A/65/PV.118 General Assembly

I now give the floor to the Secretary-General, His Excellency Mr. Ban Ki-moon.

Let me briefly add a word about President Harri Holkeri, who passed away last month. Mr. President of the General Assembly has just eloquently explained his achievements as President of the General Assembly at its fifty-fifth session. As Secretary-General, I and many of the United Nations staff also will recall his efforts here in the Assembly and as a Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Kosovo. I had a particular and special relationship, having worked with President Harri Holkeri, because I was working as Chef de Cabinet to the President of the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session when the Korean then-Foreign Minister was serving as President of that session. We had a very smooth transition from President Holkeri. The moment when the terrorist attacks of 11 September happened, he had just ended his presidency and Korea was about to take over the presidency of the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session. Unfortunately, there was a vacuum in the leadership because the new President had not yet been elected. Mr. Holkeri, the President to be, the Korean then-Foreign Minister, then-Secretary-General Kofi Annan and I got together and discussed how we could save and protect the United Nations at that time against all such potential terrorist attacks. It was a moment of crisis. At that time, President Holkeri showed great leadership as outgoing President of the General Assembly. He, together with Kofi Annan, guided us when the Korean presidency was about to take over. I still remember his great vision and great commitment to fight against terrorism. He was one of the key persons who really worked to strengthen the role of the President of the General Assembly, and I really owe a great deal to him as President of the General Assembly. The demise of Mr. Holkeri is therefore a great loss to us. He was a great statesman in his home country of Finland. So it will be a great loss not only to the United Nations, but also to the people of Finland. I would like to take this opportunity to express my deepest personal and official condolences to his family, the people of Finland and us all. I wish that he rest in peace and eternity. I am sure that we will be guided by his spirit, even though he will not be here with us.

I thank the Secretary-General for his statement. I now give the floor to the Permanent Representative of the Sudan, who will speak on behalf of the African States.

I have the honour to address this plenary meeting of the General Assembly on behalf of the African Group to the United Nations. On its behalf, I would like to pay tribute to the late Mr. Harri Holkeri, former Prime Minister of Finland and President of the General Assembly at its fifty-fifth session. Mr. Holkeri, a truly remarkable personality and renowned peacemaker, will always be remembered by the Finnish people and the community of nations for his wonderful ability to build confidence in difficult situations and to forge feelings of togetherness among different people. Mr. Holkeri’s statement when he was elected President of the General Assembly at its fifty- fifth session during the Millennium Assembly (see A/55/PV.1) will undoubtedly be cherished as a milestone that the community of nations can increasingly draw lessons for a better future. Therefore, his demise was not only a great loss to the Finnish people, but also to the whole community of nations, who will always greatly miss him for his great and good deeds for his compatriots and the world at large.

I now give the floor to the representative of Indonesia, who will speak on behalf of the Asia and Pacific States.

It is an honour for me, on behalf of the Asia and Pacific Group, to join in paying a tribute to someone who will always be associated with international peace efforts and the best of multilateral diplomacy. There are not many people like Mr. Harri Holkeri, whose achievements were multifold and who held important positions both in his own country and in the international community. To his fellow countrymen, he will be remembered as a political leader, who, at one point, helped to unite their nation and to expand Finland’s international cooperation. To the rest of the world, his exceptional diplomatic skills were best showcased in the mediation efforts in Northern Ireland’s civil war, resulting in the Belfast Good Friday Agreement. This background prepared him for his next role as the President of General Assembly at its fifty- fifth session. In that capacity, he was widely known for pushing for the advancement of women in developing countries through education, as he saw this as a critical step in promoting world peace. His negotiating capabilities were put to good use throughout his presidency and long afterwards, including when he was appointed as the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Kosovo years after he had concluded his term as President of the General Assembly. He continued to use his great skills and talents to advance the public good. The demise of Mr. Holkeri is therefore a great loss, not only to his people, but also to the international community. The best way to pay our respects to such a man is to ensure that the generous humanity of spirit with which he lived and worked lives after him. We should spare no effort in ensuring that his willingness to serve, which contributed tremendously to world peace, continues. As the sixty-fifth session of the General Assembly draws to a close, and today is the last day, allow me, on behalf of the Asia Pacific Group, to take this opportunity to congratulate and express our highest appreciation to you, Mr. Deiss, for your remarkable accomplishments during your presidency. Amidst the enormous external and internal challenges, you toiled successfully to advance the United Nations development agenda and to reaffirm the central role of the United Nations in global governance.

