of crisis define and leave their mark on the world for decades.
In other words, the great trials of humankind, such as pandemics, have forced us to break with the past, to imagine a new world.
This pandemic is no different. It is a portal — the bridge between one world and the next.
World leaders today face a number of extraordinary and monumental challenges.
In the short, medium and long term, COVID-19 has put the paradigms of today’s society to the test and challenges us to actively build the future we want.
This implies changes in our economic systems, leadership and governance, transparency, protection and restoration of biodiversity, human rights and social inclusion.
Ladies and gentlemen,
COVID-19 has highlighted contradictions in public policy, throughout the world, and reveals that a post-pandemic world must be sustainable and better.
The decisions we make today will have long-term consequences. Doing more of the same is simply unsustainable. That would mean disregarding the scale of human suffering that the pandemic has unleashed.
This crisis is unnerving — in part because it has new and unfamiliar characteristics. It is a global health emergency.
However, the most worrisome part of the pandemic is not new. COVID-19 has highlighted deep inequalities that already exist.
Although the pandemic affects us all, not all of us are affected equally. We must all focus on poverty and inequality.
If in the past some chose to ignore them, it is now impossible not to acknowledge their harsh reality.
Let us be clear. The post-pandemic world will continue with the same problems we face now, but under increasingly extreme conditions.
The post-pandemic world will be different only if, going forward, even amid this battle, we take mitigation measures and focus on laying the foundations to resolve these issues and bring about deep structural change.
If we learn the right lessons from this crisis, we will be able to achieve the social consensus that will allow us to accelerate the reforms needed to achieve a society that is prosperous, and above all, just and more united.
Ladies and gentlemen,
One of the main lessons learned from the pandemic is the importance of trusting science, technology and innovation to provide solutions that allow us to close existing social gaps.
The circumstances created by the pandemic enabled the rapid implementation of innovative systems. Learning processes have been accelerated as never before, leading to greater return on the State’s investment in innovation.
This is particularly true in the digital economy, reflected in the shift to methods, such as telecommuting or the consumption of services and products ordered and delivered online and by courier.
It is also seen in the application of first-world digital educational platforms, which we now use in some of our public schools or in the practice of telemedicine, which allows citizens in remote areas to receive medical care from specialists hundreds of kilometres away.
Ladies and gentlemen,
An increase in unemployment is a serious consequence of the health crisis. Here, too, there is an important opportunity for our economies, which are based primarily on informal work, as the groundwork is laid and the necessary changes are made in public policies to build the future we want — one focused on entrepreneurship and the formalization of employment.
In a post-COVID-19 world, shared prosperity can be the result of a common vision of global solidarity.
The most important lesson from the pandemic is that of working together on problems that affect humankind. Without a doubt, we are stronger together than apart.
Let us remember that after the Second World War, it was the need to survive, rebuild economies and prevent the scourge of a new war that brought countries together to create a new international order.
The pandemic has again produced that de facto solidarity. We have seen how international cooperation has been mobilized through concrete actions by countries. For example, scientists from Asia, Europe and the Americas share information and experiences.
Ladies and gentlemen,
As the country with the best maritime and air connectivity in Latin America and the Caribbean, Panama has done the same in its position as hub of the Americas, by allowing its infrastructure to be used by the world — maintaining the 144 maritime routes and 1,700 ports served by its Canal. We have kept our port and airport open, thereby ensuring the continuity of logistics chains for global supplies, in particular of food and medicine.
We demonstrated our solidarity by providing humanitarian assistance and allowing the Zandaam and Rotterdam cruise ships, which were affected by COVID-19, to transit the Panama Canal so that their passengers could be treated in time, thereby preventing a greater tragedy.
We allowed our infrastructure to be used by the region, thereby making it possible for humanitarian assistance in the form of supplies, medicines and medical equipment to be distributed to more than 30 countries through the Regional Logistics Center, the United Nations World Food Programme and the International Red Cross.
Only together, with solidarity and cooperation, can we move forward.
If the international community fails to respond now, in a decisive manner, the United Nations 2030 Agenda could be derailed.
A new multilateral order requires genuine commitment from each of our countries to taking concrete action to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. And what is agreed here in this forum is delivered upon at home.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Our planet has been extremely badly hurt.
The pandemic has plunged millions of people into grief. We are engaged in a relentless daily battle, facing the unseen and the uncertain, head-on, refusing to surrender.
We have lost grandparents, parents and children in the deadly duel against the virus. Nurses, doctors, health workers have fallen victim. We believe that a vaccine is near and that we can stop an evil no one ever wanted.
We will recover. Governments and world leaders must acknowledge mistakes and be prepared going forward so that our health systems can face crises, such as the one we now face.
We can and must help each other, but we must learn from this frightful situation that beyond recovery, we must build a new society — one that is more supportive, equitable and just.
Together, as nations united, we will build the future we want. Let us make no mistake — multilateral action is the right path.
Thank you very much.


Mr. President of the General Assembly,
Mr. Secretary General,
Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Allow me to congratulate Mr. Volkan Bozkir on his election as President of the current session of the General Assembly and to wish him every success in his important term.
At the same time, I express my appreciation to Mr. Tijjani Muhammad-Bande for the activity he performed as the President of the previous session.
Mr. President,
Our participation in the proceedings of the General Assembly session is a privilege, even though the pandemic forces us to switch to the virtual regime. I believe the current session of the Assembly provides a good opportunity to celebrate together the 75th Anniversary of the creation of the United Nations and to reaffirm our common commitment to the values and principles enshrined in the UN Charter.
Some politicians paraphrased Voltaire, saying that if the United Nations did not exist, it should have to be invented. We fully subscribe.
Seen in retrospect of 75 years of its activity, the UN proved that it has no alternative globally, neither in terms of legitimacy and normative impact, nor in terms of its full engagement in solving international problems and crises, the way it had been emphasized in the recently adopted Declaration of celebration.
We hope that with the fulfilment of the reform package, especially of those targeting the UN development system, the Organization will give dynamism to our efforts to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. I take this opportunity to personally thank the Secretary-General, Mr. Antonio Guterres, for the launching and implementation of these complex reforms, which redefine the role and weight of the UN in the contemporary world. From this perspective, we consider it important to state during this session the continuous commitment and firm support of the Republic of Moldova for the United Nations.
Mr. President,
We live the challenge of an unprecedented year considering its breadth, complexity, and number of lasting crises. The coronavirus pandemic became one of the biggest challenges after the Second World War, triggering the current global crisis. The pandemic affected every country, generating devastating economic, social and political effects.
The Government of the Republic of Moldova, with the support of development partners, has focused on immediate priorities meant to support the healthcare system by purchasing essential medical equipment and materials. The fight against COVID-19 requires coordinated and transparent action at the global level. We also emphasize the importance of enhanced international cooperation, with manifested solidarity. We support the imperative need to ensure an universal access to treatment and vaccines, when they become available.
