A/76/PV.57 General Assembly

In keeping with established practice, I would like to invite the attention of the General Assembly to document A/76/636/Add.4, in which the Secretary-General informs the President of the General Assembly that since the issuance of his communication contained in document A/76/636/Add.3, Guinea and Vanuatu have made the payments necessary to reduce their arrears below the amount specified in Article 19 of the Charter. I would like to further inform Member States that since the issuance of his communication contained in document A/76/636/Add.4, the Islamic Republic of Iran has made the payment necessary to reduce its arrears below the amount specified in Article 19 of the Charter. This information will be reflected in document A/76/636/Add.5, to be issued. May I take it that the General Assembly takes note of the information contained in document A/76/636/Add.4?

We would like to thank the Secretary-General for introducing his report on the work of the Organization (A/76/1). The report is a reflection of the relevance of our Organization and the importance of the purposes and principles enshrined in the founding Charter of the United Nations, as well as the importance of strengthening multilateralism, cooperation and international solidarity. First, on behalf of my delegation, I would like to express our solidarity with the Government and the people of Tonga and our sincere hopes for their rapid recovery from the recent volcanic eruption and tsunami, as well as to the delegation of Afghanistan for the recent earthquake in Badghis, which has resulted in considerable loss of life and material damage. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its implementation and follow-through continue to be a road map for the promotion of equitable and sustained socioeconomic growth for all States, as reflected in the Secretary-General’s report. The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has highlighted the importance of fulfilling the noble aspirations of the 2030 Agenda in their entirety and in a timely manner. Despite developing countries’ willingness and efforts to implement it, we are facing many challenges, which have worsened as a result of the multiple effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. We therefore underscore the importance of countries’ compliance with their commitments in terms of financing and official development aid, international cooperation, the transfer of technology and the creation and building of capacities as a complement to the efforts of developing countries. We agree with the Secretary-General about the importance of promoting and protecting human rights, and in that regard, we reiterate the importance of promoting the right to development, peace, international solidarity and a healthy environment with the same energy with which we promote other rights. The maintenance of international peace and security can be assured only through full respect for the Charter of the United Nations, in particular with regard to sovereignty and the political independence of States. Absolute respect for the political, economic and social systems decided by peoples in their exercise of their sovereignty and right to self-determination, as well as for the principle of non-interference in internal affairs, is a fundamental premise of this Organization. Coercive unilateral measures not only undermine peace and stability but also seriously jeopardize people’s welfare. That has been become even clearer in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, when the impact of such measures has multiplied the difficulties that countries are facing as they work to combat the pandemic and work towards recovery. That is why we want to once again denounce the criminal and genocidal economic, trade and financial embargo that the United States has imposed on Cuba for the past six decades, with the purpose of destroying the economic, political and social order freely decided on by the Cuban people. It is a flagrant, systematic mass violation of Cubans’ human rights and it continues to be our country’s main obstacle to advancing sustainable development, as well as making our response to the challenges of COVID-19 even more difficult. That notwithstanding, Cuba continues to move forward, as we can see in the considerable progress that we have made on the 2030 Agenda and in ensuring that 87 per cent of our people are fully vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus. In conclusion, I would like to reiterate our support to the President, especially in his efforts to defend multilateralism and international law, diplomacy for peace, development and respect among nations. He can count on Cuba in promoting and building a more just world for all nations and peoples.