I now give the floor to the Permanent Representative of Romania, who will speak on behalf of the Group of Eastern European States.

It is an honour to address the General Assembly on behalf of the Group of Eastern European States as we pay posthumous tribute to Mr. Harri Holkeri, President of the General Assembly at its fifty-fifth session and former Prime Minister of Finland, who passed away on 7 August. For over four decades, Mr. Holkeri successfully served his country and the international community in several political and economic positions, showing us that he was a person able to build the confidence of people in difficult situations, as was put so eloquently by the Finnish Prime Minister Jyrki Katainen. Mr. Holkeri brought to the post of President of the General Assembly a very rich political experience as well as a reputation as a skilled mediator and pragmatic consensus builder, guided by the principle that discussion is just a tool to be aimed; the final goal must be a decision. Taking on difficult tasks, such as heading up the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo or facilitating the process which subsequently forged the Belfast Agreement, he will always be remembered and revered as the President of the General Assembly that adopted the Millennium Declaration, a milestone in the work of the United Nations which captured the common vision of Member States for a better future. On the eve of the sixty-sixth session of the General Assembly, which we can foresee as being at least as difficult as the fifty-fifth, we should all recall his optimistic advice: there are many challenges, there are many obstacles: let us try to change the obstacles into advantages. On behalf of the Group of Eastern European States, let me convey our most heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family and to the people of Finland. We will always cherish Mr. Holkeri’s memory and legacy.

I now give the floor to the Permanent Representative of Colombia, who will speak on behalf of the Group of Latin American and Caribbean States.

On behalf of the Group of Latin American and Caribbean States, I welcome this opportunity to address the General Assembly to pay tribute to the distinguished Finish statesman and diplomat Harri Holkeri. As Prime Minister and Head of Government, Mr. Holkeri led his country in one of the twentieth century’s most critical moments, as power was realigning around the globe and, in particular, the political map of Europe was being radically redrawn. I am sure that all those present here today are aware of the role that Finland played in that scenario under the wise guidance of Mr. Holkeri. Similarly, Mr. Holkeri steered the work of this global deliberating body during its fifty-fifth session, during the millennium year Assembly, whose influential outcomes in the widest range of fields can still be felt in these halls. His contribution to brokering and building peace in such complex contexts as North Ireland and Kosovo are proof of his skill as a statesman and negotiator, and his legacy will stand proud in the annals of the United Nations. It is for all these achievements that we pay homage to Mr. Harri Holkeri today.

I now give the floor to the Permanent Representative of Monaco, who will speak on behalf of the Group of Western European and other States.

Today, we pay tribute to former Prime Minister of Finland His Excellency Mr. Harri Holkeri, who passed away on 7 August 2011. As President of the General Assembly at its fifty- fifth session, he led our Assembly at the dawn of the twenty-first century and steered efforts which still define sustainable development policy to this day. On behalf of the Group of Western European and other States, I express my most heartfelt condolences to his family and to the Government and people of Finland, at the passing of a man whose vision touched us all as members of the community of nations. As the Prime Minister of Finland in the early 1990s, he successfully steered his country through difficult economic waters. Beyond the honour of serving his own country, his pragmatism and great diplomatic skill were crucial to the Northern Ireland peace talks that led to the Belfast Agreement in 1998. In 2003, motivated by his dedication to peace, he agreed to serve as the Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Kosovo. A year later, his diligence and personal qualities had led to direct negotiations between the parties and agreement on a framework for future talks. Recognized for his wisdom, integrity and infinite patience, he showed that multilateralism is the art of bringing people together and promoting dialogue and mutual understanding. His famously approachable personality and strong dedication left an impression on all those who worked with him.