In the light of the above, we reiterate that the Republic of Moldova fully supports the agenda of the UN Secretary-General through the UN Global Crisis Response Plan, targeting the most disadvantaged social groups. We also welcome the creation of the Special Fund to support response and recovery measures for the fight against COVID-19 of low- and middle-income states, as a critical tool in addressing the crisis of the national healthcare systems and the economic and social consequences caused by virus.
Mr. President,
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development remains in our common focus and has an important roadmap towards a prosperous and peaceful world, where everyone can enjoy one’s rights, living a decent life in safety.
After five years of implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, the Republic of Moldova presented, in July, the first Voluntary National Report, which represented an exercise to map progress, challenges, and opportunities, to identify solutions and to accelerate its development.
By increasing the degree of prosperity, through the efforts of territorial reintegration of the country, by consolidating the rule of law, modernizing the social and economic infrastructure, we will generate, consequently, multiple opportunities for assertion, opportunities for involvement and active participation of every citizen.
Over the last year we managed to achieve positive changes in the fight against corruption and we keep on working effectively on the justice reform - these are essential elements to ensure the much-needed momentum for our advancement. In order to increase the social protection of the citizens, we resorted to the indexation of pensions and allowances twice a year. The ambitious national road infrastructure rehabilitation program is in full swing. The recently initiated constitutional reform also aims at ensuring the sustainable development of the Republic of Moldova.
I use this opportunity to express the deep concern of the Republic of Moldova in relation to the climate change and natural cataclysms. Our country fully shares the opinion that the conservation and rational use of biodiversity, especially the equitable distribution of benefits from the exploitation of genetic resources, are indispensable tools in advancing the implementation of the Agenda for Sustainable Development-2030 and the Vision for Biodiversity-2050.
Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,
This year we mark the 25th anniversary of the World Conference on Women in Beijing under the sign of action for inclusion and equality. The Republic of Moldova, along with 189 other nations, has adopted the General Declaration and Platform for Action on the Status of Women and their Equal Participation in All Areas of Public and Private Life.
Thus, we initiated several important reforms to ensure decent working conditions, eradicate poverty, expand social services for women, protect the health of the mother and child, strengthening the child protection system, building a peaceful and inclusive society.
The Republic of Moldova achieved a significant progress in terms of women’s participation in the decision-making process. Our national law-making body and other important executive state institutions are currently led by women. The Republic of Moldova will continue to invest in human capital as a condition for progress.
Distinguished audience,
Conflicts and crises of varying intensity continue to be a threat to peace, security, and development around the world. The Republic of Moldova supports the UN Secretary General’s call for a global ceasefire. In the context of a global crisis, armed conflicts aggravate the situation and intensify the destructive effect of the armament race.
At the same time, the Republic of Moldova expresses a deep concern regarding the scale of the armament race through the excessive accumulation of conventional weapons and nuclear weapon modernization programs. We regret the persistent uncertainty of the situation related to the existing disarmament and control agreements of strategic armaments. On the background of emergence and escalation of increasing armed conflicts, we note globally enlarged military spendings and the weapons trading. In this respect, the international climate, marked by the use and threat of use of force, accentuates the insecurity of the international environment.
Over recent years, the Republic of Moldova has expanded its contribution to the peacekeeping process, fully ensuring the substitution of the positions allocated to our country in international peacekeeping missions, in strict compliance with gender criteria and in the spirit of the Security Council resolution on Women, Peace and Security.
In this context, we believe that the UN Security Council, in particular its permanent members, must prove a greater responsibility and commitment to the objectives and principles of the Organization.
Mr. President,
We are witnessing interventions into the security balance in the world and, especially, in the Eastern Europe, where the Republic of Moldova is located. Despite our efforts, we note the lack of tangible progress in overcoming lasting conflicts.
Since 1992, both within the UN and OSCE, as well as within other international platforms, the Republic of Moldova constantly addressed the issue of the Transnistrian conflict settlement. Despite our efforts, we must certify that the Transnistrian conflict still remains unresolved. The reasons could be explained by the lack of appropriate political will of some actors involved, by the existence of “underwater” economic interests of some circles in different countries of the region we belong to, but also by the strongly pronounced geopolitical character of the Transnistrian problem.
In this regard, we emphasize the importance of a constructive approach of all actors engaged in the well-known 5+2 format and mandated to identify the final solution to the conflict. I am convinced that the guarantor states and the observers will put further efforts to quickly identify a comprehensive, peaceful, and viable solution. It will be based upon respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Moldova within the internationally recognized borders, with the adoption of a special status for the Transnistrian region and the guaranteed political, economic and social rights of the population in this region.
Over the recent years, we have focused on issues that require priority actions. These include ensuring and guaranteeing free movement throughout the country, creating a single economic space and promoting confidence-building measures.
We regret that the pandemic generated by COVID-19 has created new obstacles to the free movement of people, goods and services between the two banks of the Nistru river. They have a negative impact on human rights, strain the situation in the Security Zone, and delay progress in the negotiation process.
The adoption of a final political decision and the signing of relevant documents on complete settlement of the Transnistrian conflict is to be based exclusively on initiatives and proposals formulated directly by the Republic of Moldova, but not on those developed abroad. Therefore, we will put all the necessary efforts to ensure that a first draft of the Basic Parameters and Principles of the final settlement model is developed quickly and submitted in the first half of the upcoming year to all participants and stakeholders of the 5+2 format to be discussed and, deeply hoping, to find the common denominator for a solution of the conflict.
In this context, we call for a strengthened UN cooperation with the OSCE in managing peacekeeping operations, ensuring respect for and promoting fundamental human rights in conflict regions, facilitating mediation and conflict resolution. We rely very much on OSCE as a stabilizing factor at the regional level.
At the same time, we believe that the necessary preconditions exist for the resumption of the bilateral dialogue with the Russian Federation in order to identify a solution regarding the Cobasna stores. About 20 thousand tons of already obsolete ammunition remain stationed on the territory of the Republic of Moldova.
We are fully aware of the fact that the restoration of the territorial integrity and the functioning of the Republic of Moldova as a unitary and indivisible body are decisive in building of a modern, prosperous, and successful state.
Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen
Historically, the Moldovan state had an important feature: our country was formed on the crossroads of various civilizations, cultures, languages, religions, and geopolitical interests. Therefore, the multi-ethnic, multicultural nature of the country’s development has been and remains the main feature of Moldova. A respectful, good- neighbourly attitude towards the linguistic differences of other ethnic groups has become the basis of existence of the Moldovan state and an important condition for its successful development. Living in peace and harmony on this land, representatives of different cultures, languages of communication and confessions have been working for the good and strengthening of the country, contributing to the development of Moldovan statehood for more than 660 years.