At the outset, I would like to thank the President for convening this plenary meeting to consider the report of the Secretary-General on the work of the Organization (A/76/1). We are grateful to the Secretary-General for submitting the report and sharing his priorities for 2022. Peoples throughout the world continue to suffer from conflict, forced displacement, terrorism, various forms of racism and extremism, hate speech, disinformation, inequality, poverty and climate change. The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has aggravated and exacerbated those challenges. Strengthened global solidarity, multilateralism and common efforts, with the United Nations at their core, grounded in the Charter of the United Nations and international law, are the most effective ways to achieve the goals of peace, inclusive sustainable development and human rights for all. Azerbaijan commends the Secretary-General’s strong commitment to reform and supports his efforts to strengthen and improve the United Nations. We look forward to constructive consultations on his report Our Common Agenda (A/75/982) and to outcomes based on unity and solidarity. With regard to the pressing objective of ending COVID-19, we concur with the Secretary-General on the need to continue confronting vaccine inequality, prioritizing vaccine production and supply, fighting the plague of vaccine misinformation and improving preparedness for future pandemics. Azerbaijan has spared no effort in contributing to strengthening international solidarity and cooperation and mobilizing support and resources to ensure equitable, affordable, timely and universal access to vaccines for all countries. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development provides a clear and universal road map for building fair globalization and transforming economies and societies to ensure that no one is left behind. However, the growing divergences, imbalances and divisions between developed and developing countries will demand much greater urgency, ambition and investment if we are to reach our goals and targets. The scale and nature of sustaining peace call for closer strategic and operational partnerships between the United Nations, Governments and other key stakeholders, while complying with national sovereignty and taking into account States’ national priorities and policies. The purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations constitute the foundational framework in international relations. They are universally binding and remain as important as ever for the maintenance of international and regional peace and security and the promotion of sustained economic growth, sustainable development, human rights and justice. Azerbaijan has suffered seriously from the devastating effects of the aggression committed against it, at the core of which were groundless territorial claims, misinterpretations of international law, fabricated historical narratives and racist motives. A significant part of the sovereign territory of my country, the former autonomous province of mountainous Garabagh, seven surrounding districts and some exclaves, was seized in the early 1990s and remained under unlawful occupation for nearly 30 years, in clear violation of international law and the relevant Security Council resolutions. Serious breaches of international humanitarian law, amounting to war crimes, crimes against humanity and acts of genocide, were committed in the course of the aggression. The scale of the violations and destruction was a demonstration of a clear purpose and intent to terrorize, kill or expel Azerbaijani civilians. The efforts to resolve the conflict conducted under the auspices of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe yielded no results. The aggressor’s attempts to consolidate the status quo that resulted from its unlawful use of force, and to colonize the territories that it had seized under the cover of the ceasefire and peace process, could in no way be reconciled with the objectives of a negotiated settlement. As a result of the 44-day war in autumn 2020, Azerbaijan put an end to the occupation, and an armed conflict almost three decades old has been resolved. Immediately after the war’s end, Azerbaijan prioritized the reinforcement of its international borders, the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the liberated territories and the restoration of housing, essential services and the transportation and communications infrastructure, with a view to ensuring the safe return of the displaced population and a high standard of living. We appreciate the assistance of the United Nations and Member States to that effect. Providing support to States affected by conflict and engaged in post-conflict peacebuilding, reconstruction and rehabilitation is and must remain a critical commitment of the entire United Nations system. It is important that the engagement of humanitarian actors in conflict and post-conflict situations be exclusively humanitarian in nature, not misused for political purposes. It should be carried out in conformity with the principles of neutrality, impartiality and the consent of the Member States affected, while fully respecting their sovereignty, territorial integrity and national unity, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations. Furthermore, combating impunity for serious crimes is crucial and requires more energy and dedication to ensure justice and prevent the resurgence of conflicts and the commission of new offences. It is also critical that the United Nations continue mobilizing the world against racism and confronting hate speech, hatred of all kinds, disinformation and incitements to division, violence and extremism. Strict compliance with international obligations and the fundamental principle of the territorial integrity of States are vital to preserving, building and sustaining peace and stability and for developing and enhancing cooperation. Azerbaijan is keen to continue its efforts to that end.