I now give the floor to the representative of the United States of America, who will speak on behalf of the host country.

Speaking on behalf of the host country, I join today’s speakers in extending our most sincere condolences at the passing of Mr. Harri Holkeri, a great diplomat and friend of the United Nations. Mr. Holkeri’s long and distinguished career of diplomatic service will remain a testament to the ideals of this institution. As the fifty-fifth President of the General Assembly, from 2000 to 2001, Harri Holkeri demonstrated great wisdom, integrity and patience. He will be remembered for his significant contributions to the world of multilateral diplomacy, promoting dialogue and peaceful means to resolve some of the world’s most challenging conflicts. This is the essence of diplomacy. We extend our sympathy to Mr. Holkeri’s family and friends. The entire United Nations community mourns the loss of a great colleague.

I give the floor to the Permanent Representative of Finland.

On behalf of the Government of Finland, I would like to thank you, Mr. President, for having organized this memorial meeting for Mr. Harri Holkeri, President of the General Assembly at its fifty-fifth session and former Prime Minister of Finland. I wish also to thank you, Sir, as well as the Secretary-General and all my colleagues who have paid their respects to Mr. Holkeri. A memorial meeting of the Assembly is a rare honour and speaks volumes about Mr. Holkeri’s accomplishments. I will make sure to convey the warm words spoken here to his loved ones. Many of those present have already paid tribute to Mr. Holkeri’s achievements as President of the General Assembly at its fifty-fifth session. The Millennium Declaration was adopted during Mr. Holkeri’s term, and his legacy is therefore still very much alive here in the Assembly. The United Nations family also remembers him for his service as the head of the United Nations Mission in Kosovo in 2003 and 2004. Mr. Holkeri will be remembered especially for his extraordinary skills as a mediator. Those skills were also called upon before his United Nations service in Northern Ireland, where he played a key role in the peace process. The people of Finland also remember Mr. Holkeri as Prime Minister of Finland from 1987 to 1991. His term as Prime Minister was characterized by major changes in Finland and its immediate surroundings. We remain grateful to Mr. Holkeri for his skilful stewardship during those turbulent years. Fittingly, given his subsequent international role, he will also go down in history for his ability to mend fences between different political parties and actors. Mr. Holkeri’s passing is a great loss to Finland and to the international community. He was a remarkable man who leaves behind an important legacy. We remain grateful for his dedication, vision and level-headedness, which contributed to making the world a better place for all of us.

May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 9?

The Assembly will now take action on draft decision A/65/L.89, entitled “Implementation of the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS and the Political Declarations on HIV and AIDS”. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to adopt draft decision A/65/L.89?

May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 10?

May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 19?

May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 39?

May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 40?

May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of sub-item (a) of agenda item 112 and agenda item 112 as a whole?

I should like to express my sincere thanks to Ambassador Dalius Čekuolis of Lithuania and Ambassador Camillo Gonsalves of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, the two Co-Chairs of the Ad Hoc Working Group, who have so ably conducted the discussions and complex negotiations of the Working Group. I am sure members of the Assembly join me in extending to them our sincere appreciation. May I take it that it is the wish of the Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 118?

