At the outset, I would like to thank the President of the General Assembly for his able guidance, which I believe will lead us to answers for the pressing challenges we face. Today, more than ever, we need to stand for a rules-based multilateral system with the United Nations at its core. In that context, I would like to express our support for the timely and important initiative launched by Germany and France for the creation of an Alliance for Multilateralism, a network of like-minded nations working to foster effective multilateral approaches to global issues through the United Nations. This initiative perfectly matches this year’s topic for the general debate.
Allow me to say a few words on the different building blocks of our main topic as set forth in the overarching theme of this session — sustainable development for all parts of our planet. The High-level Political Forum on sustainable development is a pivotal event at the margins of the General Assembly at its seventy-fourth session. The need to accelerate the pace of progress in achieving all Sustainable Development Goals is pressing. The human race is facing the rapidly developing detrimental consequences of ever-increasing overuse of natural resources and massive urbanization. Some human activities result in irreversible environmental pollution, which reduces biodiversity and threatens fragile ecosystems.
We commend the Secretary-General, Mr. Antonio Guterres, for convening the Climate Action Summit as a catalyst for collective political will to attain lower and, over time, climate-neutral levels of industrial greenhouse-gas emissions. This, the master message of the Summit, must ring out loudly from this, the highest of international tribunes. Bulgaria stands by its obligations under the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. My country will spare no effort in transforming its economy in a way that will contribute to the common goal of keeping temperature rise to 1.5°C and reaching net-zero global emissions by 2050. Bulgaria has already reached the interim target of an 18 per cent share of renewable sources in its energy mix, thereby becoming a European Union (EU) champion.
This year, on 24 January, Secretary-General Guterres marked the first-ever International Day of Education, putting education at the heart of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Bulgaria wholeheartedly subscribes to his assessment that education is an engine for poverty eradication and a driving force for peace.
As a member of the Human Rights Council, Bulgaria is committed to the empowerment of children with disabilities through inclusive education. Inclusive education is an essential tool for the whole process of social inclusion. In a world driven by information and communication technologies, we place particular emphasis on the opportunities offered by education. In the coming years, the European Commissioner in charge of the innovation, education and the youth sector will be from Bulgaria, which demonstrates the importance we attach to these priorities.
Global health is one of the major present-day global challenges we face. Bulgaria affirms its commitment to achieving universal health coverage, as set forth in our national priorities. We welcome the timely high-level meeting on the matter, as well as the political declaration on universal health coverage and its ambitious call to action.
The United Nations has a unique array of tools for mediation, conflict prevention, peacekeeping and peacebuilding. We welcome the Secretary-General’s vision for a closely interlinked reform of all key areas in this most important field. Bulgaria welcomes the Secretary-General’s commitment to advancing diplomacy for peace and stands ready to support his efforts to strengthen the role of mediation in conflict prevention, embodied in the Action for Peacekeeping initiative.
International terrorism and violent extremism continue to pose a significant threat to international peace and security, human rights and sustainable development. The international community should beef up efforts to strengthen counter-terrorism cooperation by supporting the United Nations as a key player. Unfortunately, over the past year, the international community has not been able to reach a breakthrough in any major conflict around the world. The proclaimed military victory over the so-called caliphate of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Sham last March was not enough to bring the war-torn Middle East region closer to the peace. The international community should stay vigilant, as terrorist threats persist in different forms.
Finding a political solution to the conflict in Syria is crucial for the stability and security of the region and beyond. We call for a nationwide cessation of hostilities and for the protection of civilians. It is imperative to ensure humanitarian access to all parts of the country. Under the auspices of the United Nations, a lasting political process aimed at a peaceful and inclusive political transition should be launched. A sustainable political solution should be sought through a genuine Syrian-owned political process in line with Security Council resolution 2254 (2015) and the 2012 Geneva communique (S/2012/522, annex). Bulgaria highly appreciates the commitment of neighbouring host countries to easing the suffering of the refugees.
There is no military solution to the crisis in Libya. Bulgaria will continue to support the relaunching of the United Nations-led mediation process and preparations for parliamentary and presidential elections when possible. The stabilization of Libya is of the utmost importance for regional security and for the management of migration flows in the Mediterranean. Bulgaria supports close cooperation between the European Union and the International Organization for Migration aimed at increasing the number of voluntary returns and improving the conditions in detention centres in Libya.
Bulgaria will continue to support all efforts aimed at resuming the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, including those of the Quartet on the Middle East peace process. A two-State solution is the only way to sustainable peace.
The humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip is cause for great concern. It should remain a priority for the United Nations and the international community alike.
The five-year-long armed confrontation in Yemen has clearly shown that a durable and comprehensive solution to the conflict cannot be achieved by military means. The effective end of hostilities would allow for improving the catastrophic humanitarian situation. Bulgaria supports efforts to revive the political process as well as the full implementation of the Stockholm Agreement as a starting point for a peace settlement.
It has been more than five years since the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine. Despite periodic ceasefires, the situation in eastern Ukraine remains highly precarious. We call for a peaceful settlement of the crisis in accordance with resolution 68/262, of March 2014. The exchange of detainees is a sign of hope, but the parties to the conflict should implement in full the mutually agreed package of measures endorsed by the Security Council in resolution 2202 (2015). It is of vital importance that they abide by the ceasefire, complete the withdrawal of heavy weapons and grant unhindered access to all sites to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe Special Monitoring Mission.
Bulgaria expresses deep concern about the decision of Iran to suspend the implementation of some of its commitments under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on its nuclear programme. A return to full compliance with the nuclear deal and further diplomatic outreach provide the only way to reduce tensions. Discussing Iran’s regional role and the country’s ballistic-missile programme should be addressed separately from the JCPOA.
We are also seriously concerned by the recent escalation of tensions in the Persian Gulf. An immediate priority should be given to de-escalation measures aimed at avoiding further incidents.
The resumption of dialogue between the United States and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and the encouraging sign of Pyongyang’s readiness to engage in negotiations on denuclearization represent a qualitatively new phase in international efforts. It is vital that summit agreements be followed by actions yielding tangible results. Bulgaria reiterates its support for the strict and effective implementation of the sanctions regime, as well as for keeping the channels of communication open.
Multilateral efforts on non-proliferation and disarmament remain central. Next year we will celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), which coincides with the 2020 NPT Review Conference. To keep up the momentum, we must reaffirm the validity of the Treaty as the cornerstone of the nuclear non-proliferation regime.
Bulgaria has consistently supported the integration of the Western Balkans into the European Union. The process leading to membership is an investment in stability. Bulgaria puts a special emphasis on the need to overcome the legacies of the past in the region by actively building good-neighbourly relations.
Bulgaria welcomes all initiatives that benefit social and economic empowerment, especially that of persons belonging to vulnerable groups. As a member of the Human Rights Council, my country is dedicated to remaining active on such matters. I had the honour to address the Council in June and to confirm our commitment to champion the rights of those in need.
As a Chair of the Group of Friends of Children and the Sustainable Development Goals, and working together with UNICEF, we strictly follow our principles, and I would like to highlight that the family is the best environment for raising children. Bulgaria is a champion of deinstitutionalization.
Women around the world continue to be underrepresented in both Government and private entities. They still constitute the majority of the world’s poor. I am proud that my country has an outstanding record in the field of women’s empowerment. Bulgaria is fully committed to the implementation of Security Council resolution 1325 (2000).
