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Remarks by the President of the General Assembly, <\/b><\/p>\n
H.E Dennis Francis<\/b><\/p>\n
Tribute to His Highness Sheikh Nawaf Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah,<\/b><\/p>\n
Amir of the State of Kuwait<\/b><\/p>\n
Wednesday, 20 December 2023<\/b><\/p>\n
(As Delivered)<\/b><\/p>\n
Your Excellency, Mr. Tareq Albanai, Permanent Representative of the State of Kuwait,<\/p>\n
Your Excellency, Mr. Ant\u00f3nio Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations,<\/p>\n
Excellencies,<\/p>\n
Distinguished Delegates,<\/p>\n
We gather here today, to pay a solemn tribute to His Highness Sheikh Nawaf Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah, Amir of the State of Kuwait, who sadly passed away on 16 December 2023.<\/p>\n
His Highness Sheikh Nawaf came to the throne in September 2020 \u2013 at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic \u2013 steady handedly assuming the reins of authority, as the embodiment of the continuity needed by the State of Kuwait; and working tirelessly with the utmost dedication to steer his country through one of the most turbulent phases of human existence in living memory.<\/p>\n
His reign as Amir capped a lifetime of public service and consummate commitment to the principles of unity, dignity, and solidarity.<\/p>\n
At home and abroad, he was known for his exemplary leadership and diplomatic prowess \u2013 revered as a unifier and consensus builder by diplomats and fellow world leaders alike.<\/p>\n
The esteemed son of Sheikh Amad Al Jaber Al Sabah \u2013 the tenth ruler of the State of Kuwait \u2013 Sheikh Nawaf began a distinguished career at the age of 25, with an initial role as the governor of Hawalli in 1962.<\/p>\n
He went on to hold numerous high-ranking positions \u2013 serving as Minister of the Interior in 1978 and Minister of Defense a decade later \u2013 before his nomination as Crown Prince in 2006.<\/p>\n
As Amir, he steadfastly committed himself to the welfare of the Kuwaiti people.<\/p>\n
Through his unwavering resolve, he diligently guided the country towards progress and prosperity; and maintained Kuwait\u2019s long tradition of multilateral engagement on a range of issues \u2013 from mediating disputes and spearheading humanitarian activities, to working across political divides to help advance sustainable development.<\/p>\n
The State of Kuwait\u2019s recent election to the Human Rights Council, is emblematic of his vision \u2013 for a brighter future and for a more just and peaceful world.<\/p>\n
This vision also underpinned a strong commitment to enduring peace and stability across the Middle East, that made Sheikh Nawaf a valued partner and reliable friend to all \u2013 and we will continue to rely on his vision even now, as we grapple with finding a lasting solution to the crisis in Gaza.<\/p>\n
As President of the General Assembly, I wish to personally thank the Permanent Mission of the State of Kuwait for championing the values and principles of the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Charter.<\/p>\n
I would also like to commend the State of Kuwait for its support to my Presidency and the Office of the President of the General Assembly over the years.<\/p>\n
On behalf of the General Assembly, and indeed on my own behalf, I extend our deepest condolences to the Al Sabah family, as well as to the people and Government of the State of Kuwait.<\/p>\n
Today \u2013 as we mourn his loss \u2013 let us pay a tribute worthy of the sterling leadership of Sheikh Nawaf.<\/p>\n
Let us honor his legacy of outstanding service, compassion, promotion of international cooperation, and tolerance and understanding \u2013 which he bequeathed not only to the people of the State of Kuwait, but to all of us: the United Nations, and to the international community at large.<\/p>\n
May his Great soul rest in eternal Peace!<\/p>\n
I thank you.<\/p>\n
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Remarks by the President of the General Assembly, H.E Dennis Francis Tribute to His Highness Sheikh Nawaf Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah, Amir of the State of Kuwait Wednesday, […]<\/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":"
Remarks of the President of the General Assembly<\/p>\r\n
H.E Dennis Francis<\/p>\r\n
GA plenary meeting on the
Report of the International Criminal Court,<\/p>\r\n
Monday, 30 October 2023<\/p>\r\n