We would like to thank the Secretary-General for presenting his report on the work of the Organization in 2021 (A/76/1) and outlining his priorities for 2022. We appreciate the efforts that have been made to keep the United Nations functioning properly and safely throughout challenging circumstances. Despite its substantial recovery in 2021, the global community is still facing an unprecedented crisis caused by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, the climate emergency, economic recession, increased poverty, the loss of biological diversity and serious threats to food security. The fight against climate change must remain at the centre of our decisions with more ambitious results. Climate change is a serious obstacle to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. It causes severe floods and droughts and has a negative impact on water, energy and food security. As a country suffering from the effects of climate change, Tajikistan has made concrete proposals at international conferences on a number of occasions aimed at finding solutions to the problems associated with climate change. We have proposed that the year 2025 be declared the international year for the preservation of glaciers. We firmly believe that this initiative will help attract greater attention from the global community to issues related to water and climate and the melting of glaciers. The establishment of an international fund for glacier preservation under the auspices of the United Nations is another step that could provide a basis for comprehensive research and effective solutions to this global problem. As a leading initiator on water- and climate-related issues, Tajikistan spares no effort in contributing to the process of promoting water- and climate-linked issues on the global development agenda. The International Decade for Action, “Water for Sustainable Development”, 2018-2028, declared by the United Nations and initiated by Tajikistan, is currently being implemented. The international community is looking forward to the United Nations Conference on the Midterm Comprehensive Review of the Decade for Action, to be held in New York in 2023. It will be only the second special United Nations Conference on Water in almost 50 years and will once again prove the key role that water issues play in the global development agenda and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. We have already begun preparations, including by hosting the International High-level Conference on the Review of the International Decade for Action “Water for Sustainable Development” this year, which we believe will play an important role in the preparations for the 2023 Conference. Despite the enormous challenges, including COVID-19, the instability in Afghanistan and the increased risk of terrorism in the region, my country remains on track in its implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and is taking all the necessary measures in that regard. Minimizing the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on socioeconomic areas, maintaining the pace of economic development, creating a favourable business environment and ensuring stability are all part of our national development strategy. Tajikistan remains committed to continuing its efforts, in cooperation with the United Nations and other partners, to advance towards a better, safer, stronger and greener world by investing in strong and accountable institutions, promoting human rights and gender equality and strengthening the rule of law. In conclusion, my country reiterates its support for the Secretary-General’s efforts to strengthen the role of the Organization in addressing global challenges and fulfilling our aspirations for a better world for the next generation.

Timor-Leste appreciates the Secretary-General’s sharing of his priorities for the work of the Organization in 2022, as we deal with the challenging contexts that the world is facing today, including the multiple challenges posed by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and the impact of climate change. Timor-Leste fully aligns itself with the statement delivered on behalf of the Alliance of Small Island States. I would like to add the following remarks in my national capacity, underlining the importance of implementing the United Nations instruments for peace and security and the promotion of human rights, achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and addressing climate vulnerabilities. Timor-Leste welcomes the Secretary-General’s report on Our Common Agenda (A/75/982), as well as the priority areas he has defined. My country continues to urge for efforts to ensure that vaccines are accessible and affordable for developing and low-income countries and countries that are in special situations, so that they can achieve a full recovery with resilience from the pandemic. Climate change is a global issue. It therefore requires the entire international community’s cooperation and the fulfilment of our commitment under the Paris Agreement on Climate Change to supporting developing countries’ efforts by providing financial resources and technical support, achieving the climate goals needed for mitigation and enhancing resilience and reducing vulnerabilities in the midst of our recovery from the pandemic. Peace is a catalyst for development, given that along with justice and inclusion it creates the conditions for economic growth and transformation. Timor-Leste therefore believes that conflict and tensions can be resolved through peaceful settlement, dialogue and reconciliation. In our view, the United Nations has a key political role to play in mobilizing international cooperation and solidarity to address the current global, multifaceted and interlinked pandemic challenges so that we can help States build back better in a more resilient and sustainable manner.