Tolerance and understanding are values underpinning the very foundation of democracy. Regrettably, despite all efforts made, anti-Semitism continues today to rear its ugly head. The rescue of the entire Jewish population of Bulgaria in 1943 is one of the stellar moments in our history. In the darkest moments of the Second World War, not a single individual of the 50,000-strong Bulgarian Jewish community was sent to the death camps. My country provided an example of how civil society can defend human values. Our national tradition of tolerance and respect for others obliges us to provide a clear response to growing anti-Semitism, xenophobia and hate speech.
Next year will mark the seventy-fifth anniversary of the United Nations. Strong messages mobilizing broad international approval and bold and prompt concerted actions are needed today more than ever before, and will certainly be needed tomorrow. The message I would like to convey to the Assembly is also my personal belief — our mission is possible, and we must see to it that it is achieved.


This year marks the seventieth anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. The United Nations was established in 1945 in response to the call of the times. Four years later, the People’s Republic of China was founded and the Chinese nation re-emerged before the eyes of the world as a completely reborn nation.
Over the past 70 years, we Chinese have changed our destiny through tireless efforts. Seventy years ago, China put an end to a period in modern history during which the country was torn apart and trampled on. We stood up and became the true masters of our country. Over the past seven decades, China has transformed itself from a closed, backward and poor country with a weak foundation into one that is open and on the move.
With regard to meeting the basic needs of its people, China has achieved initial prosperity. Eight hundred and fifty million Chinese have shaken off poverty, and hundreds of millions have joined the middle-income group. Such achievements are nothing short of a miracle in the development of humankind. In just a few decades, China has finished what it took developed countries several hundred years to complete. In so doing, China has blazed a new path to modernization for developing countries, and what it has achieved has enriched the dreams of people around the world for a better life.
None of those achievements has fallen from the sky. Rather, they are owed to the hard work, vision and courage of the Chinese people. The secret behind China’s development is our adherence to the centralized, unified leadership of the Communist Party of China, the development path suited to China’s national conditions, the fundamental State policy of reform and opening up and a people-centred development philosophy.
Over the past 70 years, China has integrated itself into the global community and made its contribution to the world, boosting world peace and prosperity through its development. Today China has become the leading engine of global development and an anchor of stability for world peace. We are the second-largest funding contributor to both the United Nations and United Nations peacekeeping operations. China has also deployed more peacekeeping personnel than any other permanent member of the Security Council. For more than a decade, China has been a main driver of global growth. We are now pursuing a new round of opening up with higher standards, which I am sure will deliver new opportunities for the world.
As we enter a new era, we Chinese are more confident and capable than ever of achieving a great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, and we are better positioned than ever to make a greater contribution to humankind. Guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, China will continue to strive for success and forge ahead. Looking back on the road we have traversed over the past 70 years, we are full of pride. Looking ahead at the journey before us, we are full of confidence in our bright future.
On the diplomatic front, China has travelled a journey of tests and challenges and has remained true to its original purpose. The goal of China’s diplomacy has never changed. The Chinese people and the peoples of other countries have always treated each other with sincerity and lent each other mutual support. China and the rest of the world have become stakeholders sharing a common future as their interdependence has increasingly grown. Facing international uncertainties, China will maintain the stability and continuity of its foreign policy and will continue to pursue major- country diplomacy, with distinct Chinese features. We will continue to safeguard world peace and prosperity and promote the development and advancement of humankind.
China is guided by the principle of independence. We will continue to pursue an independent foreign policy of peace. We will neither subordinate ourselves to others nor coerce others into submission. We are firm in upholding China’s core national interests and legitimate rights, and we are opposed to the abuse of power and will never yield to pressure. We will remain committed to the basic principles of sovereign equality and non-interference in other country’s internal affairs, as enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations. China will never pursue hegemony or seek expansion. Peaceful development, which has long been incorporated into China’s Constitution, is the cornerstone of its foreign policy.
China believes in equality among nations. In the twenty-first century, power politics and the law of the jungle are outdated and obsolete. People want mutual respect and harmonious coexistence. China stands for equality among all countries, irrespective of their size. China respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of other countries and the social systems and development paths independently chosen by the people of those countries. China stands ready to share its development experience with other countries and provide the necessary assistance in times of need, but we have no intention of exporting our development model or lecturing others. Nor do we attach any political strings to our assistance.
China stands for equity and justice. On the international stage, we speak for justice and oppose hegemonism and bullying. We wish to engage others in extensive consultations and joint contributions in pursuit of shared benefits. We call for handling international affairs based on the merits of each particular case, and for settling issues through consultations. As the world’s largest developing country, China will always stand firmly with other developing countries in safeguarding their common interests and right to development and in increasing their representation and say in global governance so as to promote democracy in international relations.
China pursues mutually beneficial cooperation. In this globalized world, countries all rise or fall together. A zero-sum mentality and beggar-thy-neighbour policies are recipes for failure. China is committed to fostering an open world economy, upholding the multilateral trading regime of the World Trade Organization and making globalization more open, inclusive, balanced and beneficial to all. We do not seek unilateral security, nor do we put our own interests above those of others. It is our aim to advance our development as part of the development of the global community. We seek to keep the door open, expand shared interests and share opportunities with others through cooperation.
The world today is not a peaceful place. Unilateralism and protectionism are posing major threats to the international order. At a time when the future of the world is at stake, China has never been and will never be an onlooker. As a founding Member of the United Nations, we will work with other countries to build a new type of international relations and a community with a shared future for humankind. We will be resolute in upholding the stature and role of the United Nations, the international system underpinned by the United Nations and an international order anchored on international law.
Facing the headwinds of protectionism, we should not just stand idly by. Erecting walls will not resolve global challenges and blaming others for one’s own problems does not work. The lessons of the Great Depression should not be forgotten. Tariffs, and the provocation of trade disputes that upset global industrial and supply chains, undermine the multilateral trading regime and the global economic and trade order. They may even plunge the world into recession.
China is committed to resolving economic and trade frictions and differences in a calm, rational and comprehensive manner, and is willing to demonstrate as much patience and goodwill as necessary. Should the other side act in bad faith or show no respect for equal status or rules in negotiations, we will have to respond as necessary to safeguard our legitimate rights and interests and uphold international justice. Let me make it very clear. China is a country with a 5,000-year-old civilization, 1.4 billion hardworking and courageous people and a vast land of 9.6 million square kilometres. We will not be cowed by threats or subdued by pressure.
In the face of rampant unilateralism, we should not sit on our hands. For the international order to function, we must abide by laws and rules, and acts that violate international norms can only plunge the world into chaos. The opportunities arising from the new round of scientific and technological revolution are opportunities for the world. The advances thus made should not be monopolized by any single country, and no one should obstruct the efforts of other countries in the name of innovation. It is neither legitimate nor justifiable for any country in a position of power to impose unilateral sanctions or exercise long-arm jurisdiction over other countries, as such practices have no basis in international law and are therefore devoid of legitimacy. Putting one’s own interests above the common interests of all other countries is a typical bullying practice that will find no support among the people.
The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty is important in upholding global strategic balance and stability. A unilateral withdrawal from it would have multiple negative effects. China is opposed to the deployment of land-based intermediate-range missiles in the Asia-Pacific. We urge the countries with the largest nuclear arsenals to fulfil their special and primary responsibilities in nuclear disarmament. China will continue to take an active part in the international arms control process. I would like to announce here that China has initiated the domestic legal procedures for joining the Arms Trade Treaty.
