[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.22″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.14.7″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
Excellencies,<\/p>\n
Distinguished delegates,<\/p>\n
I am honored to join you today in commemorating the 30th<\/sup> anniversary of the membership of Central Asian countries, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, in the United Nations.<\/p>\n I take this opportunity to thank each of your countries and respective governments for the contributions to the United Nations and our multilateral system.<\/p>\n Many milestones have been achieved since your membership in 1992. From pursuing national development priorities, to strengthening regional stability, to economic prosperity, significant progress has been seen locally, nationally, regionally and at the global level.<\/p>\n This includes among others the establishment of a Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵRCCA), <\/em>where a Joint Plan of Action for Central Asia was formulated in 2011. It is the first regional framework designed to address the threat of terrorism through a common approach, based on the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy.<\/p>\n As Landlocked Developing Countries or LLDCs, your countries also face specific challenges to sustainable development, including connectivity and access to trade routes.<\/p>\n Yet, like the Five Rays of Hope<\/em> under my Presidency, your narrative as five countries locked in solidarity and in common pursuit of peace and prosperity, inspires hope and spurs action.<\/p>\n An example of this is the biennial resolution on Cooperation between the United Nations and the Economic Cooperation Organization,<\/em> where the Central Asian economies actively pursue strategies on trade liberalization to attract more Foreign Direct Investment and facilitate deeper regional economic integration.<\/p>\n My dear Friends,<\/p>\n Your renewed commitment to the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ membership will in no doubt contribute to the pursuit of the principles of the United Nations, to fulfilling the 2030 Agenda, to ensuring progress on the Paris Agreement, and to responding to, and recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n Your regional experiences and best practices – both instructive and insightful \u2013 certainly add value to our collective goal of a more inclusive and sustainable future for us all.<\/p>\n Congratulations once again on the 30th<\/sup> Anniversary of your Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Membership! Let\u2019s continue to work for the success of multilateralism as nations united.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" 30th Anniversary of Membership of Central Asian Countries – Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan in the United Nations.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":353,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":" Excellencies, colleagues,<\/p> I welcome you all to our second meeting and our first interaction following the resumed part of the session.<\/p> Before I begin, I would like to recognize the loss of our dear friend and esteemed colleague, Ms. Gail Farngalo.<\/p> A Liberian national, Gail was my Team Leader for Human Rights and was active on gender during both the 75th<\/sup> and 76th<\/sup> sessions. She leaves behind a legacy of achievements and a groundswell of respect and affection from across the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ and diplomatic communities. Her presence is certainly felt here today.<\/p> Colleagues,<\/p> When I took on this Presidency of Hope, I pledged to make gender equality a priority area for the 76th<\/sup> session. I continue to look to the board for its wisdom and expertise, as I endeavour to fulfil that pledge.<\/p> In this regard, I have already benefited from the board\u2019s advice, from when we met on October 28th<\/sup> last year.<\/p> Acting on that advice, I committed to ensuring that all my five rays of hope, and all my major initiatives, are approached with a gender lens.<\/p> I made sure that the composition of my office is gender-balanced.<\/p> I have committed to participating only in panels that have equal gender representation.<\/p> Throughout my official interactions and travels, I have endeavoured to meet with women, including heads of states and governments, scientists, civil society representatives, and youth.<\/p> And I am proud to inform you that five young women have been recruited into the Fellowship for HOPE<\/em> that my office recently launched. The Fellowship as you are well aware is targeted at benefiting young diplomats from underrepresented countries, pursuing careers in diplomacy or public service.<\/p> Colleagues,<\/p> While recognizing that we have a long way to go in the battle for gender-equality, I am proud of what my team has been able to accomplish within the past few months.<\/p> Our work continues.<\/p> We will continue to raise our voices on issues disproportionately impacting women, such as domestic violence and work place harassment. We will continue to push the importance of gender-equal work spaces.<\/p> And we will continue to find new paths to empower young women with ambitious professional aspirations.<\/p> Now is not the time to rest on our laurels.<\/p> With the board\u2019s guidance and support, we must use the many opportunities over the coming months to further empower women and girls, and dismantle discriminatory practices against them.<\/p> There are several upcoming events that will provide us such opportunities. I look forward to the board\u2019s suggestions on how we can best utilize them.<\/p> As an example, the International Day of Women and Girls in science is fast approaching. We must recognize that women\u2019s contributions in science and technology have helped us cure diseases; discover new horizons in space; and develop technologies that have vastly improved our quality of life.<\/p> As we celebrate their achievements, we must also open pathways for young girls who aspire to follow in the footsteps of pioneers in science and technology.<\/p> Colleagues,<\/p> Let us also reflect that the theme chosen by the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women for this year is on \u201cachieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls in the context of climate change, environmental and disaster risk reduction policies and programmes\u201d.<\/p> As we strive to meet our obligations to the planet, let us recognize the important work done by women and girls at the forefront of the climate crisis, and whose humanitarian work in disaster-stricken areas has helped save lives and rebuild communities. We owe it to them to not only celebrate their work but to support them.<\/p> Colleagues,<\/p> Our programme of work for the months ahead has been circulated to members prior to the meeting, for consideration and feedback. Please note that the events we have planned are not exhaustive. I welcome further suggestions from the board on the content and format of future events and activities.<\/p> Colleagues,<\/p> We have made much progress within a short while. And with the board\u2019s support and guidance, I am sure that we can keep up this strong momentum.<\/p> I look forward to working alongside all of you to achieve our vision of a gender-equal world.<\/p> Thank you.<\/p>","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[111],"tags":[550,556,553],"committee-meeting":[],"class_list":["post-259238","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-speeches","tag-ga","tag-pga","tag-shahid","et-doesnt-have-format-content","et_post_format-et-post-format-standard"],"yoast_head":"\n