Members will recall that the General Assembly held a joint debate on agenda item 29, “Report of the Security Council”, and agenda item 119 at its 48th to 50th plenary meetings on 11 and 12 November 2010. Members will also recall that, pursuant to its decision 64/568 of 13 September 2010, the Assembly continued intergovernmental negotiations on Security Council reform in informal plenary meetings during the current session. In a letter dated 6 September 2011, I circulated, for consideration by Member States, language for an oral decision on this important issue. I shall now read out that language to refresh members’ memories. By the decision, the General Assembly would (spoke in English) “Decide to immediately continue intergovernmental negotiations on Security Council reform in informal plenary of the General Assembly at its sixty-sixth session as mandated by General Assembly decisions 62/557 of 15 September 2008, 63/565 of 14 September 2009 and 64/568 of 13 September 2010, building on the progress achieved during its sixty-fifth session, as well as the positions of and proposals made by Member States, while noting with appreciation the initiatives and intensive efforts of the President of the General Assembly and the Chair of the intergovernmental negotiations, including the preparation of the text reflecting the positions of and proposals submitted by Member States, with a view to an early comprehensive reform of the Security Council; “Decide to convene the Open-ended Working Group on the Question of Equitable Representation on and Increase in the Membership of the Security Council and Other Matters related to the Security Council during the sixty-sixth session of the General Assembly if Member States so decide; “Decide to include in the agenda of the sixty-sixth session of the General Assembly an item entitled ‘Question of equitable representation on and increase in the membership of the Security Council and other matters related to the Security Council’.” May I take it that the General Assembly decides to adopt the oral decision?

I should like to express my sincere thanks to Ambassador Zahir Tanin of Afghanistan for having chaired these negotiations on my behalf and for having done impartially while striving to move the negotiations forward. May I take it that it is the wish of the Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 119?

To all peoples and to all voices, greetings, greetings to all! I have the honour to introduce the draft resolution entitled “Cooperation between the United Nations and the Pacific Islands Forum” under this agenda item on behalf of members of the Pacific Islands Forum based here in New York. Australia, the Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu and my own country, New Zealand. The Forum also expresses its appreciation to the many countries that have joined in co-sponsoring this draft resolution A/65/L.90. Through this draft resolution, the Pacific Islands Forum, its members, secretariat and associated institutions reaffirms its commitment to a partnership of cooperation and friendship with the United Nations system and its development partners. The past year has been a significant one for regional cooperation in the Pacific. This year, the Pacific Islands Forum held its 40th anniversary meeting. Over these past four decades, the Forum has played a central role in its members’ efforts to address the many challenges faced by our region. It has done so in the time-honoured Pacific way — through respectful dialogue, cooperation and joint action. Our region is proud of its own role in confronting and overcoming its own problems, whether through addressing the unique development challenges faced by small isolated vulnerable island States or in halting and healing the impacts of violent conflict. But we are not too proud to seek help when we need it and to acknowledge it when it is received. And we do so today. Our members thank the Secretary-General for his report on cooperation between the United Nations and regional and other organizations (S/2010/490) and for the cooperation and assistance provided to our region by the United Nations system. All that has been welcome, but there is room to do more, much more. We particularly express our gratitude to the Secretary-General for attending in person the forty- second Pacific Islands Forum in Auckland just last week — the first time a United Nations Secretary- General has done so. We also appreciate the time he took to visit four of our members, including one that is treading the long path of recovery from violent conflict and another that is most vulnerable to the effects of climate change. When you have to take off in your aircraft and be wheels up before it is full tide, you really do understand the impacts of climate change. All of that has provided the Secretary-General with a first-hand appreciation of the unique challenges and realities faced by States in our region as well as of the proud, warm and resourceful character of its inhabitants. We also know that his visit has given him an even keener understanding of the grave and immediate danger posed by climate change to the vulnerable island States of the Pacific. In his very welcome interactive dialogue with Pacific leaders, the Secretary-General said he was struck by two features of the region — its vastness and its vulnerability. Those are things that underline most of the issues faced by the Pacific. Pacific States know that in the current Secretary-General we have a staunch and reliable partner for our own efforts to address those issues and to do so before it is too late. It is fitting that this historic visit should be marked by agreement on the first-ever joint statement between leaders of the Pacific Islands Forum and the United Nations Secretary-General, a statement that provides a firm foundation for achieving a new level of cooperation and engagement between the United Nations and the Forum in terms of regular, high-level dialogue and practical cooperation and assistance tailored to the region’s priority needs. The Forum members ask the General Assembly to adopt draft resolution A/65/L.90 by consensus, the best possible way of marking this historic year in United Nations-Pacific Islands cooperation.