The permanent members of the Security Council should lead by example, as major countries have special responsibilities for maintaining a stable international order. We support the new round of efforts by Secretary-General Guterres to reform the United Nations system and make it more efficient and equitable. China has set up an 8,000-strong peacekeeping standby force and permanent peacekeeping police squads. They have met the standards for operation and are ready for action. China stands ready to work with other parties to fulfil our due responsibilities as a major country in upholding global peace and justice.
In a world fraught with challenges and mounting risks, China will remain on the side of peace and justice. We will actively explore and apply a Chinese approach to addressing hotspot issues and play a constructive role in upholding international peace and security. China stands for common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security. We hold that disputes should be settled through dialogue and consultation and that common threats should be addressed through international cooperation in the interests of sustaining global peace and common security.
The Iranian nuclear issue affects world peace and security. All the parties involved should work together to uphold the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and ensure that this historic effort is not derailed. Given the growing tensions in the Middle East and the Gulf region, China proposes that the Iranian nuclear issue should be speedily put back on the JCPOA track, the Gulf countries urged to establish a platform for dialogue and consultation, and that countries from outside the region should play a positive role in maintaining security in the region.
The Palestinian issue should be at the top of the international agenda. What we lack is not a grand design but the courage to deliver on existing commitments and the conscience to uphold justice. There should be no more backsliding on the efforts to achieve a two-State solution and implement the principle of land for peace, which represent the bottom line for international justice. The establishment of an independent State is the inalienable right of the Palestinian people and should not be used as a bargaining chip.
Turning to Afghanistan, what we hope to see is a united country where all political parties and ethnic groups can unite to determine the future of their nation, a stable country that resolutely combats terrorism and a country living in harmony with its neighbours that can become a positive force for maintaining peace and stability in the region. We will continue to do our share in contributing to Afghanistan’s reconciliation and reconstruction.
Regarding the Korean peninsula, we must not miss the opportunity for a political settlement again. The zigzag course of the past 20 years or so has shown time and again that the only realistic and viable way forward is by promoting parallel progress in denuclearization and the establishment of a peace mechanism in order to accommodate the concerns of all sides and gradually build trust through phased and synchronized actions. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea has demonstrated a readiness to promote dialogue, and it is to be hoped that the United States can meet the Democratic People’s Republic halfway. In the light of the new developments on the peninsula, the Security Council should consider invoking the rollback terms of the relevant resolutions in order to foster a political settlement of the issue.
With China’s mediation efforts, Myanmar and Bangladesh have reached a new, common understanding on accelerating the work of returning displaced persons to Myanmar. The momentum created did not come easily. Waiting without taking action produces no solutions and can lead only to a further deterioration in the humanitarian situation. Only real action will bring hope and create the conditions for reaching a final settlement of the issue of Rakhine state. All the parties involved, including United Nations agencies, should help move things forward rather than hold back the process.
The Kashmir dispute, a holdover from the past, should be peacefully and properly addressed in accordance with the Charter, the relevant Security Council resolutions and bilateral agreements. No actions that would unilaterally change the status quo should be taken. As a neighbour of both India and Pakistan, China hopes to see the dispute effectively managed and stability restored to the relationship between the two sides.
Development is the master key to solving all problems. It should be at the centre of the global macro policy framework, with a continued focus on priority areas such as poverty reduction, infrastructure, education and public health. We need to maintain global development cooperation with North-South cooperation as the main channel, supplemented by South-South cooperation. We must build an open world economy and help developing countries better integrate into the global industrial and value chains. Member States should align their medium- and long-term development strategies with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in an effort to pursue high-quality development. China’s Belt and Road initiative aims to achieve high-standard, people-centred development that is open, green and clean. The initiative, which is highly compatible with the 2030 Agenda, has become a road to cooperation, hope and prosperity, delivering real benefits to people the world over. We hope that other countries will seize the development opportunities that it creates to add fresh impetus to their implementation of the 2030 Agenda.
There is global consensus on the need to address climate change, and cutting emissions calls for concerted global efforts. The outcomes of the Climate Action Summit are positive. China, as a co-lead on the nature-based solutions track, has done its part to make that possible. We believe in acting in good faith. We will deliver what we have signed up to, fulfil our obligations and take concrete action to help to build a clean and beautiful world.
China places high importance on the life and health of its people and has always taken a zero- tolerance approach to narcotics. We have put controls on all fentanyl-related substances, a move that goes well beyond the scheduling efforts of the United Nations and demonstrates that China is actively participating in global narcotics control with a keen sense of responsibility. With regard to the Ebola outbreak in Africa, as the alarm is sounded once again,
China has already sent emergency aid supplies to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and its neighbours affected by the epidemic. China has also sent public health experts and is maintaining a close collaboration with the World Health Organization and the African Union Commission. In addition, China will donate another $18 million to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
I would like to conclude with a quote from President Xi Jinping, in which he said, “Our world is full both of hope and challenges. We should not give up our dreams just because the reality around us is too complicated. We should not stop pursuing our ideals just because they seem out of our reach.”
Let us work tirelessly to promote the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter and together build a community with a shared future for humankind.


There are principles of coexistence among human beings that are recognized as universal. Such principles are valid in both times of peace and times of conflict among States. I would like to cite some examples: respect every nation as you would have yours be respected; never tolerate abuse against anyone, while always helping those in need to the extent you can; violence breeds only violence, and its effects pass from one generation to the next; peace among countries is born from tolerance and the cultivation of common interests.
It is therefore worth asking the following question: if no conflict among States has ever been eternal, why not build peace as soon as possible? Those and other visions of coexistence among peoples, which apply to life among States and societies, are enshrined, in different words, in the principles of the Charter of the United Nations. They are the pillars that support the spacious General Assembly Hall that houses and shelters us today.
The United Nations and its multilateralism exist because those principles are effective and constitute the guidelines for a peaceful and harmonious coexistence, as well as promoting the individual interests of States and guiding their interactions with one another. The Organization is a living example that multilateralism is still a completely essential tool. It shows how cooperation can be consolidated across borders and regions, that the peaceful settlement of disputes is always on the table — an alternative to the horrors of the violence of war — and that human beings must jointly respond to the problems of our time, that is, sustainable development, climate change, the protection and conservation of nature, the building of non-discriminatory and fully inclusive societies, dialogue among cultures and differing opinions.
Under those principles, which are inscribed in the Charter, signed in San Francisco, the General Assembly can work for a better world and seek to develop them and their different facets, country by country, region by region, conflict by conflict. When international cooperation lapses, wars endure and injustices seem eternal, that is usually because States have lost their way or do not have the political will to correctly apply the United Nations principles.
More than ever, multilateralism and the United Nations system are today under considerable attack and subject to harmful criticism. We are witnessing sustained attempts to weaken international cooperation and devalue the work of the United Nations. I therefore call on all States to meet and address those urgent challenges, which are worth repeating and expanding on — climate change, sustainable development, protracted humanitarian crises, large-scale human rights abuses, widespread poverty, growing inequalities and threats to international peace and security, to name a few.
Dialogue is the foundation of the multilateral action that nourishes the United Nations and that we ourselves should continue to advocate. What drives relationships among States is one joint frame of mind when analysing problems, respect for all points of view and, above all, the subsequent formation of consensus agreements. Without dialogue and a shared spirit of democracy, we cannot understand each other; neither can we understand each other with imposed unilateralism.
