23 September 2017 – The threat of terrorism is among the most serious challenges facing the international community, Adel Ahmed Al-Jubeir, Minister for Foreign Affairs told the United Nations General Assembly today, stressing that his country would continue to work to counter the scourge, as well as extremism in all forms and manifestations.

The crisis in Qatar had jeopardized his country’s policy of cutting off funding to terrorists and extremists. Doha’s financial support of terrorism, and dissemination of violent hate speech, was unacceptable, as was its policy of providing safe haven to those who violated the law. The position taken by the four States was meant to demand that Qatar follow the principles of international law in fighting terrorism, he explained.

Pledging in the United Nations General Assembly to continue providing aid to members of the Rohingya minority fleeing Myanmar, Saudi Arabia today urged the Government of Myanmar to protect its population from discrimination.

“My country is gravely concerned and condemns the policy of repression and forced displacement carried out by the government of Myanmar against the Rohingya minority,” he said.

He said the “human tragedy” runs counter to all human rights, humanitarian values and international laws, and urged the Government to bring about an end in line with the UN principles.

The Foreign Minister said that Saudi Arabia will disperse $15 million in assistance to host some 500,000 peoples, while also personally intervening with neighbouring countries and Bangladesh to ensure safe passage and house families in decent living conditions.

Full statement (in Arabic) available here

23 September 2017 – Leaders from Pacific island nations addressing the United Nations General Assembly today urged Governments to implement the Paris Agreement, and contribute to fighting climate change and supporting sustainable development efforts.

“Micronesia expresses grave concern that some countries have chosen to break with the international community and neglect the Paris Agreement, contrary to all of the best scientific advice,” the country’s Vice President, Yosiwo George, said in the UN General Assembly Hall in New York.

Agreed by 195 nations, the 2015 Paris Agreement seeks to combat climate change and unleash actions and investment towards a low carbon, resilient and sustainable future. Its main aim is to keep global temperature rise this century well below 2 degrees Celsius and to drive efforts to limit the temperature increase even further to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

In addition to implementing the Agreement, Mr. George urged world leaders to support the Green Climate Fund which aims to finance “green” investments in developing countries.

He voiced concerns about lack of ambition in face of mounting threats to the health of the oceans, urging a special provision to be created for small island developing states within the UN Law of the Sea Convention on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological areas.

Fishing rights in exclusive economic zones are of particularly concern, Mr. George said, urging the international community “to remain steadfast in our efforts to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing in all its forms.”

Full statement available here

Prime Minister Peter Paire O’Neill of the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, addresses the general debate of the General Assembly’s seventy-second session. UN Photo/Ariana Lindquist

The head of Government in Papua New Guinea expressed similar concerns, noting that the global fish stocks are being “decimated” and “people are being forced to abandon their traditional homes because they have to jobs or food.”

Peter O’Neill told the UN General Assembly that the problem of unsustainable use of natural resources is part of the bigger issue of climate change and its adverse impacts, which include seawater flooding in coastal communities, extreme tropical storms and severe droughts.

“In Papua New Guinea, and around the world, our people are dying as a consequence,” Mr. O’Neill said. “Living standards are being eroded and opportunity denied.”

“The world needs increased action now, to make further commitments to reduce emissions, and to help communities respond effectively to the climate change challenges,” he added.

Noting the challenges facing refugees and migrants around the world, Mr. O’Neill also called for a “more sensible and humane” approach to mobility, noting that more people will be dislocated in the future by natural disasters and the loss of livelihoods.

Full statement available here

John Silk, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Marshall Islands, addresses the general debate of the General Assembly’s seventy-second session. UN Photo/Cia Pak

In the same vein, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Marshall Islands underscored that the science behind climate is very real and urged that global confidence in the Paris Agreement must not waver in the face of any short-term challenges.

“The Paris Agreement is only as strong as the political confidence which stands behind it – and it is beyond imperative that, even in these early moments, committed nations are starting the challenging task of pushing ourselves to do even more,” said Minister John Silk.

In his address, the Minister also underscored the importance of the Sustainable Development Goal, and in particular, Goal 14, on the conservation and sustainable use the oceans, seas and marine resources.

Also in his remarks, Mr. Silk expressed condemned the recent nuclear and missile tests conducted by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), adding that he is appalled by the threat of an atmospheric nuclear test over the Pacific Ocean.

Full statement available here

23 September 2017 – Africa remains the most marginalized of all continents, and therefore talk of an ‘African Renaissance’ and of ‘fastest growing economies’ is misplaced and premature, Eritrea’s top foreign affairs official told the United Nations General Assembly today.