We shall now proceed to consider draft resolution A/65/L.90. I give the floor to the representative of the Secretariat.

The additional sponsors of draft resolution A/65/L.90 are Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Finland, Georgia, Hungary, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kiribati, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Micronesia, Montenegro, Nauru, Netherlands, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Portugal, Samoa, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Island and Vanuatu.

May I take it that the Assembly decides to adopt draft resolution A/65/L.90?

May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of sub-item (t) of agenda item 122?

Members will recall that, at its 2nd plenary meeting on 17 September 2010, the General Assembly decided to include this item in the agenda of the sixty-fifth session. It is my understanding that it would be desirable to defer consideration of this item and to include it in the draft agenda of the sixty-sixth session of the Assembly. May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to defer consideration of this item and to include it in the draft agenda of its sixty-sixth session?

May I take it that it is the wish of the Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 123?

May I take it that it is the wish of the Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 149? Agenda items remaining for consideration during the sixty-fifth session of the General Assembly The President (spoke in French): I should like to remind delegations that the following agenda items, on which action has been taken at previous meetings, have remained open for consideration during the sixty-fifth session of the General Assembly: items 14, 15, 20 (i), 23, 26, 27 (b), 29, 30, 36 to 38, 42, 63, 66, 69 (a), (b) and (d), 74 (a), 107 to 109, 113 (f), (g) and (h), 114, 115, 117, 120, 122 (b), (i), (n), (q), (r) and (w), 125 to 148 and 150 to 160. As members are aware, these items have been included in the provisional agenda of the sixty-sixth session of the General Assembly with the exception of sub-items (b), (i), (n), (q), (r) and (w) of agenda item 122 entitled “Cooperation between the United Nations and regional and other organizations”, agenda item 137 entitled “United Nations pension system” and agenda item 138 entitled “Administrative and budgetary coordination of the United Nations with the specialized agencies and the International Atomic Energy Agency”. May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda items 14, 15, 20 (i), 23, 26, 27 (b), 29, 30, 36 to 38, 42, 63, 66, 69 (a), (b) and (d), 74 (a), 107 to 109, 113 (f), (g) and (h), 114, 115, 117, 120, 122 (b), (i), (n), (q), (r) and (w), 125 to 148 and 150 to 160 at the present session and to include them in the draft agenda of the sixty-sixth session with the exception of sub-items (b), (i), (n), (q), (r) and (w) of agenda item 122, agenda item 137 and agenda item 138?