The same can of course be said of national societies. In Ecuador we are promoting an initiative for reaching agreement, so that all members of society are able to identify areas that unite them and overcome issues on which they have differing opinions. Enough of focusing on what separates us and what sets us apart. Let us look instead at what unites us, what identifies us and what allows us to nurture a greater common well-being.
Seeking national agreement among all the actors of our society is of course not straightforward. Indeed, agreement arises when difficulties are overcome together, when we find common ground and leave the door open to compromise and innovation when seeking solutions. If there is no agreement, that raises the question of where and what is the alternative. National agreement is the best antidote to outrage and unilateral intolerance and to disrespect for human rights; it facilitates the creation of societies that are democratic in practice and not just by design or proclamation.
National agreement has another name at the international level, but the same spirit. We call it multilateralism. The multilateral approach promoted by the United Nations is the best tool for societies to jointly build the better world for which we all yearn and of which we all dream, in order to face the problems that, due to their cross-cutting nature, affect us equally, such as the eradication of poverty, the quality of education, the protection of the planet and the inclusion of those who are defenceless.
We all live in the same neighbourhood — planet Earth — which is limited in size and resources and is contending with a constantly growing population, as well as challenges to the environment, wealth inequality and the urgent desire to achieve adequate levels of well-being and respect for human rights. It is a world where the temptation remains to impose individual visions and interests through the use of force.
The concerted action of States continues to be the only tool for ending those violations. We must all feel part of the global solutions needed for global problems. Climate change, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, the pollution of oceans, the erosion of human rights, restrictions on world trade and the marginal importance of fair trade are issues that we all face and cannot be adequately resolved without the contribution and political will of all countries.
Disarmament, in particular nuclear disarmament and the future prohibition of weapons of mass destruction, is a goal for coexistence, especially in regions of ongoing or latent conflict. When we focus on current conflicts and conflict zones, there is one unchanging common denominator: the risk of the use of weapons of mass destruction. Ecuador therefore deposited its ratification of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, not, of course, because our country can, or even wants to, possess such arms, but because it is clear that the uncontrolled possession of that type of weaponry can result in deliberate or accidental use. If that were to occur, the brutal effects would not be restricted to those waging an atomic war but would affect the entire world. We would all be the victims of radioactive contamination for centuries. We and our descendants would be exposed to harmful agents that cause catastrophic disease and genetic deformities.
Global problems affect and hurt us all. Even if some do not impact us immediately, the fact of belonging to the human race means that we are implicated. Let us share empathy with victims and think about the suffering of those societies facing such issues directly. Terence said it well, and his wisdom persists, “Nothing that is human is alien to me”. Dialogue, multilateral action and national agreement in Ecuador have not just appeared out of thin air. A nation’s backdrop defines its actions and those of its social actors, which, to use a sporting term, delimits the playing field. I am talking about people’s fundamental rights, which appear in the Constitution of Ecuador, the universal Charter of the United Nations and the international treaties that protect political, economic, social and cultural guarantees, including rights in relation to the natural world. Indeed, one year ago, Ecuador became only the fifth country in the world to ratify the 18 United Nations conventions on the protection of human rights. If there is one thing that I hope my Government will be remembered for, it is its deep conviction and work for the protection, promotion, respect and effective enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms.
Reinstating democratic institutions in Ecuador, respecting the opinions of the people and the media, safeguarding the actions of opposing politicians and civil organizations and eliminating bureaucratic entities that were once designed to expand State power at the expense of civil society are all issues that are being addressed by my Government and are in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, in particular Goals 4, 5 and 16 — relating to inclusive, equitable and quality education; gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls; and the promotion of fair, peaceful and inclusive societies.
That is of course no simple task. It takes a lot of work to overcome a culture of fear, break with institutional and legal ties and stand for freedom of opinion and expression. However, with determination and perseverance, we managed to dismantle a State of propaganda, overrule a gag law on journalists, eliminate an institution trying to silence the press and remove an intelligence service that, instead of protecting our collective interests, was devoted to recording the private conversations of Ecuadorians, snooping in the lives of opposition politicians and hacking electronic communications and other people’s databases. We succeeded in that task, and I feel great pride at having let the fresh air of democracy into a closed establishment of intolerance, abuse and the vain quest for power for power’s sake.
Here are the reliable facts. Last year the Special Rapporteurs on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression of the United Nations and the Organization of American States visited Ecuador, together with the Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples and the Special Rapporteur on the right to physical and mental health. Ecuador has returned to participating in inter-American human rights forums, and we signed the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on a communications procedure. That does not constitute just another signature; it is in line with our resolute action taken to become the first country in our region to sign the Convention that protects one of the most vulnerable and defenceless groups of our society, our children.
Another vulnerable group is migrants. We have already welcomed almost 500,000 Venezuelan brothers and sisters, the victims of the worst exodus on our continent. It is the task of the United Nations to seek a definitive solution to the crisis in Venezuela. Our Venezuelan brothers and sisters tell us on a daily basis that there is no food, health care or medicine and that education is suffering. They are leaving their land out of despair at seeing one another die before the half-hearted and distant gaze of the world. None of them are abandoning their beloved land, relatives and friends willingly; they are doing it because they are being forced out by a diaspora initiated by a high-handed Government lacking any humanity.
Despite its lack of resources, Ecuador accommodated all who arrived on our territory until last month. Today, in this venue of world democracy, I call on Members to sit down and talk with the victims of the conflict to help them escape a catastrophe caused by an irresponsible and de facto Government. For its part, Ecuador will host the session of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights in November, something that would have been unthinkable only two years ago. In the same month, we will also host the Global Forum on Migration and Development, of which my country currently holds the chairmanship.
As I mentioned, Ecuador continues to multiply its progressive efforts in the fields of human, economic, social and cultural rights. While doing as much as possible within the usual budgetary limitations, through our Toda Una Vida development plan and Las Manuelas mission, we are effectively implementing comprehensive programmes that protect all human beings, from the very moment of conception until God decides to close our eyes and the Creator calls us to his side. While civil and political rights are being implemented without delay, economic, social and cultural rights, as recognized by international treaties, are being implemented gradually. Nevertheless, they have a special significance for developing nations; their relevance and the work of promoting them is crucial for most of the world. Such rights must also rise above political and ideological positions, given that they appeal to universal values.
Protecting the planet, our greater home, is imperative. In Ecuador we have already implemented an energy efficiency law. A circular economy pact was signed with the manufacturing sector to create a modern plastics economy. We have also eliminated taxes on the import of electric vehicles, and we have established preferential credits for sustainable mobility, while using renewable energy for public transport.
At the beginning of this month, at the presidential summit for the countries of the Amazon, I said that we should take a leap forward in the areas of evolution, development and progress. That is a concept that has become selfish, consumerist and predatory. We still cherish the hope that in the face of those negative trends affecting human coexistence, there are also signs of solidarity, brotherhood and mutual respect. Let us try to strengthen those virtues among nations.
The international community must systematically intensify its actions aimed at cultivating solidarity; preserving fraternal ties and good neighbourliness; and respecting not only the environment, but also diverse cultures, countries on the other side of oceans and victims of conflict. Such conflicts are caused by both man and natural disasters, which are increasingly destructive, due to the harmful effects of global warming. The only way that cooperation and solidarity among nations can shape international life is, to put it simply, for us to put those concepts into practice, while of course continuing to pursue concrete efforts that emphasize, as I previously said, what unites us and what we have in common, not what separates us.