For my part, as President, I want to emphasize the leadership of Moldova is making every effort to preserve the atmosphere of friendliness, mutual assistance and respect for people of different ethnic origins, languages and religions in our country. As a result, almost every citizen of Moldova speaks several languages fluently, constantly discovers the peculiarities of the culture of different peoples, the Russian language has a special status as a language of interethnic communication, and this is an unconditional competitive advantage for realizing the capabilities of our citizens in the modern world.
We also believe the Republic of Moldova can successfully develop as an independent, sovereign, democratic, rule-of-law state actively pursuing a policy of permanent neutrality, based on desire of the Moldovan people for peaceful coexistence with other peoples and states of Europe and the world. We are confident that the permanent neutrality of Moldova, enshrined in the current Constitution, is the basis of our national, energy and information security, a guarantee of sustainable, long-term economic development and prosperity of the country.
We are sincerely grateful to the United Nations, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, and other international organizations and partners that consistently support the Republic of Moldova. The dynamic development of Moldova with the assistance and large-scale support of international partners will contribute to strengthening the dialogue between the countries of our region and Europe as a whole.
Mr. President,
Three years ago, I declared a balanced foreign policy as an important condition for ensuring the sustainable development of the Republic of Moldova.
Moldova is a small country with a peaceful people. Obviously, there’s no way we may try to fight someone. We want to work to quickly modernize our country and maintain mutually beneficial relations with the entire international community. Being a neutral state, we will not engage in the support of one state against another. Respectively, we do not admit to joining sanctions against our partners for development. I reiterate that, according to the Constitution of the Republic of Moldova, we are a neutral state and, therefore, we will not join any political-military bloc, either in the West or in the East.
Over recent years, Moldova’s foreign policy has been aimed at maintaining friendly relations and international partnerships, especially with our direct neighbours — Romania and Ukraine.
A balanced foreign policy is crucial for ensuring the sustainable development of the Republic of Moldova, protecting it from contemporary geopolitical fluctuations.
In the West, our political relations and cooperation with the EU are guided by the Association Agreement signed in 2014 on strengthening the rule of law, democratic institutions, respect for human rights. Naturally, the European Union is a strategic partner for the Republic of Moldova in all areas of state’ and Moldovan society’s life.
Indeed, Moldova is a European country due to its history and geographical position. We are an integral part of the Eastern European region. At the same time, the Republic of Moldova has a pronounced interference with the Eurasian space. By signing in 2018 the Memorandum of Cooperation with the Eurasian Economic Union, the Republic of Moldova obtained observer status in this organization — a fact that allows us to follow closely the evolution and prospects of this promising regional organisation. Over recent years we have managed to restore the strategic partnership with the Russian Federation.
Thus, one of our priorities is developing good political and economic cooperation with partners within the free trade areas of the European Union and Commonwealth of Independent States.
Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,
The 75th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations gives us a special opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to the goals and principles of the Organization. At the same time, the unity in action, solidarity and international cooperation, intensified in the fight against COVID-19, will help us cope with this important test of humanity’s resilience.
Thank you!


Bismillah Rahman-ur-Rahim
Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen,
We, the peoples of the United Nations, this year observe our 75th anniversary. We do so at a time of unprecedented global turmoil. All of us here today share a common condition — a condition that does not distinguish between developed or developing countries. This turmoil that defines our times is a global phenomenon. And while all of us bear a share of the burden of this turmoil, some countries bear a much larger share than others.
Afghanistan is one such country. We find ourselves simultaneously at the centre of regional opportunity and also at the centre of the manifestation of global problems. Afghanistan is positioned right at the heart of Asia. Our water ties us together; our cultures and languages give us a common denominator. South Asia’s need for energy resources and Central Asia’s abundance of them makes Afghanistan a critical connector. Asia cannot integrate without us. We are right at the heart of untapped potential that could bring prosperity and peace to our region. But this means that we are also right in the middle of the turmoil that is affecting us all today. We are experiencing the worst of it. But Afghanistan could be a model for successfully overcoming the turmoil we all face. That task, like the turmoil, is one that belongs to all of us.
We must first identify the drivers of this turmoil. There are five sources, all of which Afghanistan has been dealing with simultaneously. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed our vulnerabilities, to the point that we, as a global community, could no longer afford to ignore them. We Afghans were fortunate to have contained the first wave of the pandemic through close Government, business and societal cooperation, with minimal input from UN agencies, but the pandemic has exposed gaps in our systems that must be addressed.
The COVID-19 pandemic has done for us what World War II did for generations before us — both had such immense human costs and were phenomenon that had such a global impact that then, and now, we are forced to pay attention and take unprecedented action.
In the face of vulnerabilities exacerbated by the pandemic, another driver of inequality and unemployment is upending our world — the 4th industrial revolution. The digital age is upon us, challenging us to adapt the ways we consume, the ways we work, and the ways we govern.
In Afghanistan, we are experimenting with how to adapt so that this digital revolution can be wielded as a source of economic opportunity for our overwhelmingly young population, as well as a way to strengthen our systems of governance and rule of law. We are looking far ahead with the knowledge that if we try to replicate 19th or 20th century models now, they will become irrelevant as soon as we stabilize them.
The same can be said for global attempts to harness the drive of the 4th industrial revolution — we have to think ahead of our time.
This new kind of industrial revolution, combined with the pandemic, presented challenges in planning and executing this very gathering, and yet the UNGA leadership has managed to creatively transform this experience into one that is more efficient, effective, convenient and far less risky. I want to congratulate His Excellency Volkan Bozkir not only on assuming the Presidency of this 75th Session of the UNGA, but also for his success in overcoming the particular challenge of hosting a massive gathering of global leaders during the pandemic.
Violence and warfare have also evolved, an evolution we Afghans have witnessed and suffered in real time. We are living, and dying, inside the 5th wave of global terrorism, in which global terrorist networks are closely linked with global criminal networks, making warfare totally unconventional and peace-building even more of a challenge.
As a state and society, we have demonstrated the commitment, compassion and courage to take hard decisions to start direct peace talks with the Taliban. This won’t be enough. For sustainable in Afghanistan, we must get to the root of the terrorism problem blighting our region and address it as the global phenomenon, and threat, that it is.
The untold sorrow of the Afghan people, particularly our women and children, during the last 40 years, serves as a reminder of the relevance of the UN Charter, and also of its unfulfilled promise, of “maintaining international peace and security.”
Climate change has effected another type of violence and suffering on our people. Afghanistan is the 17th worst affected country in the world.
Just last month, hundreds of Afghans were killed or injured, and had their entire homes and livelihoods destroyed, when massive flood waters ripped through the province of Parwan and 13 other provinces. Two years before, the other extreme — drought — led us to nation-wide wheat shortages and upended the livelihoods of the majority of our population who rely on jobs in agriculture to put food on their tables.
Drought and floods are seasonal occurrences for Afghanistan. We need regional solutions based on international models to address the problem of climate change.