I now come to the final speech of the sixth-fifth regular session of the General Assembly of the United Nations, which I had entitled “Working together for humankind”. That was the inscription that the Secretary-General made on the photograph he gave me after my election. It is with great emotion that I speak to the Assembly for the last time in this General Assembly Hall. This year, we have been through intense times together. May I remind participants that, on 14 September 2010, the representative of a now- deposed regime handed over the gavel to me. How were we able, several months earlier, to tolerate witnessing the tyrant who ruled that country scorn the values of the United Nations by throwing the Charter to the ground in this very Hall? In what moment of distraction could we have elected that regime a member of the Human Rights Council? We responded. On 1 March 2011, when we suspended Libya from the Human Rights Council, we imposed the moral force of the United Nations before the eyes of the whole world. On that day, I said to the Assembly: “I am proud to be your President.” For that, and for all the progress achieved during this session, I warmly thank the representatives of the Member States, the members of the General Committee, the Vice-Presidents of the General Assembly, the Chairs of the Main Committees, the co-chairs and facilitators of working groups and various negotiating processes. In particular, I wish to express my most sincere gratitude to our Secretary-General, His Excellency Mr. Ban Ki-moon, for his tireless commitment in the service of the ideals of our Organization and for the excellent working relationship we have had during the year. I am extremely happy that he was appointed for a second term during my presidency and that I had the honour of administering the oath of office to him in this Hall. My fondest wishes for your success are with him. My thanks also goes to the Secretariat, in particular to colleagues in the Department for General Assembly and Conference Management, and to my Chef de Cabinet and my entire team who, from the first rays of dawn until late in the evening, helped me to carry out the activities of the presidency. Without their support, I would have nothing to report on today. We have worked together this year for humankind. What have we accomplished? Have we, during this year, ensured the progress of the ideals and values of our Organization and its Charter? Have we met the expectations of all those who, the world over, in their daily lives, are searching for peace, security and dignity? Have we been present and up to the task at the most critical moments of the year? These are the questions that I would like to answer today. To do so, it seems to me, we must consider the progress made with respect to the major themes on the agenda of the sixty-fifth session and our capacity to be present in crisis situations. First of all, what are our results with respect to the major themes on the agenda of the sixty-fifth session? From the outset, in my opening statement for the session, I told the Assembly that we have an obligation to produce results. In order to focus our efforts and more effectively monitor progress in our work, I thought it would be useful to reorganize our agenda items into three thematic areas — first, poverty reduction and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals; secondly, the green economy and sustainable development; and thirdly, global governance. I shall consider them one by one. With the High-level Meeting on the Millennium Development Goals, held at the beginning of the sixty- fifth session, we sent a strong message about our determination to keep our promise to halve poverty by 2015 and achieve all the other goals for the millennium. Five years from the deadline, it was important to clearly reaffirm our will to redouble efforts to succeed. In May, the international community reiterated that message in Istanbul, at the fourth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries. Emphasis was placed on the financing of and investment in productive capacities and on the role of the private sector in development. In my view, that is extremely heartening, since, if we wish to consolidate the progress made in eradicating poverty, we must ensure that the conditions for sustainable and balanced growth that generate decent jobs are in place. At the development dialogue, held in June, we launched the discussion on post-2015. Indeed, the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals, however encouraging and meaningful, leaves us midway. In 2015, we will have halved poverty in the world. That is significant, but we should not delay in tackling the other half. So let us be ready on time, without slackening our effort on the initiative under way. Starting from now, let us think about the strategy for what lies ahead. I am pleased that the General Assembly has begun the discussion. I am also pleased that the General Assembly, in particular by holding a special meeting in 2013, is ready to play its part in the follow-up to ensure that a tangible difference is made in the daily lives of deprived populations. Development-related topics continued to be highlighted throughout the year. Another outstanding result of this session was the High-level Meeting on AIDS in early June, at which the international community reaffirmed its will to fight against that scourge and to adopt new targets to realize the “three zeros” vision: zero new infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths. Lastly, the High-level Meeting on Youth, held in New York at the end of July, addressed a particularly relevant issue in the context of the uprisings that have marked the Arab world and other areas of the world since the spring — that of better integration of young people in the fight against poverty and the promotion of sustainable development. That leads me to the second key thematic area on this session’s agenda, namely, the green economy and sustainable development. There, too, the results are encouraging. The session opened with a High-level Meeting on Biodiversity, which contributed to the successful outcome of negotiations at the Nagoya International Conference. It is a significant step for the preservation of our environment. Challenges affecting the small island developing States, implementation of the Mauritius Strategy and disaster risk reduction also held our attention. I am particularly pleased that the discussion proceeded constructively on a topic that is especially dear to my heart, as I am convinced that it is a key pathway to transitioning to a production and consumption pattern that is more respectful of the planet and its inhabitants, namely, the green economy. Thanks to the support of the Group of Friends of the Green Economy and the organization of a thematic debate, the issue has become less controversial and the possibilities for growth and job creation provided by a green economy, even in the least developed countries, have become more apparent. That is a useful contribution to the preparations for the Conference on Sustainable Development, to be held in Rio in 2012. Reaffirming the central role of the United Nations in global governance was the theme of our general debate and one of this session’s overarching themes. At a time when challenges are increasingly global and require coordinated and collective responses, we, the Member States, must not allow the United Nations to be