Economic, social and cultural human rights should become pillars of the management systems of authorities. We dream and hope that one day we will measure development based on the number of disabled people who have been fully included, the absence of gender-based violence and what values and principles are taught in the classroom, the press, on the streets and at the polls. It is up to us and our conviction to be able to stop seeing the ethical values of civilization as utopian and unattainable goals that are simply paradigms, but instead as aspirations of where to arrive, where to start and, fundamentally, of how to behave.


What a happy coincidence it is to follow, at this rostrum, President Joao Lourenço from the brotherly country of Angola, 20 years after the referendum that opened the door to the independence of Timor-Leste. That confirmed the strength of the Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries, which is taking steps towards greater internal mobility.
I would ask you, Sir, to convey our congratulations to President Tijjani Muhammad-Bande on his election, which symbolizes the presence of the African continent to which we are bound by ties of affection, deep friendship and respect. I would also like to thank his predecessor, Maria Fernanda Espinosa Garces, for her always tireless and warm-hearted performance of her duties.
Portugal welcomes and reaffirms its support for all the priorities that Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has pursued in his coherent, dynamic and resolute mandate, including by defending effective multilateralism, based on international law and the Charter of the United Nations, and its legal extension to new global realities, such as the oceans, combating terrorism and artificial intelligence.
We also support his reform of the United Nations system in the areas of conflict prevention; development cooperation; peacekeeping; human rights, in particular those of children, young people and women; migration and refugees; and, as always, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at all levels. Yesterday’s successful Climate Action Summit is an example of such work, as well as the Sustainable Development Goals Summit, the Ocean Conference, the digital cooperation initiative and the Plan of Action to Safeguard Religious Sites.
We recall the creation — 100 years ago — of the League of Nations, an initiative of United States President Woodrow Wilson, who signed its establishing treaty but saw an isolationist Congress reject its ratification upon his return home. The United States of America, which had been the starting point of what might have been a new international order, shunned the new organization and never became a permanent member of its deliberative body. For ideological reasons, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics did not wish to join the founders of the League of Nations either and went on to join too late.
Without the United States and, for a long time, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the League of Nations — itself conceived for a waning imperial and colonial world — never recovered from the lack of commitment of one of the world Powers and the late entry of another, which coincided with the growth of ever more hypernationalist, isolationist and unilateralist leadership. It was a failed attempt to embrace multilateralism.
The Second World War began exactly 80 years ago. What had appeared in 1919 to be a promise, however precarious, had become a hecatomb by 1939. Notwithstanding the differences in time frame and style, it is worth stopping and reflecting for a moment on the lessons of that still recent past now that we are entering the seventy-fifth year of existence of the United Nations.
We believe that it is worth fighting for stronger international laws to help steer relations among States and peoples; for international organizations to help solve problems that affect everyone, not just a few; for a political and not merely a technical role for those organizations; and for a multilateral vision that is shared by all, including those deemed most powerful, because nobody is an island and nobody, alone or with a few allies, can address the increasingly complex problems that affect us all.
It is important to bear in mind the lessons that history has taught us and not to mistake transitory power or leadership for eternity. Over the last 40 to 50 years we have seen many changes. The world used to have two super Powers and now has one — an absolute super Power, meaning that multilateralism is now even more important. The world has indeed changed a great deal.
It is all the more essential that we use dialogue to prevent conflict and agree initiatives in areas of common interest. We must resist the temptation to fixate on our own power, our upcoming elections and the immediate demands of difficult times or of rapid change, which may lead us to ignore, fail to accept and reject others and pretend that the rest of the world does not exist and can only exist if it resembles us.
In line with Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ guidance, Portugal calls for multilateralism, investment in international organizations, the alignment of the 2030 Agenda, the payment on time and in full of assessed contributions and United Nations reform of its management, development system and peace and security architecture. We continue to believe that it is important to alter the composition of the Security Council to include the membership of one or more countries from Africa and of Brazil and India at the very least.
We also advocate for participation in peacekeeping operations; the adoption of a resolution on a moratorium on the death penalty; engagement in the twenty-fifth Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, to be held in Chile; the conclusion of the treaty on marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction; and the implementation of the Paris Agreement.
At the same time, Portugal is proud of its participation in eight peacekeeping operations, six of them in Africa. We are also involved in European Union training and capacity-building missions in Africa, especially in the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic, where Portugal has a quick reaction force that is truly essential for the protection of civilians.
We are also proud to be organizing, together with Kenya, the United Nations Ocean Conference, which is to be held in Lisbon in June 2020 in synergy with the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development. We take pride in the launch of the national road map for carbon neutrality 2050, an instrument for economic competitiveness, employment, wealth and social justice.
We recall the success of the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth and Youth Forum Lisbon+21 and, in that regard, we presented the traditional draft resolution on policies and programmes involving youth (E/CN.5/2019/L.3). We also draw attention to the measures we have adopted for the promotion of women’s rights in the 40 years since the adoption of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and in the 25 years since the adoption of the Beijing Platform for Action.
We not only support the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration and the global compact on refugees, but we have also approved a national implementation plan on the issue. Ever since our nation was founded nine centuries ago, we have been a country of migrants and there are millions of Portuguese citizens scattered around the world.
We combat xenophobia and intolerance and view education as a priority, as shown by the global support platform for Syrian students, an initiative of President Jorge Sampaio. Moreover, we advocate for inclusive and sustainable development in migrants’ and refugees’ countries of origin in order to prevent and eradicate terrorism, radicalization and human trafficking, while also safeguarding peace and the rights of peoples and communities.
This autumn we have seen global and regional indicators that point in opposite directions, some of them troubling and others — regrettably fewer in number — favourable and even promising. In the international arena, we are seeing the emergence of a trade, economic, financial and currency war, an open arms race, a cyberpresence used as a fairly common means of external intervention, and disinvestment in international law and international organizations. Examples of the most acute situations in the world include Yemen and Libya and, despite the steps taken to resolve the situation, Syria, as well as the Sahel, where the situation is increasingly critical.
We advocate progress in maternal and child health and the agreement between the European Union and MERCOSUR, which we hope will go hand in hand with a shared sensitivity to environmental challenges. We also have fresh hope for the Republic of North Macedonia and hope the window of opportunity regarding the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula will remain open. In addition, we support a stable transition in the Democratic Republic of Congo and further promising developments in Eastern Africa.
Equally important is the vision for a closer cooperation between the United Nations and the African Union and between the European Union and the African Union. Portugal, which was directly involved in the first Europe-Africa summits, is willing to organize the next meeting of the European Union and African Union leaders during its upcoming presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2021.
In short, we have positive hopes for the future. We must stay on this path, which will enable us to not only harness multilateralism but also practice patriotism in our own countries. To be a patriot is to be proud of the past, one’s roots and one’s history, while also understanding the world as it is and that others are also entitled to be proud of their countries. If we no longer act as islands then dialogue and a common patriotic spirit will be able to govern the world.
After 75 years we continue to believe in the United Nations. Only those who disregard history and therefore do not mind repeating the mistakes of the past minimize the role of the United Nations. In this Hall, fortunately we are all patriots, because we love our motherlands, our roots and our history and only want the best for our present and future. The best does not mean ignoring the world we live in; we all depend on so many others. We, as patriots, know that we need more and not less United Nations. One hundred years after its founding, let us not repeat the same mistakes of the League of Nations.


