A/73/PV.102 General Assembly

Before we proceed to the item on our agenda this morning, it is my sad duty to pay tribute to the memory of the late President of the Republic of Tunisia, His Excellency Mr. Béji Caïd Essebsi, who passed away on 25 July. We were deeply saddened to hear of his death. On behalf of all Members of the United Nations, I extend our most heartfelt condolences to his family and to the Government and the people of Tunisia. On behalf of the General Assembly and all gathered here, I convey our deepest condolences for the passing away of President Béji Caïd Essebsi. President Essebsi was a great statesman, a man who peacefully and successfully led the democratic transition in Tunisia, one of the greatest and most complex moments for the country and its future. His values and ideals in support of the independence of Tunisia were long-held and led him to choose politics as the instrument to serve his fellow citizens. In his various political posts, he was recognized for his fortitude and commitment to his country and region. He was also a staunch defender of the purposes and principles of our Organization, the United Nations, and the multilateral system. His legacy to strengthen democracy, achieve sustainable development and promote the human rights of the Tunisian people must continue. I trust that the Tunisian authorities will responsibly lead the country’s subseqeunt steps until the next presidential elections are held. I stand by his family and friends in these times of grief and I ask the representative of Tunisia to convey this message and this sincere tribute from the General Assembly to a person of great stature for his country, the region and the world. I now invite representatives to stand and observe a minute of silence in tribute to the memory of His Excellency Mr. Béji Caïd Essebsi.

I now give the floor to His Excellency Secretary-General António Guterres.

It is a privilege to be here at the General Assembly today to remember and honour the legacy of His Excellency President Béji Caïd Essebsi. At the outset, I extend my sincere condolences to President Essebsi’s family and friends and to the people and the Government of the Republic of Tunisia on the loss of the country’s first democratically elected President. I met President Essebsi many times, most recently in Tunis early this year. He was a great statesman, and his passing is a significant loss for the entire region. The outpouring of grief in Tunisia and beyond is a testament to the critical role he played in shaping his country’s history since independence, and particularly in recent years. President Essebsi will be remembered as an Arab and African trailblazer who steered his country towards democracy and the path of full respect for the fundamental rights and liberties of all its citizens. He showed great wisdom and moral leadership by choosing dialogue and consensus at critical junctures in Tunisia’s democratic transition. He remained true to the ideals of democracy, freedom and human rights throughout Tunisia’s peaceful revolution. Across the region, President Essebsi drew admiration for expanding women’s rights and for his strong advocacy for equality. (spoke in English) While Tunisia mourns the passing away of this pioneering leader, Tunisians should be proud of the rich legacy that President Essebsi leaves behind. I applaud the Tunisian Government and people for the many successes they achieved under the leadership of President Essebsi. Tunisians have demonstrated the power of inclusive national dialogue. President Essebsi was a genuine and reliable partner of the United Nations, and our relationship grew deeper and stronger during his tenure. He was a key ally in the search for solutions to conflicts in the region, as well a steadfast supporter of the efforts of the United Nations in Libya. He enjoyed the confidence of his peers as an honest broker motivated only by a vision of peace and stability across the region. I send the Tunisian people my best wishes and hopes that they will succeed in preserving and furthering the progress they achieved over the past eight years under President Essebsi.

I now give the floor to the representative of the Sudan, who will speak on behalf of the Group of African States.

