{"id":161904,"date":"2018-09-18T15:59:37","date_gmt":"2018-09-18T19:59:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/pga\/73\/?p=161904"},"modified":"2018-09-20T12:16:09","modified_gmt":"2018-09-20T16:16:09","slug":"opening-of-the-73rd-session","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/pga\/73\/2018\/09\/18\/opening-of-the-73rd-session\/","title":{"rendered":"Opening of the 73rd Session of the General Assembly"},"content":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.12.2″ border_style=”solid” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” background_size=”initial”]<\/p>\n

– As delivered –<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Statement by H.E. Mrs. Mar\u00eda Fernanda Espinosa Garc\u00e9s, President of the 73rd<\/sup> Session of the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ General Assembly<\/h3>\n

18 September 2018<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"General<\/a>

Opening of the 73rd session of the General Assembly
OPGA<\/p><\/div>\n

Excellencies,<\/em><\/p>\n

Distinguished delegates,<\/em><\/p>\n

Mr. Secretary-General,<\/em><\/p>\n

Ladies and gentlemen,<\/em><\/p>\n

I am honoured to address you for the first time as President of the General Assembly. I speak with a profound sense of responsibility and commitment to the United Nations Charter and its founding principles.<\/p>\n

I also feel the deepest respect for the world\u2019s peoples, whose well-being is our principal goal.<\/p>\n

Over the past several weeks I have had the good fortune to meet with many of you as I have prepared myself and my Office for this great challenge. \u00a0Our consultations have made me appreciate how much has been done over the past decade to revitalize the workings of the General Assembly and enhance its capacity to address the challenges facing Member States and their diverse societies.<\/p>\n

I am honoured to represent my beloved region of Latin America and the Caribbean. It is a region of peace. A region committed to human rights.<\/p>\n

This is an honour as well for my country, Ecuador, which is one of the founding members of the United Nations and a dedicated supporter of its work. My presidency reflects my country\u2019s support for multilateralism and its people\u2019s sense of international solidarity and cooperation.<\/p>\n

But my presidency must go beyond the national political work that I have dedicated my last 11 years to. From today forward, you can be sure that I am working under the blue flag of our United Nations, promoting the interests and shared commitments of all its 193 Member States.<\/p>\n

I should also note that my presidency marks the first time a woman represents the Latin American and Caribbean region.<\/p>\n

I am only the fourth woman to assume this role. Three impressive women have presided over the General Assembly in the past 72 years: Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit from India in 1953; Angie Brooks from Liberia in 1969; and Haya Rashed Al Khalifa from the Kingdom of Bahrain in 2006.<\/p>\n

These milestones inspire me to dedicate my presidency to the women and girls of my region. I want to support those women who have entered politics; who are demanding equality in the workplace; those women and girls who are victims of violence; to those girls and adolescents who demand access to quality education.<\/p>\n

I would like to thank my predecessor, His Excellency, Mr. Miroslav Laj\u010d\u00e1k, whose leadership of the 72nd<\/sup> Session has been both instructive and inspirational. I intend to build on his accomplishments and follow his example of strong, inclusive leadership. \u00a0I will continue with the morning dialogues with Member States and the monthly coordination meeting with the principle organs of the Organization.<\/p>\n

Let me wish President Laj\u010d\u00e1k all the best as he returns to represent our sister Republic of Slovakia.<\/p>\n

I thank the Permanent Mission of Ecuador for the enormous support its staff has provided during these weeks of transition. As well, I thank the other Missions who have contributed such excellent staff for my Cabinet. And, of course, the professional guidance and support provided by the staff of the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Secretariat.<\/p>\n

Let me express my gratitude to the Permanent Mission of Finland for hosting a preparatory retreat in July where I was able to confer with the His Excellency Laj\u010d\u00e1k, the current and incoming Vice-Presidents-elect, the Main Committee Chairs and the chef-de cabinet of the Secretary-General as well as officials of the Department for General Assembly and Conference Management.<\/p>\n

Mr. Secretary-General,<\/em><\/p>\n

I am grateful for the support you have given me as I prepared to assume the Presidency. Throughout the coming year, I anticipate working closely with you, including on the implementation of the ambitious reform agenda of the United Nations. This is a process which I hope to move forward in accordance with the mandates of Member States.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”1_2″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.12.2″]<\/p>\n

Excellencies,<\/em><\/p>\n

The General Assembly is not just the most democratic and representative forum in the world. It is a space embracing the most diverse cultures of the world. You, dear colleagues, constitute an invaluable center of global thought and vision which has tremendous influence in the world and on our governments and our peoples. Your thinking, wisdom and vision set the standards for our cooperation and development, among our nations and for our people. Each day we must search for solutions to the most difficult problems that face humanity and our planet.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″][et_pb_code _builder_version=”3.12.2″]\n\n