As Africa’s candidate for the position of President of the General Assembly at its seventy-fourth session, Mr. Tijjani Muhammad-Bande was elected on 4 June (see A/73/ PV.87), and it gives me great pleasure to extend my heartfelt and brotherly congratulations, as well as those of my delegation. He has held high office in his country, Nigeria, and has a perfect knowledge of the United Nations. I wish him every success and assure him of Burkina Faso’s full support as he fulfils his mandate.
History will remember the outgoing President, Ms. Maria Fernanda Espinosa Garces, as the fourth woman — the second in half a century — to be elected President of the General Assembly in the seventy-four years that our Organization has existed. In view of the outstanding work she did and the results she achieved, I wish to congratulate her on having undertaken the major challenges related to the theme of the seventy- third session.
Allow me to reaffirm the gratitude and appreciation of the people of Burkina Faso to the Secretary-General for his personal commitment and support, as well as that of the United Nations system, to my country in difficult times. This is an opportunity to renew my encouragement for the courageous implementation of the reforms undertaken and to congratulate him on his report presented to the Security Council on 24 July on the activities of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (S/2019/549). The statement made by the President of the Security Council during that briefing bodes well for the future (see S/PV.8585).
This year’s seventy-fourth session is being held under the theme “Galvanizing multilateral efforts for poverty eradication, quality education, climate action and inclusion”. Burkina Faso welcomes the choice of theme, its relevance and its timeliness because, now more than ever, multilateralism remains the only way for my country to find solutions to the major problems faced by the world. Those challenges must include the fight against terrorism and violent extremism, organized crime and cybercrime, which no country, no matter how powerful, can vanquish alone.
In view of all the achievements made by the United Nations in the areas of peacekeeping, security, justice, human rights, development and the fight against climate change, with the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, it is imperative that we work to strengthen multilateralism and the role of the United Nations as a means of achieving common solutions to our planet’s problems.
Terrorism and poverty are the most devastating phenomena that our world faces today. Since January 2016, our country has been confronted with persistent and unprecedented terrorist attacks, with far-reaching human, social and economic consequences. The escalation of violence and insecurity has led to a major humanitarian crisis, resulting in numerous casualties among civilians and defence and security forces alike; hundreds of thousands of internally displaced persons; schools and health facilities shut down; and State symbols destroyed. Destabilization continues through the instrumentalization of latent problems between communities that develop into violent clashes. In terms of public finances, we can see an increase in security spending at the expense of funding for development and social sectors.
I would like to take this opportunity to welcome the support of the United Nations in the face of the deteriorating security and humanitarian situation in Burkina Faso. Burkina Faso’s eligibility for the Peacebuilding Fund, as announced by the Secretary- General, has made it possible — following an inter-agency mission led by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel and an emergency task force under the leadership of the Assistant Secretary-General — to open one of the five United Nations regional centres outside the capital, so as to be closer to the population in these difficult times.
To ensure that support from international partners is well coordinated and aligned with an agreed comprehensive and integrated strategy that links prevention, emergency aid, rehabilitation and development, the Government requested an assessment mission regarding prevention and peacebuilding to be conducted by the African Development Bank, the European Union and the World Bank. The assessment took place from 1 to 10 July and its recommendations are being implemented.
Eliminating poverty is the first of the Sustainable Development Goals because, according to the United Nations, millions of people are living below the poverty line. If that trend is not reversed, more than 168 million children will be living in extreme poverty. More than ever, the international community must intensify its efforts in the fight to eradicate poverty, which is a sine qua non for sustainable and inclusive development. The fight will have an impact only if we effectively coordinate multifaceted actions within the framework of the third United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty 2018-2027 and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The security situation in the area covered by the Group of Five for the Sahel (G-5 Sahel) remains a source of concern. Beyond Burkina Faso, and in my capacity as current Chair of the G-5 Sahel, I would like to remind the international community of the importance of supporting the G-5 Sahel countries in their determined fight against terrorism and to foster development. The activity of armed terrorist groups is expanding geographically, both within our countries and outside the G-5 Sahel area, which clearly demonstrates the urgent need to take appropriate measures and initiatives. In that regard, the Accra initiative and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) extraordinary summit on terrorism, held on 14 September, should be commended. Those initiatives serve to indicate clearly that terrorism needs to be fought at the regional level.
At this stage, I am delighted that the appeal of the G-5 Sahel, with the staunch support of the Secretary- General, was received favourably by the Security Council with the adoption of resolution 2480 (2019), to renew the mandate of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA). Through that resolution, MINUSMA will provide support to all battalions operating under the Joint Force of the G-5 Sahel, on the condition that the G-5 Sahel or other partners will assume responsibility for the delivery of aid to operations beyond Malian territory.
At the ECOWAS extraordinary summit on terrorism in Ouagadougou, Heads of State noted the ineffectiveness of MINUSMA in dealing with terrorism in Mali because of the limits of the mandate conferred upon it by the Security Council. It would seem inconceivable that, with 12,000 men and substantial resources, the Join Force is unable to contribute effectively to the fight against terrorism in the country. That is why, alongside my ECOWAS peers and in my capacity as current Chair of the G-5 Sahel, I call for a more robust and more offensive mandate for MINUSMA. Such a mandate would make it possible to secure and stabilize Mali and all other countries of the G-5 Sahel. Likewise, we call on the Security Council to confer a mandate under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations to the Joint Force of the G-5 Sahel in order to provide it with perennial resources.
At the Group of Seven Summit in Biarritz, we proposed, along with Germany and France, the establishment of an international partnership for stability and security in the Sahel that includes addressing the issues of terrorism and the need for development. I would like to call upon all partners to join that initiative unreservedly, as peace and stability in the Sahel also mean peace and stability in Africa and the rest of the world.
I would like to take this opportunity to reiterate the gratitude of the Governments and the peoples of my country as well as the countries of the G-5 Sahel to the entire United Nations system and all our partners for their support and guidance ever since the beginning of the security and humanitarian crisis. I reiterate my appeal for bilateral and international solidarity to provide the Joint Force of the G-5 Sahel with the predictable and sustainable equipment and financial resources necessary for its proper functioning in order to promote our national and regional development programmes through the Priority Investment Programme. The two pillars — security and development — are necessary to guarantee the stability of the region. In the same vein, the countries of the G-5 Sahel adopted, on 13 September, the Desert to Power initiative, together with the African Development Bank, which aims to harness solar energy and provide electricity to more than 60 million people by 2030, as well as to create jobs and provide access to water, agriculture, education and health care.
Despite the prevailing situation in my country, my Government is continuing to implement its development programme in order to meet the basic needs of our people, strengthen democracy and consolidate the rule of law. Bolstering economic recovery, fighting unemployment, empowering women and youth, creating initiatives for vulnerable people and promoting good governance are at the core of our efforts. Moreover, in the context of the fight against social inequality, as well as to ensure the harmonious development of the entire country, Burkina Faso has implemented two instruments to reduce regional disparities and to galvanize local economies through a local economic development support programme and the Emergency Programme for the Sahel, which has now been extended to the five regions affected by violent extremism.
In terms of democratic governance, I invited the majority party and the opposition to partake in a political dialogue from 15 to 22 July. The dialogue was positive and has allowed us to make progress that should be consolidated by the adoption of relevant regulatory and legislative texts.
Turning to the fight against climate change, I would first of all like to applaud yesterday’s Climate Action Summit, the format of which made it possible to put forward concrete proposals. I would also like to commend the success of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification held in India just a few days ago, and to recall the clear link between desertification and climate change. The countries of the Sahel understand that well, having created the Permanent Inter-State Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel in 1973.