I stand before the General Assembly to deliver this statement on behalf of the Group of African States about the late President Essebsi, one of the African continent’s greatest Heads of State, who worked in the service of African development, unity and peace. From his birth on 29 November 1926 until his death on 25 July 2019, President Essebsi dedicated his life to Tunisia in particular, and to Africa in general. He was a savvy politician, a diplomat and ambassador, a productive minister, a presidential adviser, a Prime Minister and then an elected President in December 2014. He was the first Tunisian President since independence to be elected directly through general elections, following a glorious Tunisian revolution unique in Africa and the Arab region. He took up the presidency at a most difficult and turbulent time in the history of Tunisia, given the challenges of the political transition towards democracy, pluralism and freedom. Nevertheless, President Essebsi was up to the task, relied on his wisdom and acted as a father to all Tunisians, while at the same time safeguarding the gains of Tunisia’s ground-breaking revolution among modern revolutions in Africa. He brought together all the great Tunisian people and coexisted with various ideologies and opposing ideas for the sake of establishing stability and development in Tunisia. President Essebsi was therefore a great African and national leader, who was selfless and dedicated himself to the unity, coherence and stability of Tunisia. He also was an advocate for the rights of women in his country. We pay tribute today to Tunisian President Essebsi, whose wisdom will be missed in all Africa. We would like to stress the principles that he instilled in Tunisia, namely, tolerance, wisdom and the love of one’s country. In his youth he was part of the new liberal constitutional party. Moreover, he was an advocate of women and their pioneering role in society and the State. He also defended a consensus-based policy and moderation based on political pragmatism, realpolitik and the rule of law. He called for the State to be respected by safeguarding State institutions and pursuing a balanced foreign policy. He was an example to all Africa. In calling for peace, coexistence, stability and rising above differences for the sake of the country, President Essebsi will remain a symbol for Tunisian generations to come and an inspiration for African leaders. On behalf of the Group of African States at the United Nations, I express my deepest condolences to the people and the Government of Tunisia.

I now give the floor to the representative of Uzbekistan, who will speak on behalf of the Group of Asia-Pacific States.

I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the Group of Asia- Pacific States and to join others in paying tribute to the late President Mohamed Béji Caïd Essebsi of Tunisia and celebrating his life and legacy. At the outset, I would like to convey the deepest condolences of the Group of Asia-Pacific States to the family of President Essebsi and to the people and the Government of Tunisia. President Essebsi occupies a pivotal place in the history of Tunisia, having served as President, Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of the country, including during challenging times. President Essebsi was a tall, intellectual figure. He was the author of a number of critically acclaimed books. He was bestowed with numerous academic and civilian awards during his six decades-long public service, both in Tunisia and abroad. President Essebsi was a visionary leader who contributed immensely to Tunisia’s development. He recognized the value of preventing conflict and of stability in bringing about development, and launched a number of programmes designed to counter terrorism. On the social front, he was the votary of a modern, secular, inclusive and equal society who led by example. His famous words on assuming the presidency bear testimony to his belief. He said that he would be President of all Tunisian men and women without exclusion, while also stressing the importance of consensus among all parties and social movements. His commitment to gender equality was a remarkable inspiration to many in the region and beyond. He was the force behind the amendments to Tunisia’s inheritance law to ensure equal rights for men and women. That served to strengthen inclusivity in Tunisia’s laws. President Essebsi inspired the confidence of people in the rule of law and played an instrumental role in steering Tunisia peacefully during its historic transition to democracy. He carried everyone along, emphasizing reconciliation and patriotism above party politics. The death of President Mohamed Béji Caïd Essebsi is indeed a huge loss for the people of Tunisia. The Asia- Pacific Group of States stands in solidarity with the people and the Government of Tunisia as the country prepares for another round of the peaceful political transition through the presidential elections scheduled for next month. We hope that the life and legacy of Mr. Essebsi will continue to guide and lead Tunisia on the path of peace, prosperity and coexistence.

I now give the floor to the representative of Slovakia, who will speak on behalf of the Group of Eastern European States.

I take the floor on behalf of the Group of Eastern European States. It is with great sadness that we received the news about the passing away of His Excellency Mr. Mohamed Béji Caïd Essebsi, the fifth President of the Republic of Tunisia. President Essebsi played a pivotal role in Tunisian political life, notably after the 2011 revolution and Tunisia’s transition Tunisia to democracy. Prior to his presidency, he served as Minister for Foreign Affairs from 1981 to 1986 and as Prime Minister from February 2011 to December 2011, as well as in other leadership roles. As the first freely elected President, he vowed to be “President of all Tunisian men and women without exclusion” and stressed the importance of “consensus among all parties and social movements”. His efforts and determination in upholding democracy and promoting and protecting the rights of all people in Tunisia, as well as promoting peace and stability across the region, will be remembered. President Essebsi dedicated his professional life to the service of the people of Tunisia, and his long and rich political career spanned more than six decades. On behalf of the members of the Group of Eastern European States, I would like to express our deepest condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of President Essebsi, as well as to the people and the Government of Tunisia.

