– As delivered –
Statement by H.E. Volkan Bozkir, President of the 75th Session of the United Nations General Assembly
14 October 2020
Excellencies,
Distinguished Delegates,
I am honoured to address you today.
And I would like to congratulate the Chair, His Excellency Collen Vixen Kelapile, Permanent Representative of Botswana to the United Nations, and other Members of the Bureau on your election. I wish you every success for this session.
The 75th session will undoubtably be affected by COVID19, not least due to the limitations placed on in-person meetings.
As we all know, the benefit of face-to-face diplomacy cannot not be taken for granted. I extend my congratulations to the Bureau for their pragmatism in proceeding with a hybrid working model that includes in-person meetings, including this one.?
The issues handled by this Committee are arguably the most disparate of any of the Committees. But make no mistake, the work of this Committee, and the issues it addresses, are fundamental to the work of the United Nations.
Firstly, on decolonization. In the past 75 years, more than 80 former colonies comprising 750 million people have gained independence. Meanwhile, the Trusteeship Council is no longer required to serve the purpose for which it was created.? This reflects our success.? However, while much progress had been made, 17 cases still require attention. I encourage this committee to ensure the self-determination of all colonial countries and peoples is implemented in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations.
Second, on peacekeeping. Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ sends our peacekeepers to some of the most challenging places on earth. They risk their own lives to protect others and fulfil the mandates we set for them. Therefore, we must do our utmost to protect them. We must consider the ever-changing landscape of peacekeeping operations.
The Action for Peacekeeping initiative set a clear road map for all stakeholders to renew their collective engagement with peacekeeping. I encourage you all to take advantage of the political momentum created by the Action for Peacekeeping initiative and translate shared commitments into action so we can better support our peacekeepers and serve the people they protect.
Third, on Palestinian issues. Achieving peace in the Middle East has been on the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ¡¯s agenda since its creation.
After more than seven decades, resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict remains key to sustainable peace in the Middle East.
Today, as we mark the 75th anniversary of the United Nations, we need to renew our commitment to the peace in the Middle East.
Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ must continue to support Palestinians and Israelis to resolve the conflict on the basis of United Nations, international law and bilateral agreements and realizing the vision of two States living side by side in peace and security within recognized borders, on the basis of the pre-1967 lines.
The work of the 4th Committee is very important in this regard. And it plays a critical role in keeping this conflict and the plight of the Palestinians on the international agenda and your efforts help to fulfil the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including to self-determination and independence.
Furthermore, since the establishment in 1949, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵRWA), has provided lifeline support to Palestine refugees, which now stand at 5.6 million people.? The Agency¡¯s mandate was most recently renewed last year through this Committee. And pending a just and lasting solution to the plight of Palestine refugees, Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵRWA¡¯s services in areas such as education, healthcare, protection, relief, infrastructure, camp improvement and emergency response will remain vital.? Recurrent financial gaps is a source of concern. Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵRWA needs predictable and sustained funding to ensure stability and security for Palestine refugees. I encourage you to give to this voluntary fund generously and consistently.
And finally, on outer space ¨C a very different agenda item ¨C but one which is increasingly relevant to both peace and security and development with significant advances in science and technology. The preservation of outer space for peaceful purposes and for the benefit of humankind, without discrimination, is a shared responsibility. It is critical that Member States recognize this and find ways to reap the benefits of science and technology to invest in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Space-based services and technologies can help to address key issues relating to achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, including climate change and natural disasters.
In the past 75 years, more than 80 former colonies comprising 750 million people have gained independence. Meanwhile, the Trusteeship Council is no longer required to serve the purpose for which it was created.? This reflects our success.? However, while much progress had been made, 17 cases still require attention.
Distinguished delegates,
Through the adoption of the United Nations 75 declaration, you recommitted to the ideals of its founders. By striving together, we can achieve ¡°the Future We Want, the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ We Need.¡± And I warmly encourage you to work together, in the spirit of compromise, to progress the items on your agenda. My team and I we will stand ready to support your endeavors, whenever you need us.
I thank you very much, first of all to have me in this meeting and I wish you all the best in your very, very important endeavors in this committee.
Thank you.