“We should not flatter ourselves, or allow others to flatter us,” said Minister for Foreign Affairs Osman Saleh Mohammed at the Assembly’s annual high-level debate.

“Africa remains a producer and small-bit exporter of primary products. It retains minimum revenue from this export, with foreign companies getting the lion’s share,” he added.

He noted that processing of primary products, value-addition, industrialization, technology development barely exist. African economies, physical and social infrastructure, institutional and governance structures, peace and security architectures remain undeveloped.

Yet, Africa boasts tremendous human and natural resources; indeed, over 60 per cent of global natural resources lie in Africa.

Mr. Mohammed said that people can speak of Africa taking its rightful place in the world, only when Africa’s economies, the quality of its infrastructure, the standards of its health and educational institutions, the level of its artistic, scientific and technological products, the effectiveness of its institutions and enterprises, and more importantly the quality of life of its citizens, reflect more accurately its great potential.

Eritrea – a young nation, strategically located and with significant human and natural resources – is laying the ground for broad-based and sustainable economic development, and has also embarked on a massive, water and soil conservation, as well as an afforestation program, as part of its comprehensive plan to enhance the environment and fight climate change.

“Eritrea is confident it will meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) ahead of time,” he said.

Full statement available here

23 September 2017 – Bahrain reiterated its support for a strong Middle East in its United Nations General Assembly address, underscoring the need for strong and common political will to guarantee positive relations with other countries, support for the principles of non-interference in others internal affairs, and reaffirmation of the fight against terrorism and its sponsors.

“As partners, we can work together to preserve the security of the Gulf region, to combat terrorism and to provide protection for international navigation and commerce routes,” said the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Shaikh Khalid Bin Ahmed Al-Khalifa, addressing the world body in New York.

He also urged compliance with international conventions and instruments to address the greatest challenge facing the international community – terrorism.

“Terrorism is no longer confined to terrorist organizations that can be confronted and eliminated. Rather, that menace has become a tool in the hands of States determined to create crises in other countries in pursuit of their own agenda” he said, adding that it is no longer acceptable to allow rogue countries to occupy others’ territories, violate the sovereignty of States, threaten international peace and security, support terrorism and spread hate and anarchy.

Full statement available here

Yousuf bin Alawi bin Abdallah, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Sultanate of Oman, addresses the general debate of the General Assembly’s seventy-second session. UN Photo/Cia Pak

In his address, Foreign Minister Yousef bin Alawi bin Abdullah of Oman highlighted his country’s adherence to UN principles. “We call upon all states to exert more efforts to help the United Nations restore its pivotal role in international relations.,” he said.

“The Sultanate of Oman invites the United Nations and the International Community to take up their responsibilities and strive to achieve peace, prevent conflicts and wars and settle difference, through dialogue and peaceful means. In this respect, my country renews its readiness to work with the United Nations to build a new world of security and stability.”

Full statement available here

23 September 2017 – The Foreign Minister of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) today denounced United States President Donald Trump’s “reckless and violent words,” saying that the US leader himself is on a “suicide mission.”

“In case innocent lives in the US are lost because of this suicide attack, Trump will be held totally responsible,” Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho told the Assembly’s 72nd annual general debate, referring to President Trump’s statement to the world body earlier in the week pledging to ‘totally destroy’ the DPRK if the US is forced to defend itself and saying that its leader is on a ‘suicide mission.’

The Foreign Minister called on the UN sanctions imposed upon it for its nuclear and missile tests “unprecedented acts of injustice.”

“Due to his lacking basic common knowledge and proper sentiment, he tried to insult the supreme dignity of my country by referring it to a rocket. By doing so, however, he committed an irreversible mistake of making our rockets’ visit to the entire US mainland inevitable all the more,” he said.

Mr. Ri said the very reason the DPRK has to possess nuclear weapons is because US hostility and nuclear threats have continued for over 70 years. “The possession of nuclear deterrence by the DPRK is a righteous self-defensive measure taken as an ultimate option,” he added.

“Unless true international justice is realized, the only valid philosophical principle is that force must be dealt with force and nuclear weapons of tyranny must be dealt with the nuclear hammer of justice.”

He stressed that the UN failure in fulfilling its role in realizing genuine international justice is primarily related to the undemocratic practices of the 15-Member Security Council, whose decisions alone have the force of law, where the five permanent members – China, France, Russia, United Kingdom and United States – are all nuclear powers with a common interest in maintaining their monopolistic nuclear status.

Full statement available here