I now give the floor to the representative of El Salvador, 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 (GRULAC), I address the General Assembly to express our profound sorrow at the passing away of His Excellency Mr. Béji Caïd Essebsi, President of the Republic of Tunisia. President Essebsi had an outstanding career in Government in the service of his country. From a very young age, he identified with the causes that would lead to achieving a better future for Tunisia. Following the independence of his country and starting in the 1970s, he held several positions in his country’s Government: among his most important positions, he was Secretary of State, Interior Minister, Minister of Defence, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador to France, the United States and Germany, President of the Chamber of Deputies and Prime Minister. President Essebsi was a key figure in Tunisian politics and, more recently, in the democratic transition that began in that country in 2011. He also became the guarantor of Tunisia’s entry into the path of democracy after becoming president in December 2014, winning the second round of elections in a free and democratic electoral process. While lamenting the physical absence of President Essebsi and recalling his important contributions to his country and region, the Member States of GRULAC take this opportunity to pay tribute to him. His passing is not only a loss for Tunisia but also for the entire world, which is losing a great leader. Our deepest feelings of solidarity go to his family, to the people and to the Government of the Tunisian Republic.

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

It is an honour and a privilege to be able to pay tribute and salute the memory of His Excellency President Béji Caïd Essebsi on behalf of the Group of Western European and other States. It was with great sadness that we learned on 25 July, National Republic Day in Tunisia, of the death of President Essebsi. On behalf of the Group of Western European and other States, I would like to express our deepest condolences to his family, the people of Tunisia and the Government of Tunisia. Having been a minister three times, Prime Minister, twice ambassador, three times deputy and President of the Chamber of Deputies, President Essebsi always defended the universal ideals that supported the Tunisian people in building a stable and strong republic. Mr. Essebsi was convinced that democracy, the defence of human rights and the rule of law are the essential pillars of a modern country, and he defended those values with great vigour during the transitional process following the revolution in 2011, a complicated period for Tunisia and the Arab world as a whole. During his last term as first President of the Second Republic, he was particularly involved in the struggle to achieve gender equality. He was convinced that women are the cornerstone of a more just, open and free society. He also defended multilingualism, in particular through the International Organization of la Francophonie, whose next summit he offered to host in Tunisia. He was also committed to the promotion of intercultural dialogue and multilateral cooperation as tools for peace and international stability. His perseverance, vision for the future and unwavering commitment to freedom and tolerance have been key to Tunisia’s recent history. The rallying of the nation and the peaceful and constitutional transfer of power in the country are proof that Mr. Essebsi was a very exceptional statesman. This is the end of an era, and today, with emotion, we salute the memory of President Essebsi in the General Assembly.

I now give the floor to the representative of the host country.

On behalf of the United States, as host country to the United Nations, I too offer our condolences to the Tunisian people and join many around the world in mourning the passing of President Béji Caïd Essebsi. We commend his leadership and honour his legacy as the first democratically elected president of Tunisia after its 2011 revolution. President Essebsi was an unwavering advocate for the values of freedom and equality for the Tunisian people, upholding peace and stability across the region. Throughout his distinguished career of public service to the Republic of Tunisia, President Essebsi remained a close friend and strong partner of the United States, something Secretary Pompeo himself noted, working alongside us to strengthen Tunisia’s democratic institutions and guarantee the security of its citizens. The prayers of the President, the First Lady and the United States are with President Essebsi’s family — his spouse, Chadlia Saïda Farhat, and their four children, Amel, Salwa, Mohamed Hafedh and Khélil — as well as with the Tunisian people — during this time of sorrow.

I now give the floor to the representative of Tunisia.