We have signed memoranda of understanding with the Fortescue Metals Group to change Afghanistan into a leading green industry, energy and intend to produce 20,000 megawatts from hydro and use it to produce zero emissions steel and other products from an estimated $1 trillion in mineral resources.
We are also in discussion with other corporations to turn 70,000 megawatts of wind, and 220,000 megawatts of solar into renewable energy, thereby become a hub for renewable energy and green industry in the region.
The fifth driver of turmoil is a culmination of the first four — an unprecedented explosion of inequality that will continue to perpetuate this state of turmoil, until — or unless — we take action. In Afghanistan we are focusing on human capital and human security to create the equality of opportunities for our fellow citizen and societal stability for our people.
I come back now to the first driver — the COVID-19 pandemic — because the scope and scale of its impact forced us to see the other four drivers, which were worsened and highlighted by the pandemic.
The pandemic taught us an urgent lesson: We can no longer ignore these drivers.
The cost of our inaction is uncertainty.
We are asking ourselves at this General Assembly what kind of future do we want to live in?
In truth, the extreme levels of uncertainty make the future very difficult to predict, but if I were to try and address that question my answer would be simple.
We have to get back to basics. We have to go back to the foundational values of the United Nations and the documents that enshrine them — the UN Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights — and we have to fulfill these yet- unfulfilled promises.
The future must hold, to quote the preamble of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, “ recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family,” which is truly the “foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world.”
These values have been embraced the world over. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is today universal discourse. Its values have been reflected in almost all state constitutions since the demise of the Soviet Union.
But these values have not been actualized.
These should not be lofty ideals and aspirations of the international community. They should be achievable goals. In Afghanistan, they are urgent and real problems we grapple with daily.
What will it take to fulfill these promises of peace, prosperity, dignity, justice, and freedom?
To shape our shared future in a direction that will fulfill these promises for all of us will take unprecedented acts of cooperative and coordinated actions at all levels of the global village’s community, economy and governance.
We need frameworks for the future that present pragmatic solutions for collectively addressing and solving the five drivers of turmoil, particularly global terrorism and climate change.
This will require the type of imagination and leadership that gave us the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the UN Charter and the capabilities that overcame the global turmoil inflicted on the world by the Second World War.
With these frameworks in place, we can get back to the foundational basics that the United Nations was created to address in the first place.
The United Nations that we need is an organization with the authorities, capabilities, capitals, and commitments to fulfill the purposes and principles of this Charter.
I would like to commend His Excellency Secretary-General Guterres for the progress made so far in his reform agenda for the UN. But we have much further to go, and we all have a shared responsibility to shoulder in efforts to progress the sustainable development goals and progress peace, prosperity and security across the globe.
In Afghanistan, we are moving into the next five years with a clear plan for progressing the values of the UN, which are enshrined in our constitution, and working toward prosperity, security and peace in our own country.
Our plan is based on building our markets for economic development, moving from an aid to a trade model, increasing our labor and capital productivity in key areas in which we have a competitive advantage.
The objective is self-reliance, moving away from donor relationships to mutually beneficial partnerships.
At the same time, we will invest in strengthening state governance structures to create an environment conducive to growth. This means continuing to combat systemic corruption, improving our public financial management systems, and strengthen provincial and district level governance.
We are looking closely at the gaps and weaknesses exposed by the pandemic, and strengthening our systems for the long-term.
Though we are facing multiple drivers of turmoil all at once in Afghanistan, above all, peace remains our most urgent and important priority.
There is a passage from the preamble of the Charter of the United Nations that encapsulates our current goals for peace in Afghanistan. We want “to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, which twice in our lifetime has brought untold sorrow to mankind, and... to unite our strength to maintain international peace and security”.
The role of the United Nations in standing for our shared values throughout the peace process is absolutely critical, and we thank the United Nations for their support so far throughout this arduous process. We thank the UN for their call for a global ceasefire.
The role of the UN and our international partners and allies will continue to be extremely important as our negotiating team sits across from the Taliban in Doha.
At those talks, the Afghan people have a clear and urgent priority: a ceasefire. An urgent end to the violence will, more than anything else, give us a chance to progress.
I would like to take this opportunity to call on every member of the General Assembly and the Permanent Members of the Security Council to help us achieve the end-state of a sovereign, united and democratic Afghanistan, at peace with itself and the region, capable of preserving and expanding the gains of the last 19 years. A democratically stable and prosperous Afghanistan will be an example of how our collective will can overcome the turmoil and uncertainty that defines our world today. Thank You.


Mr. President of the United Nations General Assembly, Volkan Bozkir,
Mr. Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, whom I am pleased to greet in our mother tongue, Heads of State, Government and Delegation,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is an honor to open this Assembly together with representatives of sovereign nations, at a point in time when the world needs the truth to overcome its challenges.
COVID-19 has become the center of attention over the course of this year and, first of all, I wish to express my sorrow for each and every life lost.
From the very beginning, in my country, I warned that we had two problems to solve, the virus and joblessness, and that both issues had to be addressed simultaneously and with the same sense of responsibility.
As determined by court ruling in Brazil, all measures involving social distancing and restrictions of movement were delegated to each of the 27 Governors in the Federation. The President, in turn, was assigned the responsibility for sending out resources nationwide.
As was the case in much of the world, segments of the Brazilian media have also politicized the virus by spreading panic among the population. Under the mottoes “stay at home” and “we will deal with the economy later on”, they almost brought about social chaos to the country.
But our administration in a bold step put in place several economic measures that prevented a greater evil.
Emergency relief was granted in installments adding up to approximately $1,000 for 65 million people, the largest assistance program for the poorest in Brazil and perhaps one of the largest in the world.
More than $100 billion were allocated to cover health related actions and help small and micro enterprises; measures were also taken to offset the loss in revenue collection in state and local governments.
More than 200,000 indigenous families were assisted with foodstuffs and covid prevention efforts.
In close contact with healthcare professionals, we encouraged early treatment of the disease.
$400 million were dedicated to the research, development and production of the Oxford vaccine in Brazil. In Brazil, hospitals did not lack the means to cater to covid patients.
The pandemic teaches us a major lesson, which is that we cannot possibly depend on just a few nations for the production of essential inputs and means for our survival. The hydroxychloroquine input production alone had a 500 per cent price increase at the onset of the pandemic.
Brazil is thus open for the development of state-of-the-art technology and innovation efforts, such as 4.0 Industry, artificial intelligence, nanotechnology and 5G technology, with all partners who respect our sovereignty and cherish freedom and data protection.
In Brazil, despite the world crisis, agricultural production never stopped. Farmers have worked harder than ever, producing food to feed over 1 billion people.
Brazil has indeed helped to continuously feed the world. Our truck drivers, maritime, port and aviation workers have kept the entire logistics chain fully active and ensured distribution domestically and into the export markets.
