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17 November 2022<\/strong><\/b><\/p>\n \n Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen:<\/p>\n Forty-three years have passed since the question of Security Council reform first appeared in the General Assembly agenda.<\/p>\n It has been 17 years since world leaders expressed their support for the so-called \u201cearly reform\u201d of the Council, calling it an essential element of the overall effort to reform the United Nations.<\/p>\n And it has been 13 years since the Assembly launched the intergovernmental negotiations process.<\/p>\n This year, we approach Security Council reform with new attention \u2013 facing a set of interlocking crises that have placed the entire multilateral system under pressure.<\/p>\n Countries are struggling due to conflicts and wars, climate change, food, water and energy crises, unsustainable debts and health emergencies.<\/p>\n The war in Ukraine, now in its ninth month, has only amplified these effects, displacing millions and forcing countries to make unprecedented choices to meet the needs of their citizens.<\/p>\n Through it all, the Security Council \u2013 the main guarantor of international peace and security \u2013 has remained blocked, unable to fully carry out its mandate.<\/p>\n Growing numbers are now demanding its reform.<\/p>\n During High-Level Week, one-third of world leaders underscored the urgent need to reform the Council \u2013 more than double the number in 2021. They are looking to the General Assembly to lead on change.<\/p>\n We should admit that this is about the credibility and the relevance of the United Nations.<\/p>\n A choice is at hand: does the Assembly continue its annual repetition of well-known positions \u2013 or, moved by these crises, does it swing into action to find common ground and achieve breakthroughs?<\/p>\n Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen: You simply must answer this call.<\/p>\n The General Assembly is, quite literally, the only Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ body with a mandate to seek a solution to the question of Security Council reform.<\/p>\n I count on you, the Member States, to drive the transformation now urgently needed.<\/p>\n The ancient philosopher Lao Tzu \u2013 who is said to have lived in an era of warfare and reform \u2013 has an apt saying:<\/p>\n \u201cThe journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.\u201d<\/p>\n Today, I ask the Assembly to take its collective step.<\/p>\n To start from a position of \u201cyes\u201d.<\/p>\n To listen to each other.<\/p>\n To build on shared interests.<\/p>\n To find areas of commonalities.<\/p>\n I have held several meetings with Member States to hear your views on the way forward.<\/p>\n I have heard your desire to achieve solutions.<\/p>\n I have appointed the Permanent Representative of Slovakia and the Permanent Representative of Kuwait as co-chairs of the intergovernmental negotiation process.<\/p>\n I thank them for accepting their important responsibility.<\/p>\n I have complete confidence in them and their intention to understand the views of Member States and steer these negotiations in good faith, and with mutual respect.<\/p>\n I ask all of you to offer them full support.<\/p>\n As you embark, I also encourage you to engage on the critical questions of our day.<\/p>\n How can we ensure the process goes ahead “in an open, inclusive and transparent manner”?<\/p>\n Are Member States ready to seek practical solutions on the reform of the Council?<\/p>\n What do you envision as the outcome this session?<\/p>\n Our meeting today is webcasted and recorded. Would you like to proceed the same way during the forthcoming rounds of negotiations?<\/p>\n One of the principles applied to the IGN during recent years was that \u201cnothing is agreed until everything is agreed\u201d.<\/p>\n Would you like to follow the same principle or prefer another methodology?<\/p>\n The 2008 decision provides possibilities for Member States to negotiate.<\/p>\n The objective is to find solutions. In a transparent manner. Along a well designed process.<\/p>\n It is up to you to decide whether or how to use the available techniques. In turn, you can count on me to provide all support to the co-chairs and<\/p>\n Member States in an impartial, objective and open-minded manner. Excellencies,<\/p>\n It was also Lao Tzu who said: \u201cPerseverance is a sign of willpower.\u201d Let us persevere.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s break free of entrenched positions.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s go beyond the calculations of distrust and rivalry. Let\u2019s focus on the common good.<\/p>\n I thank you.<\/p>\n \n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" 17 November 2022 Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen: Forty-three years have passed since the question of Security Council reform first appeared in the General Assembly agenda. It has been 17 years […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":361,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":" 10 November 2022<\/strong><\/b><\/p>\r\n Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,<\/p>\r\n Afghanistan is in crisis. It is in many crises.<\/p>\r\n It has been 15 months since the Taliban consolidated control over the country.<\/span><\/p>\r\n Its economy is in ruins. The humanitarian situation is disastrous.<\/span><\/p>\r\n \u00a0<\/span>Two-thirds of the population is hungry.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n \u00a0<\/span>Girls and women are banned from learning, having a job or getting proper medical care.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n The country is awash with heroin and opium.<\/span><\/p>\r\n Organized crime and terrorist organizations are thriving once again.<\/span><\/p>\r\n Afghanistan is facing complex and interlinked challenges that the Taliban have shown they cannot \u2013 or would not \u2013 solve.<\/u><\/span><\/p>\r\n It is time to support the Afghan people with concrete solutions that place their needs front and center.<\/p>\r\n It is true that some problems will require some time to resolve.<\/p>\r\n But there are actions the Assembly can take to change the paradigm now.<\/p>\r\n I would like you to consider one solution through solidarity.<\/p>\r\n The Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ humanitarian appeal for Afghanistan \u2013 which requires $4.4 billion US dollars \u2013 is only half funded.<\/p>\r\n With winter weather just weeks away, I encourage Member States to provide urgent support to help reduce the $2.3 billion dollar shortfall.<\/p>\r\n Let\u2019s remind ourselves of the old saying from Afghanistan: \u201cA real friend is one who takes the hand of his friend in times of distress and helplessness.\u201d<\/p>\r\n Excellencies,<\/p>\r\n Afghanistan has a rich history of scientific achievement.<\/p>\r\n I encourage the country\u2019s reengagement with the international science community.<\/p>\r\n And\u00a0to allow women who used to be respected members of the country\u2019s science community to resume their research and their studies.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n \u00a0<\/span>Afghanistan is now the only state in the world that would deny girls their full right to education.<\/p>\r\n The prospect of girls\u2019 education has been left to uncertainty amid seemingly random edicts from the Taliban.<\/p>\r\n This time last year, Fawzia Koofi, the first woman Deputy Speaker of the Afghan Parliament, recalled her dream of one day addressing the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ as the President of Afghanistan.<\/p>\r\n She said:\u00a0\u201cWith me, millions of girls and women in Afghanistan had this dream that now they think will never come true.\u201d<\/p>\r\n Dreams of becoming President have been replaced by the reality of child marriage. Arrests if women and girls leave their home without a male chaperone.<\/p>\r\n I reiterate my call for the protection of fundamental rights and freedoms of all Afghans, especially women and girls.<\/p>\r\n Similarly, I urge the Taliban to ensure the safety of all Afghans, regardless of gender, ethnic background, religious belief or political affiliation.<\/p>\r\n To protect journalists and civil society members.<\/p>\r\n To allow unhindered humanitarian aid, and to cooperate with humanitarian workers.<\/p>\r\n We expect the Taliban to make good on the commitments they made to the international community.\u00a0To show honesty through\u00a0concrete action.<\/p>\r\n Excellencies,<\/p>\r\n The dramatic changes of 2021 have taken a massive toll on Afghanistan\u2019s economy and profoundly widened many security risks.<\/p>\r\n