Due to the period of national mourning in Tunisia, His Excellency Mr. Khemais Jhinaoui, Minister for Foreign Affairs, could not be with us today. He has asked me to deliver the following message on his behalf. “We are immensely grateful to all of you for sharing our grief, for honouring the memory of the departed President Béji Caïd Essebsi and for celebrating his lifelong achievements. During this time of loss, your support and the outpouring of sympathy from across the globe have been a great comfort and solace for all Tunisians. Tunisia mourns the father figure who helped shape the nation’s new destiny, alleviate the turmoil of the democratic transition and inspire faith in a peaceful, free and inclusive Tunisia. “President Caïd Essebsi dedicated his life to the cause of Tunisia. At the age of 15, he joined the national movement in its fight for independence. Then, under the leadership of his mentor, Mr. Habib Bourguiba, the father of modern Tunisia, and the Republic’s first President, he had the great distinction of serving as Interior Minister, Minister of Defence and Foreign Minister. Essebsi’s admiration for, and loyalty to, Bourguiba and full embrace of his mentor’s modern agenda did not prevent the him in the 1970s, when he deemed the country ready for a democratic opening, from parting ways with Bourguiba. “Known for his sharp memory, sparkling wit and humour, clarity of thought and grasp of issues, he was always guided by a sense of duty towards his country and by his strong belief in the potential of Tunisia to serve as a land of moderation, enlightenment and peace. He always showed an unwavering attachment to the values of peace, justice, international cooperation and multilateralism, a resolute adherence to international legality and to the ideals of the Charter of the United Nations and a relentless pursuit of a zero-enemy foreign policy. He addressed the Assembly many times. He valued its role and cherished the many friendships that he had with United Nations leaders, notably His Excellency Secretary-General António Guterres, whom he was delighted to welcome in Tunis last April. “He was looking forward to Tunisia’s term as a non-permanent member of the Security Council and urged me time and again to prepare for constructive and active participation in advocating Africa’s agenda for stability and prosperity, promoting peaceful alternatives and supporting just causes, chief among which was the Palestinian right for a free and sovereign State. “In our region, he maintained a stubborn quest for stability and peace. His chairmanship of the Arab League summit held in Tunis last March succeeded in showing unity despite the turbulent times in the whole region. Bringing together Arab Heads of State, the Tunis gathering illustrated Tunisia’s diplomatic standing and the appreciation of President Essebsi’s endeavours to promote the settlement of conflicts prevailing in the region, particularly that witnessed by neighbouring Libya. “The late Caïd Essebsi’s regional and international appeal is matched by unequalled service to his country. In 2011, when Tunisia was prey to confusion and uncertainty and when many were shunning the call of duty, he re-entered the political arena after years of retirement to steer Tunisia through its first free and fair elections. True to his democratic ideals, he handed over power to the winning parties in a historic, unprecedented peaceful transfer of power. “At the height of tension in 2012 and 2013 and confronted with the polarization of society and politics along ideological demarcation lines, the late Caïd Essebsi stepped in again, using democratic tools to make a difference. With the support of a vibrant civil society, he contributed greatly to the transformation of conflicting postures into a consensus-based paradigm. That process led the Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet to win the 2015 Nobel Peace Prize. “As the first freely elected President of the Republic in 2014, he continued to promote consensus and opted for an inclusive approach by associating political rivals into a coalition. At the same time, he worked hard to heal the wounds inherited from the authoritarian era and to reconcile Tunisians with their history. He restored hope and pride to young people, advanced the cause of gender equality and reasserted the commitment to individual freedoms and fundamental rights. “Confident, humble and a master of humour, he accepted the fair game of criticism and derision. He came out always greater and more worthy of respect. In his death as in his life, he upheld a message of unity. He left behind a young, but confident democracy with functioning and resilient institutions. He may rest in peace in the certitude that Tunisia has charted an irreversible course of progress, freedom and democracy. “It is said that the great use of life is to spend it for something that will outlast it. President Caïd Essebsi outlived his life. He will be greatly missed, but his journey does not end here and his legacy will live on. May his soul rest in eternal peace. “In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful ‘O soul, in rest and satisfaction! Come back thou to thy Lord, well pleased and well- pleasing unto Him! Enter thou, then, among My devotees! Yea, enter thou My Heaven! (The Holy Qur’an, LXXXIX:27-30)”.