marginalized by new actors in global governance that, indeed, may at times be more effective than the United Nations and its General Assembly, but that lack legitimacy. In that context, with a view to bringing the Group of Twenty (G-20) and the United Nations closer together, we set up a constructive dialogue with the G-20 Presidency, held first by the Republic of Korea, then by France. That dialogue must continue, in particular after the G-20 summit, to be held in Cannes in November. However, to give the G-20 decisions full legitimacy, other mechanisms must be found. The informal thematic debate on global governance that we held in June allowed for further reflection. Thanks to resolution 65/94, adopted last December, deliberations on the place of the United Nations in global governance can continue beyond this session. Work must also urgently continue on the internal reforms of our Organization. Encouraging steps have been taken. Thus, we have completed the review of the work of the Peacebuilding Commission and of the Human Rights Council. However, important work that cannot be abandoned is under way. I am thinking, first of all, of the revitalization of the General Assembly, but also of the reform of the Security Council. I am pleased that a discussion beyond entrenched positions could be initiated, in particular thanks to the support of Members States for the Group of Friends of the President of the Security Council. However, I regret that a significant breakthrough giving rise to genuine negotiations is still awaited. For the credibility of the United Nations and of its Member States, that key question can no longer be deferred from session to session. The role of the United Nations in global political governance and the conditions for peace and security that affect millions of men, women and children in all areas of the world are at stake. As for our place in economic global governance, apart from the dialogue with the G-20, it can be strengthened by thoroughly reforming the Economic and Social Council, by refocusing the Council’s mandate and by improving its economic competence. I now move onto the second point, that is to say, the presence of our Organization and our Assembly in crisis situations. What can we say about our capacity to be present for what is not foreseen in crises, revolts and disasters that harms the dignity of populations, that sees their rights violated and that threatens their very existence? How have we met their expectations? Have we given them the vision of a force for peace, generosity and hope? Have we proved to them that we are that force for peace, generosity and hope? Our commitment in the name of the values of the United Nations has sometimes been too weak or come too late, but overall, our Organization, carried by the will of its Member States, within various intergovernmental organs, has assumed its responsibilities. In so doing, it has effectively affirmed its role as a main actor in global governance. I am pleased. The General Assembly has played its role in the strengthening of the United Nations as a moral force, as a force for the protection of civilian populations and their rights, the peaceful resolution of conflicts and friendship among peoples. Thus, we drew attention to the dramatic plight of Haiti by holding an informal plenary meeting at the beginning of this year. Thus, during the crisis in Côte d’Ivoire, we quickly reached a decision about who was the legitimate representative to the United Nations. Thus, in the face of the uprisings that shook the Arab world, we sent a strong message and suspended Libya’s right to hold a seat on the Human Rights Council. By means of thematic debates, the General Assembly had a presence in the context of such crucial issues as the rule of law and the responsibility to protect and was able draw the first lessons from the explicit reference to that responsibility in Security Council resolution 1973 (2011). During the elections to the Human Rights Council, we avoided the errors of the past. Members of the Human Rights Council must be demonstrate exemplary conduct and apply the highest standards of respect for, and promotion of, human rights. Lastly, and this was a moment of deep emotion and immense satisfaction, the admission of the Republic of South Sudan as the 193rd member of the General Assembly early in July marked the culmination of a process of peacefully resolution of a lengthy and deadly conflict. I call on all actors to work for lasting peace in that region. Thus, we have accomplished much. Undoubtedly, we could have done more. The situation in the Middle East remains unstable. In many parts of the world, conflicts are ongoing. Far too many human beings on this planet are living in precarious conditions. In all of these situations, we do not have the right to remain indifferent. As my presidency comes to an end, I wish to leave the General Assembly with a few recommendations that seem particularly important to me if the United Nations is to be strong and capable of making a difference. First, we must determine the common interest. Secondly, we must defend basic values. Thirdly, we must respond to the real concerns of peoples. Above all, in order to have an ever greater presence in addressing the major issues of our time, the common interest must prevail over national and individual interests. The major challenges before humankind can be solved only insofar as we are able to determine a common interest and a common strategy for achieving it. Too often, we are reluctant to abandon purely short-term national issues. Worse still, crucial debates on issues of fundamental importance for the poorest and most vulnerable among us are hostage to electoral positions and hidden agendas. This tendency breeds double standards. And often, our deliberations remain too removed from the concerns of the public; to outsiders, they are abstract, even incomprehensible. Some of our battles may therefore seem futile to those who live under oppression, or in insecurity, extreme poverty and conditions devoid of human dignity. At times during this sixty-fifth session, I have asked myself at what point does outrage to human dignity and the suffering of peoples finally become so great that we are forced to condemn it, to take action? For I am convinced that for all human beings whose dignity has been wounded or integrity threatened, whether in Syria or elsewhere in the world, the Assembly of peoples of which we are members must at least be a moral refuge. It must reassure them that their cause is not forgotten, that we uphold their aspirations and that they have the right to hope. The sixty-fifth session is nearing an end. Much remains to be done, but I am confident. I extend my very best wishes to His Excellency Nassir Abdelaziz Al-Nasser for the success of the sixty-sixth session and his Presidency. I hope that, thanks to the General Assembly, we, the States Members of the United Nations, can continue to work together for humankind. In closing, I wish to quote former Secretary- General Dag Hammarskjöld. It is now 50 years since his death. He said: (spoke in English) “Never measure the height of a mountain until you have reached the top. Then you will see how low it was.” (spoke in French) No obstacle is insurmountable for those who wish to succeed. Let us never forget that. Above all, let our Organization never forget that. I now give the floor to the Secretary-General, His Excellency Ban Ki-moon.

