21 September 2017 – Addressing the 72nd annual general debate at the United Nations General Assembly, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan reiterated his country’s commitment to sustainable development and urged global leaders to remain steadfast in their battle against climate change, including through the use of renewable energy.

In particular, noting that peace and stability are essential to ensure sustainable development, Minister Kairat Abdrakhmanov stated that the world does not have “the luxury of being able to make mistakes and then going back to correct them.”

“[Therefore] we call on all world leaders to redouble their efforts and goodwill to head towards lasting peace and prosperity for all,” he added.

Noting of the growing danger posed by nuclear weapons, the Minister condemned the actions of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) – the only State in the 21st century continuing nuclear weapons development programme despite condemnation from the entire international community and called on the country to take serious steps to recommit to a political resolution to the crisis.

In his address, he noted the importance of the Astana process on Syria and his country’s efforts for a peaceful settlement in that country, and underscored that success at both the Geneva and Astana platforms are critical and that they should be supported by the entire international community.

Also in his address, he noted that the UN system may be subject of criticism but at the same time it remains the “beacon of hope” for billions around the globe and a universal institution that brings with it the promise of better, safer and more sustainable future.

Full statement available here

21 September 2017 – Myanmar must stop “ethnic cleansing” in Rakhine state, and “safe zones” should be created inside that country to protect all civilians, under the supervision of the United Nations, Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina told the General Assembly today.

“I have come here just after seeing the hungry, distressed and hopeless Rohingya from Myanmar who took shelter in Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh,” Ms. Hasina said during the annual general debate. “This forcibly displaced people of Myanmar are fleeing an ‘ethnic cleansing’ in their own country where they have been living for centuries.”

She noted that her country is currently sheltering over 800,000 forcibly displaced Rohingyas from Myanmar and that the ongoing atrocities and human rights violations in Myanmar’s Rakhine state once again aggravated the situation at the Bangladesh-Myanmar border.

She proposed that Myanmar unconditionally stop the practice of “ethnic cleansing” in Rakhine immediately and forever and the UN Secretary-General immediately send a fact-finding mission to Myanmar.

She also proposed that “safe zones” be created inside Myanmar to protect all civilians irrespective of religion and ethnicity under UN supervision and all forcibly displaced Rohingyas in Bangladesh return to their homes in Myanmar in a sustainable manner.

As a major troop- and police-contributing country, Bangladesh underscores the importance of upholding effectiveness and credibility of UN peacekeeping operations, and maintains a ‘zero tolerance’ approach to any allegation of sexual exploitation and abuse, the Prime Minister said, adding that she endorsed the UN “voluntary compact” on this issue.

Full statement available here

21 September 2017 – Citing the spate of recent devastating hurricanes, African leaders – from small island States to larger landlocked countries – mounted the podium of the United Nations General Assembly today to call for urgent measures to mitigate the effects of climate change.

“We-urge the international community to not only respond generously to these countries’ calls for support, but to take far more seriously the need to upscale the urgent action required to prevent, prepare for, adapt to and recover from such increasingly destructive climate-related disasters,” Seychelles President Danny Faure said, citing recently afflicted countries.

“The thoughts of the Government and people of Seychelles go out to the millions of people in South Asia, Africa, the United States, and Mexico, and our island brothers and sisters in the Caribbean who have suffered unimaginable losses from floods, hurricanes and other forms of extreme weather these past months,” he told the Assembly’s 72nd general debate.

Mr. Faure called for an inclusive approach to stepping up implementation of the Paris Agreement on limiting global warming greenhouse emissions. “According to the latest science, all stakeholders need to be involved if the international community is to drastically scale up our collective climate action to achieve our targets,” he said.

Full statement available here

Vice-President Mokgweetsi Eric Masisi of Botswana addresses the general debate of the General Assembly’s seventy-second session. UN Photo/Cia Pak

Vice-President Mokgweetsi Eric Masisi of Botswana appealed to the United States to re-consider its decision to withdraw from Paris accord. “As you would be aware, the challenge of climate change requires collective action, as no single country can successfully address this challenge on its own,” he said.

“It is as if the recent hurricanes and their disastrous effects were to underscore to the American Administration that climate change is real,” he added, stressing that the adverse impacts of climate change undermine the ability of all countries to achieve sustainable development.

Full statement available here

President Evaristo do Espirito Santo Carvalho of the Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe addresses the general debate of the General Assembly’s seventy-second session. UN Photo/Cia Pak

The leaders also addressed a host of world issues, from terrorism to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s (DPRK) nuclear programme, and from the need for expansion of the 15-member UN Security Council with permanent African representation to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that seek to haul hundreds of millions of people out of poverty, hunger and social ills by 2030.

Sao Tome and Principe President Evaristo do Espirito Santo Carvalho lamented that funding for measures mitigating climate change lacks the support of the international community.

“Cooperation agreements should be established with ambitious funding for climate issues, as well as ensuring effective and efficient transfer of technology by the more developed countries,” he said.