My delegation would like to thank the Secretary-General for his report on the work of the Organization (A/76/1) and to highlight some of the main priorities for Peru. I also want to take this opportunity to reiterate that the Secretary- General’s report Our Common Agenda (A/75/982) is a multifaceted proposal aimed at reforming global governance and making it adequate to dealing with various new trends caused primarily by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. President Castillo Terrones of Peru made a similar proposal in his address to the General Assembly in September (see A/76/PV.4). In that regard, we must reactivate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development to promote global equality and balanced and sustainable development. The 2030 Agenda and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals are the focal point of our work and, we should spare no effort to achieve compliance with them, while ensuring that we have adequate financing to reverse the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, in accordance with the commitment made by all the States Members of the United Nations. The pandemic has made it clear that economic growth alone will not guarantee sustainable development and that therefore the social component of the 2030 Agenda is essential to development. The recession has brought an increase in unemployment and poverty, deepening unjust social inequalities and leading to less social cohesion. We therefore support the Secretary-General’s proposal for a new global social contract and for public policies that are people-centred, so as to empower our peoples and create more just and inclusive societies with equal opportunities for all. However, sustainable development will not be possible if we do not make substantial progress in combating climate change, for example by striking a true balance between financing measures for mitigation and adaptation, investing in sustainable infrastructure and eliminating subsidies for unsustainable production and consumption practices. We must also address the issue of loss and damage and implement the commitment that more than 150 countries, including Peru, have made to halting and reversing deforestation and land degradation by 2030, as well as curbing the most devastating consequences of climate change, such as the loss of biodiversity. Finally, vaccines are a light of hope and optimism on the road to recovery from COVID-19. However, the new variants are prolonging the crisis, which primarily affects the poor and vulnerable. In that context, we want to emphasize once again that vaccines must be considered a global common good and we must have agreements that ensure people’s universal, fair and timely access to them, guided by multilateral cooperation and solidarity, thereby reducing the possibility of new threats similar to the one we are currently witnessing with the Omicron variant, which has delayed our long-awaited recovery.

At the outset, I would like to thank the Secretary-General for his report (A/76/1) and for the firm commitment and priorities expressed in his statement on the work of the United Nations, as well as to commend him for his able leadership. Our delegation associates itself with the statement made on Friday by the Permanent Representative of Cambodia on behalf of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (see A/76/PV.56), and I would like to add the following points in my national capacity. Our world is full of challenges, from the coronavirus disease to climate change, development, the rule of law and the maintenance of peace and security, and the list goes on. It is vital that we further strengthen the existing international platforms, especially that of the United Nations. Member States’ firm commitment and decisive action, expressed with one voice, are crucial if we are to successfully tackle all the challenges before us. In that regard, the effective implementation of the Secretary-General’s report Our Common Agenda (A/75/982) is vital to success. Myanmar would like to express its deep appreciation to the Secretary-General for his pledge to spare no effort in mobilizing the international community and stepping up the efforts for peace in Myanmar. The Secretary-General rightly pointed out that there are many hotspots in this small world. Myanmar is one of them. We look forward to working closely with the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General on Myanmar. Almost a year has passed since the military coup, and more than 1,400 people have been killed by the military, with thousands arrested, detained and tortured. Despite the repeated calls of the international community, including the United Nations, the military has continued its inhumane and inconsiderate treatment of everyone in Myanmar. It ignores the will of the people, violates their human rights and commits serious crimes. Through its excessive use of force and indiscriminate attacks on people, along with its inhumane and brutal acts, many houses, religious and health-care facilities, schools and much farmland have been destroyed. Hundreds of thousands of people have therefore had to leave their homes and have been displaced. That is in addition to the numbers of dead and injured. The victims of military aggression and the displaced include people from vulnerable groups such as people with disabilities, the elderly, women, girls and children. Difficult situations and a lack of sufficient humanitarian assistance have left them more vulnerable and at higher risk. The grave violations of human rights and humanitarian law committed by the military clearly amount to crimes against humanity and war crimes. It is very clear that the people of Myanmar need help and protection from the international community to prevent further atrocities at the hands of the Myanmar military. I ask the Assembly not to let more people become victims of the military’s crimes against humanity and war crimes. My delegation is of the view that the international community, through the United Nations, has the responsibility to use all possible means, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, to help protect all the people of Myanmar from such crimes against humanity and war crimes by taking collective action in a timely and decisive manner. In conclusion, with the pledge and firm commitment of the Secretary-General as well as the strong, unwavering support of the States Members of the United Nations, we can immediately end the military’s brutality and bring peace, stability and humanitarian assistance to those in need in Myanmar. I therefore once again appeal to Member States for an urgent, united response to help put Myanmar back on a path to democracy and restore peace, security and prosperity there.