We reiterate our consternation and condolences to the family, to the Government of Tunisia and to all those who will always continue to remember the legacy of President Essebsi. I would now like to thank the Secretary-General for his participation and to inform members that he will need to leave at this time to attend other equally urgent engagements.

I now give the floor to the representative of Nauru to introduce draft resolution A/73/L.104.

In Nauru’s capacity as Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum and on behalf of the more than 60 sponsors, I am privileged to introduce draft resolution A/73/L.104, entitled “Cooperation between the United Nations and the Pacific Islands Forum”. The draft resolution went through a transparent process, with a total of four readings of the draft text. We thank all delegations that constructively engaged in the negotiations. The United Nations-Pacific Islands Forum cooperation resolution was first adopted in 2004 (resolution 59/20) after the United Nations granted observer status to the Pacific Islands Forum, formerly known as the South Pacific Forum, in 1994. From then on, the resolution has been negotiated on a biannual basis. I would like to highlight a few notable updates in this year’s draft resolution. In the preambular part, the draft resolution highlights the importance that the Forum members, as big ocean States, attach to the designation of the International Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development. In paragraph 2, we express our appreciation to the Secretary-General for visiting our region in May and for meeting with our leaders at the Pacific Islands Forum headquarters. In paragraphs 5 and 6, we reflect on the mid-term review of the SIDS Accelerated Modalities of Action (SAMOA) Pathway, which led all small island developing States to gather in Apia, Samoa, last year and which will culminate on 27 September of this year in New York. In paragraph 7, we look forward to the convening of the 2020 United Nations Conference to Support the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development in Lisbon. Finally, in paragraphs 15 to 17, we touch on the United Nations development system reform. In that regard, the members of the Pacific Islands Forum look forward to the establishment of a dedicated multi-country office in the North Pacific, serving the Micronesia region, and to the dialogue of the five countries concerned with the Secretary-General on the details. We offer our support. The sponsors of draft resolution A/73/L.104 look forward to its adoption. We are disappointed that a recorded vote has been called on the draft resolution for the first time in its history. We respectfully request all delegations to vote in favour.

We shall now proceed to consider draft resolution A/73/L.104. Before giving the floor to speakers in explanation of vote before the voting, may I remind delegations that explanations of vote are limited to 10 minutes and should be made by delegations from their seats.

Pacific island countries face special difficulties and challenges, including climate change response and social and economic development. The Pacific Islands Forum is a major regional intergovernmental organization and has played an important role over the years in promoting sustainable development, addressing climate change and maintaining regional peace and stability for Pacific island countries. China has always attached importance to relations with the Pacific Islands Forum and its members. We actively participated in the consultations on draft resolution A/73/L.104, entitled “Cooperation between the United Nations and the Pacific Islands Forum” and proposed justified changes. However, the coordinator refused to accommodate the legitimate concerns of China. After China broke the silence, the coordinator failed to consult with China, and instead arbitrarily submitted the controversial draft resolution for action by the General Assembly. China would like to express its strong dissatisfaction with the coordinator’s approach and its reservations on the content of the draft resolution. We requested that it be put to a vote in the General Assembly. In view of the concerns of a majority of countries of the region and China’s cooperation with friendly Pacific islands, China will abstain in the voting. We hope that, going forward, the coordinator will take the legitimate concerns of Member States seriously. China and Pacific island countries are developing countries in the Asia-Pacific region. We are ready to develop relations with those countries based on the principles of mutual respect and equality, underpinned by respect for each other’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and non-interference in each other’s internal affairs. On that basis, China is willing to strengthen friendly exchanges, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation and promote economic trade relations and cultural exchanges with Pacific Island countries. China-Pacific Tourism Year 2019 kicked off in Samoa in April. Thanks to the efforts of both countries, a number of activities are being carried out. This year, China and Pacific Island countries will jointly host the third China-Pacific Island Countries Economic Development and Cooperation Forum. China will continue to make tireless efforts to promote stability, development and prosperity in the region of Pacific Island countries.