“Combating the phenomenon of climate change is perhaps the most complex objective for which all humanity is called upon to intervene. The success of this fight is perhaps the greatest legacy we can leave to future generations.”

Full statement available here

Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth of the Republic of Mauritius addresses the general debate of the General Assembly’s seventy-second session. UN Photo/Cia Pak

Mauritian Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth said addressing climate change is critical to successfully implementing the 2030 Agenda of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that aim to eliminate a host of social ills, including hunger, poverty and lack of access to education and health care.

“With the increasing number and intensity of climate related disasters – storms, droughts, flash floods, to name but a few – it would be naive on our part to dismiss the climate change,” he said.

Mitigating the effects of climate change will require substantial effort and resources, especially for small island developing States. “While we welcome the generous pledges made so far, including the creation of the Green Climate Fund, we need to streamline and simplify the procedures for these States to access these funds, especially in the light of the recent events.”

Full statement available here

Prime Minister Umaro Sissoco Embaló of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau addresses the general debate of the General Assembly’s seventy-second session. UN Photo/Cia Pak

Guinea-Bissau Prime Minister Umaro Sissoco Embaló the threats of climate change were of “a planetary scale with prospects of frightening, and not unlikely, consequences.”

On the situation in his own country, which has had a troubled past, he said: “ We continue to experience a period of institutional challenges… These are challenges related to the functioning of some of our core political institutions, namely parliament and the government.

“But it is with profound gravity that I inform you that civilian peace reigns in my country. There are no reports of universal human rights violations that merit complaints or are worthy of concern.”

Full statement available here

Prime Minister Selom Komi Klassou of Togo addresses the general debate of the General Assembly’s seventy-second session. UN Photo/Cia Pak

Togo’s Prime Minister Selom Komi Klassou stressed the need to carry out the Paris accord as well as the SDGs.

“The challenges facing our world have a real impact on development of Africa,” he said. “And one of the imperatives, in order to confront it effectively, remains the continent’s economic transformation.

“We realize this transformation depends, firstly on the responsibility of the African elite, but international solidarity is also prerequisite,” he added. “Investment needs to be increased in the fields of science, industry, agribusiness and high technology.”

Full statement available here

News Tracker: past stories on this issue

UN General Assembly’s annual debate to ‘focus on people,’ ensuring decent life for all

21 September 2017 – Offering his condolences to the victims of the recent natural disasters in North America, Georgia’s Prime Minister, Giorgi Kvirikashvili, told delegations at the United Nations today that no country is immune from natural disasters, saying “solidarity is what strengthens nations addressing these severe challenges.”

Observing that this year marks the 25th anniversary of Georgia’s UN membership, Mr. Kvirikashvili noted that his country had transform itself from a UN humanitarian aid recipient to a top reformer. Against that backdrop, he pledged support to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by translating them into the national policies.

The Prime Minister enumerated the changes and commitments the Government was making, including constitutional reform, as a reflection of Georgia’s aspirations to attain full European Union and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) membership. “Georgians understand this to be their destiny, as Georgia has long been an integral part of Europe’s broad cultural and historical tapestry,” he said.

Mr. Kvirikashvili recounted that the Russian Federation continues to occupy two regions of its sovereign territory – in violation of its international obligations, including Security Council and General Assembly resolutions. “Georgia is firmly committed to the peaceful resolution of the Russia-Georgia conflict,” he said thanking the world leaders that supported his country’s territorial integrity and addressed in their speeches, the need to accelerate a peaceful resolution.

Full statement available here

21 September 2017 – There is still hope for peace, ‘and we must not give up’ on solving the nuclear crisis on the Korean Peninsula, China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi told world leaders at the United Nations today, while urging the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s (DPRK) not to go “further along a dangerous direction.”

“Negotiation is the only way out, and deserves every effort. Parties should meet each other halfway by addressing each other’s legitimate concerns,” he told the Assembly’s 72nd annual general debate, adding that China has tirelessly sought peace on the Korean Peninsula, and would stay firmly committed to its denuclearization.

He said that 19 September marked the 12th anniversary of the Six-Party talks Joint Statement, in which the parties, including China, formulated a roadmap towards the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. While some felt that statement has now become outdated, such peaceful trends never become obsolete.

Underscoring tireless efforts China has made for peace on the Korean Peninsula, he urged the DPRK not to go further along its dangerous direction, while calling on the United States to honour its commitments in the region.

However, “we are once again at a crossroads,” he said, noting that the world is faced with the choice between unity and division. In particular, he cited the Syrian crisis and the Israeli-Palestinian issue, highlighting that the work of the UN must be driven forward, and all must embrace the spirit of the UN as a “guardian of world peace.”

Turning to development, the past five years have witnessed a momentous journey for China, said Mr. Wang, citing remarkable achievements on a number of fronts, which will bring more benefits to the world as it is an “anchor of world peace.”

China’s project of the century “Belt and Road” initiative, he highlighted, will not only offer a new paradigm for efforts to promote world peace, but it will also inject fresh impetus to the pursue of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.

Full statement (in Chinese) available here