Remarks by H.E. Mr. Abdulla Shahid, President of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly
6 December 2021
Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,
President Sampaio was a visionary leader and a pillar of democracy. His contributions, both in Portugal, as well as at the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Alliance of Civilizations, have left a lasting mark on democracy and on multilateralism.
On behalf of the General Assembly, I wish to convey our deepest condolences and sympathies to the Government and people of Portugal, as well as to the family and loved ones of President Sampaio.
It was during President Sampaio¡¯s tenure as head of the Alliance of Civilizations, that the General Assembly adopted resolution 64/14, which recognizes the importance of intercultural and interreligious dialogue in promoting tolerance.
President Sampaio¡¯s enduring legacy is, perhaps, best captured by his own?words upon receiving the first-ever Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Nelson Mandela Prize in 2015.
And I quote:
¡°The world has a collective obligation to protect the defenseless, defend human rights and those who are suffering in war zones, at-risk or those in vulnerable situations; there is no other option but to have the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ leading this process.¡±
Let us honor and pay tribute to the memory of President Sampaio by abiding by this collective obligation.
May his soul rest in peace.
I thank you.