Press Remarks by H.E. Annalena Baerbock
President of the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly
on the occasion of the interactive dialogues with candidates for Secretary-General
21 April? 2026
East Foyer Press Stakeout Position
(As Delivered)
Good morning and thank you all for joining me here today.
In just a few minutes I will convene the first of the interactive dialogues with candidates for the position of Secretary-General of the United Nations.
While the interactive dialogues mark a critical step in the process and highlight the important role of the General Assembly in the selection and appointment of the next Secretary-General, these dialogues also come at a pivotal moment for the United Nations.
The selection of the Secretary-General has widespread consequences that resonate far beyond this building.
Our choice will shape the direction of the world¡¯s unique multilateral organization and demonstrate whether the United Nations truly represents the more than 8 billion people around the world, half of whom are women and girls.
A decade has passed since the last new Secretary-General was chosen, and in those ten years the world has undergone profound change.
We have witnessed shifting geopolitical dynamics, a rise in violence and conflicts, an accelerating climate crisis, rapid technological transformation, a global health pandemic, and widening inequalities between nations.
At the same time, while the United Nations is under unprecedented political and financial pressure, the need for global cooperation has never been more urgent.
Especially given the fact that in our interconnected world, what unfolds in one region echoes across all others.
Therefore, respect for international law and engagement within the United Nations is neither abstract nor theoretical.
In this context, the selection of the next Secretary-General is not simply an administrative decision, it is a statement of intent.
It will send a powerful message about what the United Nations stands for and how it intends to address the challenges of today¡¯s interconnected world.
The next Secretary-General will be entrusted not only with navigating these challenges, but also with advancing essential reforms to ensure an organization born 80 years ago from the ashes of two World Wars is capable of meeting 21st century challenges.
In a time of unprecedented financial and political pressure on the United Nations, strong and principled, effective leadership is essential to ensure that the Charter¡¯s promise of serving the people is kept, as the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ – through its programs and agencies – ensures everyday access for millions of people to clean drinking water, education and even aviation safety for billions passengers every year taking airplanes.
Based on the revitalization resolution and joint letter with the President of the Security Council, the interactive dialogues are essential to ensuring a transparent and inclusive process.
During the three-hour dialogues, candidates will have the chance to highlight their vision for the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ.
By answering questions from the 193 Member States, they will also be given the opportunity to demonstrate their proven leadership abilities, experience, and skills to lead a strong and fit-for-the-future organization as well as their capacity to deliver across all three pillars of the United Nations: peace and security, sustainable development, and human rights
These pillars are not separate mandates but are deeply interconnected.
They are interconnected commitments that form the foundation of a peaceful, just and prosperous world, and the Secretary-General must be their strongest advocate.
The Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Charter begins with ¡°We the Peoples¡± and the decision about the future leadership does not concern a few but all of us, in and outside the United Nations.
It is therefore essential that civil society is heard as well.
Obviously, with over 10 million civil society organizations worldwide, it wasn¡¯t possible to invite everyone, so the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ had an open call for civil society that attracted interest from organizations all over the world covering a huge range of thematic areas.
The voices and questions of civil society representatives, both in the room and virtually, will be heard in the Trusteeship Council alongside Member States and observers.
In a nutshell, that is one of the toughest jobs in the world, but it is also one of the most important, as the next Secretary-General will not only shape the future of this institution but – in her or his role as the strongest defender of the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Charter – also that of the international rules-based order.
I thank you.
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