Our agribusiness remains vibrant and thriving and, above all, it has and respects the best environmental legislation on the planet.
Even so, we are victims of a most brutal disinformation campaign about the Amazon and the Brazilian wetlands.
The Brazilian Amazon is known to be immensely rich. That explains the support given by international institutions to this disinformation campaign anchored on shady interests coupled with exploitative and unpatriotic Brazilian associations with the purpose of undermining the Government and Brazil itself.
We are leaders when it comes to the conservation of tropical rainforests. We have the world’s cleanest and most diversified energy mix.
Even as one of the world’s ten largest economies, we account for only 3 per cent of carbon emissions worldwide.
We provide food security to one sixth of the world’s population, even while preserving 66 per cent of our native vegetation and using only 27 per cent of our territory for animal husbandry and agriculture. These are figures that no other country has.
Brazil stands out as the world’s largest producer of foodstuffs. And for that reason there is such a strong interest in spreading out disinformation about our environment.
We are open to the world to offer our very best, i.e., our agricultural products. We have never exported so much. The world increasingly relies on Brazil to feed itself.
Ours is a tropical rainforest and as such it does not allow fire to be spread out within it. Fire outbreaks tend to occur virtually at the same places, in the eastern surroundings of the forest, where Brazilians of indigenous ancestry burn their farmlands in search of livelihood in already cleared areas.
Criminal fire outbreaks are fought with stringency and determination. I stand by my zero tolerance policy towards environmental crime. Together with Congress, we have sought land regularization with a view to identify the perpetrators of these criminal acts.
May I call to mind that the Amazon Region is larger than the whole of Western Europe. Hence, the difficulty of fighting not only fire outbreaks, but also illegal logging and biopiracy. In response, we are currently expanding and enhancing the use of technology and improving inter-agency operations, which include the engagement of the Armed Forces.
Our wetlands, with an area larger than many European countries, just as California, faces the same problems. Large fires are the inevitable consequence of high local temperature coupled with the accumulation of decaying organic matter.
Our concern for the environment goes beyond our forests. Brazil’s National Marine Debris Program, one of the very first initiatives of this kind, has designed a strategy for our coastline, which spans over 8,500 km.
Accordingly, Brazil made every effort at the COP25 in Madrid to establish, under the provisions of the Paris Agreement, an effective international carbon market. Unfortunately, however, the forces of protectionism prevailed.
In 2019, Brazil was the victim of a criminal seepage of Venezuelan oil, sold without proper control, which resulted in serious damage to the environment and major losses to the fishing and tourism industries.
Brazil deems it important to respect the freedom of navigation as established under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Accordingly, environmental protection rules must be respected and criminal acts investigated in a timely fashion, so as to ensure that criminal offenses such as that perpetrated against Brazil will not affect other countries.
Brazil stands out not only on the environmental preservation front, but also on the humanitarian and human rights agenda, an area where Brazil has become an international benchmark reference given our commitment and dedication in supporting Venezuelan refugees who reach Brazil through the border state of Roraima.
Operation Welcome, led by the Brazilian Ministry of Defense, has received almost 400,000 Venezuelans displaced as a result of the deep political and economic crisis bred by the Venezuelan dictatorship.
More than 4,000 Brazilian members of the military have taken part in the operation, which consists of a humanitarian logistical task force with a view to welcoming, sheltering and internalizing newly arrived families at the border.
As a founding member of the United Nations, Brazil is committed to the basic principles of the UN Charter: peace and international security, cooperation among nations, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. As the organization reaches its 75th anniversary, we now have the opportunity to renew our commitment and loyalty to these ideals.
Peace cannot possibly be dissociated from security. Cooperation among peoples cannot possibly be dissociated from freedom.
Brazil has enshrined the principles of peace, cooperation and the prevalence of human rights in its own Constitution, and has traditionally contributed to translate them into reality.
Brazil has by now taken part in more than 50 peacekeeping operations and related missions and has, as such, contributed with more than 55,000 members of the military, police officers and civilians, with remarkable involvement in the Suez Canal, Angola, East Timor, Haiti, Lebanon and the Congo.
Two Brazilian female members of the military were acknowledged by the United Nations for their work against sexual violence as part of the UN Mission in the Central African Republic.
We remain committed to completing the trade agreements signed between Mercosur and the European Union as well as the European Free Trade Association. These agreements contain important provisions that reinforce our commitment to environmental protection.
Under my administration, Brazil finally puts behind a protectionist tradition and has now adopted trade liberalization as a key tool for growth and transformation.
I reaffirm our commitment to the reform of the World Trade Organization, which must provide us with the relevant disciplines in line with the new international realities.
We are also approaching the official process for Brazil’s accession to the OECD. To that end, we have already put in place the world’s highest standards in all areas, to include financial regulation, digital security and environmental protection.
In my first year in office, we have successfully carried out the pension reform and, more recently, we submitted two new reform bills to Congress, to include the tax system and the administrative reform of the state apparatus.
New regulatory frameworks in key sectors, such as sanitation and natural gas, are also being put in place. They will attract more investments, provide economic stimulus and create jobs and income.
In 2019, Brazil was the world’s fourth largest destination of foreign direct investment and, in the first half of 2020, despite the pandemic, we have seen an increase in the inflow of investments as compared to the same period of last year. This is a clear-cut evidence of the world’s confidence in our government. In coordination with South Atlantic partners, Brazil has been working to reinvigorate the South Atlantic Peace and Cooperation Zone.
Brazil is concerned with and repudiates terrorism in all parts of the world.
In Latin America, we continue to strive for the preservation and promotion of democracy as a cornerstone of the economic progress we all desire.
Liberty is humankind’s greatest asset.
I call upon the entire international community to protect religious freedom and fight against Christophobia. I also wish to reaffirm my solidarity and support for the people of Lebanon in the wake of the recent hardships they have endured.
We believe that the time is right for us to open up new and more optimistic horizons for the future of the Middle East. The peace agreements between Israel and the United Arab Emirates and between Israel and Bahrain — three friends of Brazil with which our government has greatly strengthened relations — are excellent news.
Brazil also welcomes the Plan for Peace and Prosperity launched by President Donald Trump, which features a promising vision to resume the path towards a much- desired solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict after more than seven decades of efforts.
Brazil’s new policy of simultaneously pursuing closer relations with Israel and the Arab countries is very much in line with those initiatives, which finally shine a light of hope for that region.
Brazil is a Christian and conservative country, and has family as its foundation.
May God bless us all.
Thank you very much.


Mr. President,
Your Excellences and Honours,
Ladies and gentlemen,
May peace and God’s mercy and blessings be upon you
It gives me great pleasure, Mr. President, to begin by congratulating you and your brotherly country on your election as President of the United Nations General Assembly at its seventy-fifth session. I wish you every success in discharging your tasks. I assure you my country’s delegation’s readiness to cooperate with you in order to achieve the objectives of the session.