I would like to express my greatest appreciation to, and deepest admiration for, His Excellency Joseph Deiss and his stewardship of the General Assembly over the past year. Mr. President, you did a superb job during an especially challenging year, helping to show the role that the General Assembly can play in meeting the major challenges of our time. You presided over a very successful Millennium Development Goals summit as Co-Chair. It was one of the greatest successes in our history. Your choice of theme, global governance, was especially timely, and your constructive efforts helped to reaffirm the central role of the United Nations in that area. You steered the Assembly through three different, delicate and important processes: the review of our peacebuilding architecture, the review of the Human Rights Council and efforts to continue the reform of the Economic and Social Council. In particular, your strong commitment to the reform of the Security Council has now laid a good foundation upon which your successor will be able to build. You also convened many thematic debates and other meetings of consequence, all of them focused on issues that really matter to the world’s people, such as the rule of law, the green economy and the responsibility to protect. In your first comments to the membership upon being chosen as President, you reminded us all that “our purpose here is not merely to defend our particular national interests” (A/64/PV.93, p. 2). You said that we are here “to be friends who work together to find constructive solutions”. I think we can all agree that you did just that, highlighting once again the relevance of the General Assembly as this Organization’s chief deliberative and representative body. And you did all this, Mr. President, with perfect punctuality — a record of being on time that was a real inspiration to us all. On a personal note, I was particularly honoured when you administered the swearing-in ceremony for my second term as Secretary-General. Finally, let me express once again my full respect and gratitude for your efforts, commitment and leadership. I am sure you will always be with us as an honorary ambassador for life in promoting the goals and objectives you have been so passionately advocating. I wish you continued health and success in future.

I thank the Secretary-General very sincerely for the kind words he addressed to me. I should like to reiterate my admiration for him and the great pleasure it has been for me to collaborate so closely with him.