Climate change is causing population displacement in Burkina Faso and exacerbating conflicts between herders and farmers due to water shortages and the scarcity of arable and grazing land. That is why, in the context of preventing and combating the impacts of climate change, my Government has taken important initiatives, including a five-year reforestation plan, a law to reduce the effects of disasters and humanitarian crises and a national plan for risk reduction and emergency preparedness for the period 2016 to 2020.
Despite the difficult security situation, Burkina Faso has continued to fulfil its international obligations by supporting fraternal nations restore peace through United Nations missions. For example, as one of the major troop contributors to peacekeeping missions, Burkina Faso is present in both Mali and Darfur. In Guinea-Bissau, our troops are involved in the ECOWAS Mission in Guinea-Bissau, which has contributed to providing a certain level of stability to that friendly country, allowing a President of the Republic to finish their term for the first time. We are also undertaking to increase women’s contribution as part of gender mainstreaming efforts in United Nations peacekeeping operations.
As we meet today, the international news is marked by tensions and threats to international peace and security. If we are all present at each new session of the General Assembly, it is because we believe in the capacity of the United Nations — a symbol par excellence of multilateralism and diplomacy — to find lasting solutions to the major challenges and various crises that affect us in many parts of the world.
I would like to recall that the ongoing security crisis in the G-5 Sahel space is a direct result of the destruction of the Libyan State. I urge the international community to mobilize in order to find a solution for lasting peace in that country, because resolving the security crisis in our countries is heavily dependent upon peace in Libya. In that connection, Burkina Faso welcomes United Nations mediation and strongly recommends the involvement of the African Union in the hope that such joint efforts will lead to the resolution of the Libyan crisis. In keeping with the shared views of the G-5 Sahel and the outcome of the ECOWAS extraordinary summit in Ouagadougou, I call on the Security Council to appoint a joint United Nations-African Union special envoy with a profound understanding of the situation in Libya.
On the question of Western Sahara, Burkina Faso reiterates its support for the political process under way, conducted under the exclusive auspices of the Secretary-General with a view to reaching a mutually acceptable and negotiated political solution to the dispute, as has been recommended by the Council since 2007, including in resolution 2468 (2019), adopted in April. Burkina Faso also welcomes the holding of two round tables among Algeria, Morocco, Mauritania and the Polisario Front, in accordance with Security Council resolutions 2414 (2018) and 2440 (2018). I would like to take this opportunity to commend the work carried out by the former Special Envoy of the Secretary- General of the United Nations during his tenure. Given the regional dimension of the dispute, Burkina Faso calls on all States in the region to contribute to the political process and step up their participation in the negotiation process.
In the Middle East, the question of Palestinian remains a major concern in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and Burkina Faso reiterates its support for the two-State solution, with Israel and Palestine living in peace and good-neighbourliness.
Burkina Faso strongly condemns the repeated attacks against Saudi Arabia and its oil facilities. Whatever their origin, these attacks constitute serious threats to peace in Saudi Arabia and the region as a whole. We therefore firmly call for these acts of hostility to end.
With regard to the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed on Cuba by the United States of America, Burkina Faso believes that it should be lifted, in the light of the great prejudices the Cuban people have suffered for many years.
International peace and security are under threat from the arms race. That is why Burkina Faso supports all multilateral initiatives and actions aimed at achieving disarmament on both weapons of mass destruction and conventional weapons. Today there is ever-more evidence that the proliferation of small arms and light weapons poses a threat to international peace and security in various parts of the world, especially West Africa and the Sahel, and hinders the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. I urge States to allocate the resources freed up by disarmament to financing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), official development assistance and the Green Climate Fund. In so doing, we can offer better prospects to millions of disadvantaged people.
Yesterday we held the Climate Action Summit and the High-Level Meeting on Universal Health Coverage, and in the coming days we will hold high-level meetings on sustainable development and Financing for Development. We express our hope that all these initiatives will help generate political momentum and support at all levels to strengthen engagement with the private sector in order to leverage innovative solutions for financing the SDGs.
In this regard, we commend the Secretary-General’s launch yesterday, 23 September, of the Global Investors for Sustainable Development Alliance. This group, which will comprise 25 to 30 chief executive officers of major companies from around the world, is intended to leverage their know-how to boost long-term investment in sustainable development; as such, it is a beacon of hope at a moment when funding is ever scarcer.
Burkina Faso, like all countries, is keenly following the intergovernmental negotiations on Security Council reform, as well as issues relating to the revitalization of the General Assembly and partnerships with the regional and subregional organizations. Regarding the reform, as we prepare to mark the seventy-fifth anniversary of the founding of our Organization under the theme “The future we want, the United Nations we need: Reaffirming our collective commitment to multilateralism”, Burkina Faso continues to hope that the negotiations, launched more than 20 years ago, will deliver the reform we all so wish to see — reform that makes the Security Council more representative of the 193 States Members of the United Nations across both categories of membership and with all corresponding privileges and obligations. I take this opportunity to reaffirm Burkina Faso’s full adherence to the common African position as reflected in the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration. In marking 24 April 2019 as the first International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace, the United Nations reaffirmed the importance of multilateralism and showed that it is together that we can tackle and overcome the global challenges of the modern world.


I would like to begin by congratulating Mr. Tijjani Muhammad-Bande on his presidency of the General Assembly at its seventy-fourth session. I also thank Mrs. Maria Fernanda Espinosa Garces for her efforts during the previous session.
Poverty eradication, quality education, climate change and inclusion are all issues that will be discussed this year. They are at the core of the goals we adopted four years ago and are interconnected, with a direct impact on sustainable development for individuals and societies. Despite the achievements that have been made in the area of poverty eradication, as illustrated in various reports of the Organization and its specialized agencies, much remains to be done, particularly in low-income countries, in order to ensure their ability to respond to those challenges and meet the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The annual general debate in the Assembly is a good opportunity to assess the current situation. Is today’s world better than it was during the previous session? Are we living in a safer and fairer world? What kind of world will we leave to our children? What must we do to end the ongoing assault on nature? All of those questions require that we focus on the meaning of our presence here and remind ourselves of the fundamental principles on which the United Nations is based and through which it seeks a world based on unity and solidarity.
Algeria wants to emphasize its commitment to building a world of peaceful coexistence, particularly in our neighbourhood and region. We are committed to a world in which multilateralism is the best and preferred way forward and the United Nations is a source of inspiration and a driving force for a world that is better and safer and that demonstrates greater solidarity and respect for nature.
Humankind has achieved an unprecedented level of economic development, prosperity and technological development. But that is merely a question of statistics — the reality is that millions of people are living in poverty, which is a source of concern and resentment. Of the more than 740 million people living on less than $2 per day, many are concentrated in rural areas, which raises the issue of balanced development. The fight against poverty is not limited to charitable institutions. It is a matter of social justice and peace and stability for all.
Sustainable development makes it possible to respond to current needs without diminishing the resources or capacities of future generations. It relies on rational economies, good governance and partnerships that take the protection of the environment into account. Development can be sustainable if policies are aligned with efforts to safeguard the planet and address climate change, which continues to have a large impact on our ecosystems and biodiversity and causes increasingly severe natural disasters.
