[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_margin=”-76px|auto||auto||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.19.5″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
22 February 2023<\/b><\/b><\/p>\n
Esteemed Former Presidents of the General Assembly, Co-Chairs, Excellencies,<\/p>\n
Ladies and Gentlemen,<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
At the outset, I would like to thank Ambassador Fifield and Ambassador L\u00f3pez for organizing this informal dialogue.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Let me also welcome my distinguished predecessors, who all ably guided the work of the General Assembly.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Thank you for taking the time to be here to share your experiences and thoughts.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Excellencies,<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
We are in an era of cascading, interlocking, multifaceted crises.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ itself is standing at the confluence of unprecedented, complex challenges.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Solutions to these crises require long-term thinking and transformative changes in our approaches.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
As the world needs those changes, so does the General Assembly.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
It is therefore an urgent task for us to reflect on the functions and responsibilities of the General Assembly.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
We must start by asking ourselves, what role should the General Assembly play in this extraordinary time of history?<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
What do the Member States and the people they serve expect from the General Assembly and its President?<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
What guidance should the Member States give to the PGA?<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
What type of leadership should a President of the General Assembly exercise?<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
We must find answers to these strategic questions in the course of the discussions to come.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
In my view the President should play the role of an impartial conciliatior in<\/p>\n
– bringing Member States together,<\/p>\n
– creating space for governments to find common ground, and<\/p>\n
– striving for consensus.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
And, as I see it, the Assembly should be a universal platform for meaningful debate, joint thinking and strategic planning \u2013 among the Member States, and with other bodies and stakeholders, such as civil society and scientists.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Excellencies,<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
At a time of major crises, we cannot afford the luxury to discuss for the sake of discussion.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
We must act, and our actions must be concrete, impactful and tangible to make changes.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
To that end, we should prioritize our work.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
If we have close to two hundred priorities on our agenda, it means that we have no priorities.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
We need to reestablish our focus by streamlining the priorities and, at times, undertaking compromises for the sake of the greater good.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The General Assembly and its President must adapt themselves to the realities of the world.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Indeed, the Assembly has been reviewing and improving its work since its inception.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
I think all former Presidents of the General Assembly must have gone through similar soul-searching during their tenures.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Therefore, the revitalization of the General Assembly should not leave the wisdom of our predecessors unutilized.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
We shall not miss any opportunity to learn from the experiences, ideas and suggestions of the forerunners.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
And this is why our informal dialogue is such an important event.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Today I would like to listen to the voices of the distinguished former Presidents.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
I am sure that all participants here will considerably benefit from their first-hand knowledge and the lessons learned by them during their terms of office.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
As for me, I look forward to briefing the Ad Hoc Working Group at the Thematic Debate scheduled for 15 March, when I will present my views and concrete ideas.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Thank you.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
22 February 2023 Esteemed Former Presidents of the General Assembly, Co-Chairs, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, At the outset, I would like to thank Ambassador Fifield and Ambassador L\u00f3pez for […]<\/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