The United States commends Nauru in its role as facilitator of draft resolution A/73/L.104. We deeply respect Nauru’s flexibility, transparency and creativity despite the difficult and complex negotiations that led to the final text. We are happy to vote in favour of this draft resolution. As evidenced by the visit of Secretary-General Guterres to the Pacific Islands Forum in Fiji this year, it is vital for the United Nations to support the countries most in need of assistance as they address specific economic development and security challenges due to their unique geographic location, limited resources and small populations. We recognize the Secretary- General’s efforts to date and urge him to continue to focus on expanding cooperation in the region. The United States sees the security and prosperity of the Pacific Islands as an essential part of a free and open Indo-Pacific region. We commend the Pacific Islands for their robust subregional and regional multilateral processes. We support those efforts and the close coordination of the Pacific Islands Forum and the United Nations, and call on the United Nations to continue to expand those ties. The United States stands as a partner with the Pacific Islands to promote regional security and stability, advance sustainable growth and prosperity and address environmental challenges. We look forward to continuing to work with these vital partners at both the Pacific Islands Forum and at the United Nations to accomplish those goals. The international community as a whole must come together to support the Pacific Islands to achieve those goals. Finally, regarding references to the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030, the Paris Agreement and climate change, we addressed our concerns in our general statement delivered on 8 November 2018, and we refer the Assembly to those.

The Assembly will now take a decision on draft resolution A/73/L.104, entitled “Cooperation between the United Nations and the Pacific Islands Forum.” I give the floor to the representative of the Secretariat.

I should like to announce that, since the submission of the draft resolution, in addition to those delegations listed in the document, the following countries have become sponsors of draft resolution A/73/L.104: Albania, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Barbados, Belgium, the Plurinational State of Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cyprus, Eswatini, Germany, Haiti, Hungary, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Ukraine and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

A recorded vote has been requested.

Before giving the floor to speakers in explanation of vote on the resolution just adopted, may I remind delegations that explanations of vote are limited to 10 minutes and should be made by delegations from their seats.

The Russian Federation abstained in the voting on resolution 73/332, entitled “Cooperation between the United Nations and the Pacific Islands Forum”. We are disappointed that the coordinators of the negotiations during the consultations refused to consider amendments or take into account the justified concerns of certain Member States. We advocate striving for consensus, in particular when discussing sensitive issues.

My delegation asked for the floor to explain its vote on resolution 73/332, entitled “Cooperation between the United Nations and the Pacific Islands Forum”. Indonesia engaged constructively in the process of drafting the resolution, which was presented by the delegation of Nauru. We continue to emphasize the need to strengthen consultations between the United Nations and regional organizations. The Charter of the United Nations highlights the importance of regional arrangements in the maintenance of international peace and security. In that context, Indonesia supports resolutions to enhance cooperation between the United Nations and regional organizations, including the Pacific Islands Forum. In fact, we sponsored the resolution on the same item back in 2017 (resolution 71/316). Nonetheless, we regret that the present resolution incorporates a significant new reference that was introduced very late during the informal negotiations. The communiqué of the forty-ninth Pacific Islands Forum includes elements that interfere with the domestic affairs of a country, which were not the subject of consultations beforehand. We would therefore like to place on the record of this meeting our concerns about the breach of that principle. We deeply regret that one member of the Pacific Islands Forum continues to interfere with the domestic affairs of Indonesia, which is clearly contrary to the spirit of the resolutions as stated in the second preambular paragraph. Furthermore, respect for the sovereign right of States in conducting their national affairs free from external interference is also part of the Boe Declaration, which is annexed to the communiqué of the forty-ninth Pacific Islands Forum. Evidently, that one member of the Pacific Islands Forum has always breached the principle I mentioned. As a country that co-sponsored the resolution two years ago, unfortunately and for the reasons I have explained, we had to decide to abstain in the voting on this year’s resolution. We call upon the States members of the Pacific Islands Forum to uphold the spirit of the resolutions and continue constructive engagement to strengthen cooperation between the Forum and the United Nations for the benefit of the countries in the Pacific region.

We have heard the last speaker in explanation of vote after the voting. May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of sub-item (p) of agenda item 128?