Africa — particularly the Sahel-Sahara region, to which my country belongs — is one of the continents that has been most deeply affected by these phenomena, particularly through accelerated desertification and drought. Although it emits the lowest proportion per continent of greenhouse gases in the world, Africa remains among the least prepared to confront the negative effects of climate change. It is the responsibility of industrialized countries to settle their climate debt by providing adequate financial and technical assistance adapted to the needs of the least polluting countries in order to eliminate the environmental disparities between developed and developing countries.
Achieving the goals set by the international community will depend on the degree to which each country fulfils its responsibilities, taking into account its capacities. Today we must promote the principle of multilateralism and protect it from attempts to weaken it, including those that result from misguided policies. Sustainable development at the international level can be achieved only in the context of a sustainable form of multilateralism that is based on justice, equity and finding the balance that best serves the interests of both developed and developing countries.
The challenges of a multilateral world are inextricably linked to the issue of United Nations reform. Reform is of great importance because the Organization’s mechanisms were born from post- Second World War power balances that no longer effectively correspond either to the current composition of the international community or to the challenges facing our world today. For this reason, modernizing the mechanisms and revitalizing the activities of our Organization should be undertaken without further delay, especially in the light of challenges that have direct implications for international peace and security. The double standards and impunity that we have witnessed in past decades have had a profound impact on the moral authority of the multilateral system and the level of respect for the United Nations flag wherever it is raised. That is why we need legitimate and urgent reform of our Organization and reimagined governance. Any acceptable reform will have to recognize the fundamental role played by the General Assembly and promote greater democratization in the composition of the Security Council.
The African Union framework for the reform of the Security Council is worthy of consideration. Algeria stands ready to actively contribute to the realization of this process. We are also prepared to make a positive contribution to moving forward on disarmament issues, including strengthening such related multilateral mechanisms as the Conference on Disarmament, which my country will preside over as of 1 January 2020.
Our Arab region continues to suffer numerous crises, both long term and emerging, which have been worsened by the international community’s failure to adopt approaches appropriate to solving those crises in accordance with the principles of the Charter of the United Nations and international law. This failure has fuelled the phenomenon of extremism and violence.
At the heart of the Arab and Islamic world and for all lovers of peace around the globe, the Palestinian question has emerged as a central issue and one that is closely linked to a number of other crises, including regional security in the Middle East and throughout the world. Despite the numerous binding resolutions adopted by our Organization and the constructive Arab Peace Initiative, we have unfortunately been unable to implement these instruments on the ground, making the possibility of finding a solution in line with the requirements of international legitimacy increasingly remote. Although the majority of the international community condemns the policies and aggression of Israel, the occupying Power, as well as the long- standing historical injustice and continued impunity of the aggressor, the unarmed Palestinian people remain deprived of their most basic national rights, including the right to return to their homeland, while attempts continue to be made to change the status of their capital, Al-Quds Al-Sharif.
Algeria continues to support its strategic choice of establishing the Arab Maghreb Union, the first seeds of which we planted three decades ago. My country remains fully committed to translating the objectives to which the peoples of the Union aspire into reality on the ground. Nevertheless, we regret that we have not matched the Secretary-General’s dynamism with respect to Western Sahara. We also regret the resignation of Mr. Horst Kohler, Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General for Western Sahara. We hope that the spirit of dialogue will prevail between our brothers in the Kingdom of Morocco and the Frente Popular para la Liberacion de Saguia el-Hamra y de Rio de Oro so that they can reach a final solution that guarantees the ability of the people of the Sahara to exercise their legitimate right to self-determination, in accordance with the principles of the Charter of the United Nations and the relevant General Assembly and Security Council resolutions.
With regard to Libya, Algeria has repeatedly warned of the creation of obstacles to finding a political solution to the crisis. We have consistently stressed to the various parties in Libya, as well as regional and international partners, that the country’s overarching interests should ultimately take precedence over all other considerations. Algeria will stand side by side with the Libyans in promoting dialogue as a means to end the crisis and begin a reconciliation process free from foreign interference, which serves only to threaten the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country, as well as the stability of its society. Algeria reaffirms that the Libyan crisis can only be resolved by the Libyans themselves, with the support of their neighbours, and that an approach based on weapons and foreign intervention cannot lead to a settlement.
In Syria, we have recently witnessed several positive developments. With the defeat of various terrorist groups, security has been restored in a number of regions, which has enabled the return of the first wave of internally displaced persons from within and outside the country. We must now focus on setting the requirements for a political solution leading to national reconciliation, enabling all Syrians to return to their homes and communities and, with the help of all, to begin the process of reconstruction.
We should not omit to mention our brother nation of Yemen, also in the Arab world, where the conflict has had serious repercussions for people’s lives and triggered a serious humanitarian situation. We hope that dialogue between the belligerents in line with respect for national and international legitimacy will prevail and that the efforts to fight terrorism and unacceptable aggression are successful. In this regard, I would like to pay tribute to the work of other brother countries of the region in helping to bring the Yemeni crisis to an end.
In Mali, the achievement of lasting peace requires the full and effective implementation of the 2015 Agreement on Peace and Reconciliation in Mali that resulted from the Algiers process. Closer cooperation among all the signatory parties to the Agreement must be established. We commend the progress made in this regard, but we must bear in mind that much remains to be done by all Malian stakeholders. As President of the Agreement Monitoring Committee, Algeria affirms its determination to support the Malian parties in addressing the root causes of the crisis and putting a definitive end to it. We are steadfast in our determination to see Mali achieve security, unity and territorial integrity, and we will continue to provide the country with assistance.
The lack of security in the Sahel region foments the spread of terrorist groups, whose capacity to do harm has grown. They benefit from a criminal economy based on looting, illegal trafficking and smuggling, resulting in poverty and the creation of fertile ground for attracting young recruits. Given our geographical position in the region and our long-standing experience in fighting terrorism and violent extremism in our country, and given that we are a key pillar of stability in Africa and the Mediterranean region, Algeria has adopted a global policy of working relentlessly to fight this international scourge while introducing far-reaching reforms on the political, economic, social, cultural and religious fronts. Violent extremists’ malign exploitation of religious beliefs, particularly those of Islam, has had a significant impact on the stability of societies in the Arab and Muslim world and has also led to an increase in the hatred of Muslims and Muslim communities around the world. This is an issue that must be tackled through continuing cooperative action based on mutual respect, while countries should also adopt national legislation to eliminate this scourge.
The issue of migration also requires greater attention. Respect for people and their dignity must be at the foundation of all policies aimed at organizing migration. It must also be part of a comprehensive and balanced approach that takes into account the interests of countries of origin, transit and destination, as well as the root causes of the phenomenon of migration. In recent years there has been a significant focus on the security and humanitarian dimensions, but the development aspects have not yet received the attention they deserve. Promises related to official development aid must be translated into tangible development programmes that respond to the needs of local communities and prevent individual migration. Unfortunately, the Mediterranean has become a graveyard for many migrants, owing to the sinking of many migrant convoys attempting to reach Europe. Surely it is time for the Mediterranean region to reclaim its role as a model for partnership, cooperation and solidarity. In Algeria, we are confident that this can be done, and we stand ready, with our partners on both sides of the Mediterranean, to make positive contributions to any effort aimed at achieving this goal.
In conclusion, I would like to say that Algeria is a State that deeply believes in the purposes and principles of the United Nations and in the ideals of peace and mutual respect. As a State, we are willing to build relationships based on solidarity and stability. Algerians are currently aspiring to develop their country and build its strength so that they can continue their quest to preserve peace, security and peaceful coexistence, not just in the country’s geographical area of the Sahel region and the Mediterranean, but throughout Africa and the world.