I would also like to express my thanks and appreciation to your predecessor, Mr. Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, for his efforts during his presidency of the previous session. I would also be remiss if I did not mention the ongoing efforts of Secretary- General Antonio Guterres to fulfil the principles and purposes of the United Nations.
Regrettably, this year’s session is being held amid difficult and cruel international circumstances caused by COVID-19, which disregards geographical borders and does not discriminate among people. The pandemic continues to cause significant loss of life and pose a threat to all services and production sectors, especially in poor countries affected by instability and conflict. As the Secretary- General has stressed on several occasions, we can overcome the pandemic only through solidarity, greater mutual international cooperation and concerted efforts.
Each time I have the opportunity to address the Assembly, I wish that I could talk about the end of the difficult transition period facing my country and its success in overcoming grave challenges. I wish that I could say that my country is on the path to building a civilian, democratic State where power is peacefully transferred, the rule of law is respected and human rights and dignity are protected.
However, regrettably, some seek to undermine these aspirations, for which the Libyan people have made considerable sacrifices. They continue to make every effort, regardless of how destructive or unjust, to seize power and rule by force. Nevertheless, we are determined to pursue the goals for which martyrs made the ultimate sacrifice. The heroes of our national army and armed forces have proven that they can defeat anyone who seeks to impose dictatorship and the rule of the individual.
We kept our promise when we stated that invaders would not enter Tripoli. On 4 April 2019, the city remained resilient in the face of a tyrannical attack led by the aggressors and militias that support them. It resulted in countless human and material losses. Our heroes made the ultimate sacrifice during Operation Volcano of Rage and we were able to deter and defeat the aggression. Regrettably, it was supported by countries known to everyone and mentioned in United Nations reports.
This is unacceptable because it violates Libyan sovereignty and independence, Security Council resolutions and international law, which prohibit interference in the internal affairs of States. There is no doubt that such conduct cannot be compared to legitimate agreements concluded by the legitimate Government with some States.
As new developments emerge with the aggressor’s defeat and the victory of the Libyan people, we are determined to overcome all obstacles and build a democratic State. We call on these States to revisit their positions and refrain from relying on the aggressors. Instead, they should discuss with the Government of National Accord how to find solutions to their concerns. We must work to establish and promote cooperation based on mutual respect, common interests and the principle of noninterference in the internal affairs of States.
We have stressed on all occasions our commitment to peaceful means through constructive dialogue as the only way out of the crisis. We engage positively with a United Nations-led peace process and offer it every assistance in this regard. We also engage in good faith in initiatives to reach a solution, as demonstrated at the recently held Berlin Conference. We have put forward several initiatives to resolve the political and security crisis, as well as plans and programmes to address the daily challenges faced by Libyans. We have constantly proven that we want peace, not war and destruction.
While we possess the strength and faith to resist and defeat the aggressor, we want to prevent bloodshed and loss of life. We also want to unite our efforts to combat COVID-19 pandemic, which is a threat to our citizens. We announced a ceasefire on 21 August and have called for elections by March of next year. We have underscored that an effective and lasting ceasefire requires that the regions of Sirte and Jufra be free of weapons. Foreign forces and mercenaries must withdraw from both districts and from Libyan territory as a whole. That is how we guarantee the sovereignty of Libyan territory established by the Government of National Accord.
We welcome the regional and international support for this initiative and look forward to practical measures that could swiftly lead to full withdrawal from the aforementioned areas.
The mercenaries should return to their countries and ports and oil fields must be reopened immediately. Outside influences forced their closure, which led to an estimated $9 billion in losses, in addition to considerable damage in the oil infrastructure.
We welcomed the statement by political leaders in eastern Libya, calling for a ceasefire and the resumption of oil production. However, we have not yet seen response from the armed groups and militias. Instead, their spokesman issued hostile statements and we have seen breaches by their forces, backed up by the mercenaries. We hold them responsible for military confrontations and all subsequent casualties and destruction.
We have made many attempts to improve the living conditions of Libyans, strengthen the service sectors and limit the proliferation of weapons and insecurity. In many cases, through cooperation with the United Nations Support Mission in Libya, we have achieved tangible progress. However, these efforts have been unsustainable because of external negative interventions and division among our institutions, as well as stalled oil production, which is our main source of income.
We have always known that the policies of an elected Government of national unity are required to address these challenges. Therefore, we reiterate our call for an agreement based on the Constitution and for the holding of presidential and parliamentary elections. We look forward to strong international support. We also welcome the effective contribution of the United Nations to ensure the requirements for successful elections, for which Libyans who believe in democracy and State institutions have waited far too long.
Undoubtedly, this will end the legitimacy crisis. To that end, we believe that we must hasten to resume the political dialogue and include all stakeholders — all political factions and parties, all regions and all segments of society, regardless of their affiliation or ideology. The only exception would be those proven to have committed crimes and to have spilled Libyan blood.
Pertaining to human rights issues, we emphasize our determination to protect and promote these rights. To that end, we have issued a number of laws at the national level. Despite the challenges we face, we are striving to fulfil our international obligations under the relevant international conventions and are currently reviewing our accession to further treaties and conventions that promote human rights. We also attach great importance to the promotion of women’s rights and gender equality and we continue to provide free education and health care to all citizens.
The aggression against Tripoli constituted a flagrant violation of all principles of human rights, with indiscriminate bombings that have caused death, destruction and displacement. The use of landmines and field executions revealed mass graves in the city of Tarhouna after the aggressor had been defeated.
Those gross violations of human rights were addressed by the Human Rights Council, which responded to our demands and formed a relevant commission of inquiry. We welcome that measure and reiterate our readiness to cooperate and facilitate the work of the Council. We also call on the Council to investigate the violations suffered by citizens of the city of Sirte at the hands of Haftar’s militias, the most recent of which included the detention of a number of men and the execution of one in front of his family.
The Government of National Accord is committed to safeguarding the right of citizens to peacefully express themselves, as enshrined by the law, and to protect demonstrators, allowing them to express their opinions and their legitimate demands for better living conditions, better services and an end to corruption. We will not allow any attempt to oppress them by force.
My country reaffirms its rejection and condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, whatever its source or motive. We stress that terrorism is a global phenomenon that should not be attributed to any religion or creed. My country has made great sacrifices to eliminate terrorist organizations that included a number of foreign fighters, such as the foreign Da’esh organization. By targeting Libya, Da’esh threatened our security, stability and safety, as well as our natural resources, which it sought to exploit in the service of its evil plans, which have nothing to do with Islam.
Libya has ratified all international conventions related to the fight against terrorism and considers the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and its four pillars to be one of the most important legal frameworks to facilitate counterterrorism through national legislation. The promotion of regional and international cooperation remains the best way to track down and eliminate terrorist networks and, in that connection, we must highlight the need to support regional and subregional counter-terrorism plans and programmes. In Libya, for example, we are cooperating with some of our neighbours on joint border control efforts in order to arrest and prosecute terrorists.