As Delivered<\/i><\/i><\/p>\r\nPresident of the International Criminal Court, Judge Piotr Hofmanski,<\/i><\/i>\r\n\r\nExcellencies,<\/i>\r\n\r\nDistinguished Delegates,<\/i>\r\n\r\n\u00a0<\/i>\r\n\r\nToday we gather to consider the annual report of the\u00a0International Criminal Court (ICC) \u2013 a\u00a0 critical pillar of the international legal order.\r\n\r\nThe ICC stands as a perennial symbol of our shared commitment to justice and humanity\u2019s greatest aspirations.\r\n\r\nIt serves as an emphatic reminder that\u00a0no one \u2013 I repeat, no one \u2013 should be exempt from accountability for the most serious crimes of concern to the international community,\u00a0and that regardless of their status, position or location, perpetrators of such crimes will invariably face the weight of justice.\r\n\r\nIndeed, when it comes to the most egregious crimes against humanity,\u00a0 accountability knows no exceptions and justifiably so.\r\n\r\nIn those grave and heinous cases \u2013 when national legal systems prove unable or unwilling to bring perpetrators to justice \u2013 the ICC must step in.\r\n\r\nAccordingly, the ICC stands as a testament to our unshakeable resolve to end impunity, and moreover, to deter others from the commission of such crimes in the future.\r\n\r\nThe Court is indeed a truly unique embodiment of our collective resolution to upholding the principles of justice and accountability.\r\n\r\nI express my\u00a0 fulsome appreciation to the Court for its diligent efforts,\u00a0 as indeed to its judges and its prosecutor, as well as to the dedicated staff who have laudibly committed themselves to the pursuit of justice \u2013 and indeed, to what is\u00a0right<\/i>.\r\n\r\nThe report highlights both the progress and the challenges faced by the ICC this year, specifically as regards the prevention and punishment of genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and the crime of aggression.\r\n\r\nThese principles are fundamental to our global vision of peace and are integral to our mission of maintaining international peace and security, promoting respect for human rights, and delivering justice to those who have suffered the gravest injustices.\r\n\r\nLadies and Gentlemen,<\/i>\r\n\r\nWe must acknowledge that the Court operates in a multifaceted international landscape.\r\n\r\nIts jurisdiction spans cases where state parties have brought situations to the attention of the Court, including situations referred by the United Nations Security Council.\r\n\r\nWhile it may present a unique set of challenges \u2013this duality in referral mechanisms underscores the importance of international cooperation.\r\n\r\nDespite these challenges, the hope for universal ratification of the Rome Statute, and the Kampala amendments, serve as a profound affirmation of the ICC's enduring commitment to justice.\r\n\r\nAs more countries join and support the ICC, the bold ambition of ending impunity for the most serious crimes becomes increasingly realistic to achieve.\r\n\r\nAs we engage in this discussion, let us remember the voices of the victims, whose suffering must compel us to take meaningful action.\r\n\r\nI underscore the\u00a0need for universal cooperation with the court among Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Member States in our common pursuit of a more just and peaceful world.\r\n\r\nI call upon States to support the ICC where it faces constraints in its pursuit of justice, including predictable funding to effectively undertake its investigations and prosecutions.\r\n\r\nIn line with the fundamental principle of complementarity, States should cooperate\u00a0with the ICC and with each other in investigations and prosecutions, including by sharing information and evidence to uphold the rule of law and ensuring accountability for the most serious crimes.\r\n\r\nLet us remain committed to strengthening the international legal framework and ensuring that the ICC continues to fulfill its essential role in our global efforts to prevent impunity and injustice and to promote lasting peace.\r\n\r\nI thank you and look forward to a fruitful discussion on this important matter.","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[111],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-274869","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-speeches","et-doesnt-have-format-content","et_post_format-et-post-format-standard"],"yoast_head":"\n