My country is continuously concerned by the phenomenon of irregular migration and acknowledges the urgent need to address the continued flow of migrants who are exposed to great dangers, including exploitation by human trafficking networks. Irregular migration represents a human tragedy that the international community has thus far been unable to resolve. As a transit country, Libya is facing serious economic, social and security repercussions as a result of that phenomenon, which has exacerbated instability in our country and reflected negatively on Libyan society. It has become difficult to address such a phenomenon without external cooperation and assistance commensurate with its challenges and serious repercussions.
We look forward to further collaboration with the international organizations with which we have consulted and coordinated in order to obtain realistic and objective data on migrants in Libya and the hardships they face. We do not believe that unilateral reports containing inaccurate and exaggerated information are helpful in reaching meaningful solutions. Such reports are disappointing because they focus on alleged violations by the relevant authorities in the country without mention of the same authorities’ efforts to serve the interests of migrants. The same reports neglect to mention the fact that more than half a million irregular migrants live peacefully among Libyans, working in various sectors and sending funds back to their families in their countries of origin.
There is broad international consensus that addressing the challenges of migration exceeds the capacity of any individual country. Libya is a victim and not a cause of irregular migration, and therefore we reaffirm that the best solution is to address the root causes that drive people to flee their countries of origin. It is imperative that the international community assist those countries and encourage them to implement real development programmes and improve services, sparing no effort to eradicate poverty, unemployment and all other hardships that lead people to embark on life-threatening migration.
My country attaches great importance to disarmament and the promotion of international peace and security, demonstrated by our active participation in discussions on the topic and our co-sponsorship of a number of United Nations resolutions. We continue to respect all relevant international treaties and conventions, in line with our understanding of the threat posed to international peace and security by the production and stockpiling of weapons of mass destruction and the horror they cause for all humankind. Libya also contributes to international efforts to eliminate weapons of mass destruction and to maintain international peace and security.
It has been almost five years since we began implementing the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, but we are concerned by the serious challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic that undermine the gains made and impede further progress. Libya continues to face many challenges with regard to achieving the SDGs, in particular due to insecurity and political instability in the country.
We are all aware that there can be no development without security and vice versa. In that context, we look forward to overcoming the difficulties we are currently experiencing so that we can launch real development plans and programmes and promote the economy in order to meet the SDGs.
It is vital to mobilize local resources and employ them in the implementation of development programmes. Much of Libya’s funds have been drained from the country; we therefore call on the States into which those funds were smuggled to assist in their retrieval.
In that connection, we wish to refer to the frozen assets of the Libyan sovereign wealth fund, which have been exposed to losses as a result of the sanctions imposed by the Security Council since 2011. We underscore that the purpose of those sanctions were to preserve Libyan assets and funds, not continue eroding them.
In reality, we are suffering great losses as a result of the frozen status of those funds and assets. Since March 2016, we have been providing the Security Council and the Sanctions Committee with clear and consecutive data on the scale of the heavy losses we are incurring and we have called for amendments to the existing sanctions regime to avoid such heavy losses. Unfortunately, we have not yet received an effective response to our legitimate request.
My delegation supports the reforms led by the Secretary-General with regard to certain United Nations organs. Despite the progress achieved thus far in that regard, the Security Council, which is the Organization’s most important organ, remains far from being adequately reformed. It is essential to introduce genuine reforms to the Security Council, which no longer reflects the contemporary international realities and the serious challenges of the twenty-first century that constitute a threat to international peace and security.
The current geopolitical reality is ripe for reform and equitable representation in the Council. Accordingly, we emphasize our demand for the need to rectify the historical injustices inflicted upon the African continent in terms of lack of fair representation in both the permanent and non-permanent membership of the Council. We reaffirm the demands of the African Union, contained in the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration, for two permanent seats with all rights and powers, including the veto power, and two additional non-permanent seats. Those demands are just and reflect the right of the African continent to effectively participate in the decisions taken by the Council, which are often focused on African issues. Those demands also represent the bare minimum to be done in order to rectify the historic marginalization and injustices inflicted upon the African continent. In that context, I must also express our support for the demand made by the Group of Arab States for a permanent seat in the Council.
Peace in the Middle East will never be achieved as long as the occupying Power continues to occupy Palestinian territories, establishing more settlements, threatening to annex more land and imposing more unjust blockades, in total disregard for all related international resolutions.
We join the Palestinian people in rejecting the practices of the occupying authorities and in demanding the right of the Palestinian people to establish an independent State with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital. We also express our rejection of all attempts to abuse the Palestinian question in order to serve non-Palestinian interests or reach agreements that the Palestinians themselves neither agree with nor participate in. Libya will continue to support the Palestinian question and the Palestinian people in their quest to establish their long-sought independent State, for which they have given thousands of martyrs.
In conclusion, I wish to underscore that a democratic and civilian State is the aspiration of the Libyan people, as the reason for their revolt and the goal for which we continue to strive. We aspire to live in a State where there is a peaceful transfer of power, human rights are respected, human dignity is preserved and the law limits abuses, whatever their source. We aspire to build a State that lives in peace and achieves development, that cooperates with its neighbours and that renounces violence and fights against terrorism and extremism.
Libya possesses the capabilities and natural resources, as well as the strategic and distinguished location, to achieve those aspirations. With the assistance of our friends, the Libyans can establish a prosperous future for our country. We hope to bring this painful chapter in our nation’s history to a swift end as we transform into a democratic and pluralistic State where cultural diversity is respected — a State of laws and institutions.


His Excellency Mr. Antonio Guterres
Secretary General of the United Nations
His Excellency Volkan Bozkir
President of the 75th General Assembly of the United Nations
Your Excellencies Heads of State and Governments
Your Excellencies Ministers of Foreign Affairs
Honorable Heads of Delegation
Citizens of the world.
When the representatives of 51 nations, including mine, signed the Charter of the United Nations in San Francisco on 26 June 1945, the world was still in flames.
The horrors unleashed by the Second World War were still atrocious realities against which the international community conspired so they would never happen again. As a result of that commitment to peace and dialogue among peoples, this Organization was born in whose General Assembly I am honored to participate today for the first time on behalf of the Dominican people, and in whose name I congratulate the United Nations on its 75th Anniversary.
The world of 2020 is evidently different from that of 1945 and I am confident to proclaim that it is also better. And it is so, to a large extent, thanks to the United Nations effort during these three quarters of a century to maintain international peace and security, encourage cooperation between peoples to solve global problems and serve, ultimately, as meeting point for the nations that share this planet.
Without the UN the Universal Declaration of Human Rights would not exist, something inconceivable for us today; neither would we have organizations like UNICEF, FAO, the World Health Organization, the World Bank or international criminal courts. Nor would have been carried out the peacekeeping missions that, through its history, have avoided so much suffering.
The world of 2020 is better than in 1945 but far from perfect. New challenges and threats bring global problems whose scale requires joint solutions that can only be solved through loyal cooperation among the 193 nations represented in this Assembly.
75 years ago, the international community had to take on the colossal challenge posed by reconstruction after the ravages of war, which in turn brought about additional obstacles that required commitment, imagination and work to overcome.
However, it would be reckless to deceive ourselves. History is not linear; at every crossroads there is always the risk of setbacks that hinder goals achieved towards development, progress and peace, which are always so hard to reach.
Therefore, as leaders and servants of our respective nations, we must know there is zero margin of error if we intend to face the challenges of our time in our own way and alone.
If in the 75 years of the UN’s existence, multilateralism and international cooperation have been valuable tools, now they are essential and it is imperative that everyone do their part.
That this meeting of the General Assembly has to be held by videoconference is already the perfect example of the main problem we, as leaders and servants of our respective peoples, must face. Covid-19 has put the entire planet in check joining threats such as climate change, which affects us all, but it is highly serious in island countries like the Dominican Republic. I am not exaggerating if I say that both dangers could bring other conflicts into the equation; which will, as usual, viciously prey upon the most vulnerable.
As a non-permanent member of the Security Council, the Dominican Republic has made a special contribution to the agenda of the Protection of Civilians in Conflict in the Context of Covid-19 through a Presidential Declaration that had the unanimous agreement of the Council. That is the spirit that should prevail in the immediate future when it comes to carrying out the policies allowing us to stop the pandemic first, extend treatment and vaccination later, and in the meantime, rebuilding what the pandemic has damaged.
In the Dominican Republic, the pandemic has hit us particularly hard because we have had a precarious social protection system, with per capita social spending of $604 compared to the regional average of $941. While the paradox exists that we are one of the nations with the highest economic growth in the region, it has not managed, so far, to close the equity gap.
We all here know, the equity gap will only be fixed by investing in Health and Education. This is why my Government is launching the most ambitious public health program in our history to achieve universal coverage by the end of the year as we increase public investment in the National Health System.
Along with this, there is a plan to promote quality Education that, among other measures, will provide students and teachers with electronic devices so that Covid-19 does not disturb at all their educational process. The future does not wait, and our students cannot miss a minute of their learning.
And this is why our young people are one of our top priorities; we will work to ensure they get the best education. In this sense, I believe there is no better education than a comprehensive one that encourages students’ participation in all areas affecting them. Proof of this is the acceptance of the Dominican-French initiative to promote resolution 2535 (2020) — adopted unanimously by the Security Council in July 2020 — to strengthen the member states’ commitment to the global agenda of youth, peace and security and that directly involves young people in these plans.
However, talking about peace and security without talking about development is, simply and plainly, wasting time. Before the pandemic this Organization was already in a reform process to assist Member States in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda.
It is evident that achieving these objectives requires an “accelerated implementation” with the purposeful commitment of the developed countries.
However, five years after the adoption of the 2030 Agenda, the majority of developing countries are lagging behind, and those middle-income nations - such as the Dominican Republic— face particular challenges, because although their economies are advancing institutional weaknesses prevail that lead to inequality. It is therefore essential to modify that Agenda so it responds to the reality and problems facing each country.
The Dominican Republic will spare no effort with the 2030 Agenda, because for years our country has been implementing a National Development Strategy that shares objectives with the United Nations Agenda. Yet, I recognize, to achieve full compliance in just ten years is a challenge requiring the collaboration of all civil society, with public-private collaboration with a national vision, and keeping in mind the essential assistance needed by lagging countries.
75 years ago, this organization was born with the purpose of banishing forever from the international community’s vocabulary the “we” versus “you” or “them” to assume the “everyone”. And this is what Covid-19 intends to put to the test. But I predict it will fail if this Assembly assumes the threat will be annulled through policies not combining the legitimate national interests of each country with the global solutions adopted by the entire international community. To do this, we must act in three areas: Health, Education and Technology.
In the field of Health, this meeting should help create the conditions of universal access to the vaccine against Covid-19 as soon as the remedy is available. From here, WE DEMAND that the vaccine be accessible to all human beings on the planet. The reason for the creation of an organization like this is to measure up to historical challenges such as this one. To achieve this, the role of the World Health Organization is essential, as well as the creation of a global solidarity fund that will serve as a reserve to mitigate the ravages of future pandemics.
In the field of schooling, we must share the most positive experiences, including online education, skills training and support investment efforts in educational policies.
Finally, the UN must be the engine and guide so that the 21st century is truly the century of knowledge thanks to ever advancing communication technologies. Hence, ending the digital divide is one of the urgent priorities for the international community.
However, all development and all progress will be useless if the values enshrined by this Organization in its Universal Declaration of Human Rights are not taken into account. The UN knows that it has the solid commitment of the Dominican Republic to defend these values; to advance towards higher levels of human dignity that promote policies to guarantee equality between men and women, as well as protect children affected by armed conflicts, or at risk of being sold as slaves, prostituted or used for pornography. Appalling realities happening on our planet today, that we have a moral mandate to eradicate once and for all.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
I bring to this meeting the mandate of the Dominican people to proclaim our nation’s commitment to protecting the environment and to continue supporting the Paris Agreements.
Furthermore, I believe the time has come to enhance its postulates. In the Security Council, we have advocated that security factors within the Climate Change context be more broadly and in-depth studied, because a natural phenomenon can cause or aggravate any conflict, mainly in highly fragile areas.
The occurrence of natural phenomena and extreme climatic events are becoming more frequent and their greater intensity particularly affects the small island developing states. Which forces this Organization to continue on the path of not considering such phenomena as isolated eventualities, but as common and recurrent realities for which we must be ready.
The list of threats and complications can scare anyone. However, this organization has demonstrated over three-quarters of a century that, through dialogue and cooperation, any goal can be achieved, no matter how remote it may seem.
Whoever thinks one can change the world by one’s self is wrong, and whoever does not know how to measure one’s strength to adjust our contribution will also be wrong. Therefore, on behalf of Dominican men and women, I share our deep commitment, purpose and work to provide solutions to the best of our ability. Close to eleven million Dominicans are eager to do their part.
The Dominican Republic was in the founding hour of this Organization and, since then, has demonstrated its will and commitment in the concert of nations for the sake of peace, prosperity, equity and global diversity. We are aware of our demographic and economic reality, but our condition will never be an excuse for not contributing the best of ourselves as we have tried to do for 75 years.
The UN, as I understand it, is not concerned with diplomacy, but with the future and, as Eleanor Roosevelt said on the day of the solemn proclamation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, “the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of your dreams ”.
Let us therefore attain a world in peace, diverse, prosperous and sustainable for at least 75 more years.
Thank you very much.