We would like to thank the President for organizing this timely and important debate. We are grateful to the Secretary-General for his report on the work of the Organization (A/76/1), which provides a useful review of the past year, highlighting key objectives and outcomes. As a follow-up to the extremely rich discussion we had on Friday (see A/76/ PV.56), we would like to focus on two key points. The first is migration. As the Secretary-General underlined on Friday morning, migration is inevitable and orderly migration is necessary. Migrants make significant cultural and economic contributions to their communities of origin and destination. As a global community, we need to better identify appropriate means of maximizing the development benefits of migration and responding to the challenges it poses. Promoting dignified and humane treatment with the necessary protections and services is crucial. As with any global phenomenon, strengthening mechanisms for international cooperation is key to building on our achievements, including through the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration. We are looking forward to the upcoming international migration review forum, which will be held on the margins of the General Assembly here in New York in May. My second point is about the humanitarian crisis. The continued failure to address the major root causes of conflict by preventing violence, persecution and human rights violations continues to drive thousands from their homes and results in heavy global humanitarian and financial costs. The growing trend in forced displacement is alarming, with more than 84 million people now displaced around the world. The fate of innocent millions in various regions, including in our part of the world, is deeply concerning. As a neighbour of Syria, we have witnessed first-hand and on a daily basis the pain of the Syrian people, who have suffered from countless crimes of every sort at the hands of their regime for more than 10 years. We will not dignify the delusional accusations of the representative of that regime with a response, but we will continue to stand by the Syrian people in order to end their suffering and the violations of their human rights.

I would like to begin by warmly congratulating the Secretary- General on his leadership and manner in guiding the Organization despite the difficult context of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, which has exacerbated many of the challenges facing our global Organization. I would also like to congratulate him on his excellent presentation to the Assembly of his report on the work of the Organization (A/76/1), which highlighted the main activities of the United Nations as well as its major priorities for the current year. The three chapters of the report constitute an important summary of the general context and the main objectives and achievements of the Organization, particularly with regard to its actions in support of economic growth, sustainable development, the maintenance of international peace and security, disarmament, development in Africa and the promotion of human rights. We noted with great interest the concerns expressed by the Secretary-General in his presentation, particularly the five urgent priorities that we should focus on in order to put out what he considers the five-alarm global fire of 2022. The Republic of Haiti reiterates its will and determination to fully play its part in achieving the major objectives laid out by the United Nations. We attach great importance to the Secretary- General’s report on Our Common Agenda (A/75/982), which for us is an important framework for dialogue and a road map that can guide us in our common actions in the face of our major common challenges. Haiti agrees with the call for urgent action to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, reform the international financial system, ensure an equitable recovery, tackle climate change, place humanity at the centre of the digital and technological world and secure lasting peace. There can be no question that the COVID-19 pandemic remains the greatest current challenge for the international community and the Organization. It is a major problem that we must overcome together in the spirit of international solidarity. As the Secretary- General so aptly put it, no one will be safe until everyone is safe. His desire to win the battle against COVID-19 and ensure that 70 per cent of the world’s population is vaccinated by the end of 2022 is far from wishful thinking. We can achieve it if we continue to cultivate and strengthen the same spirit of solidarity that has driven us since the outbreak of the pandemic, which has led to more than 4.4 million deaths around the world and has strained the global economy. Haiti is of the view that we must have better and more equitable access to vaccines throughout the world. As the Secretary-General stressed, vaccination rates in high-income countries are seven times higher than in the countries of Africa. That is an enormous disparity that we should correct as quickly as possible, and we can do it if we show determination and international solidarity in confronting the pandemic. We are on the right track, but we must redouble our efforts to achieve the desired outcome. In that regard, we welcome the efforts that the United Nations has already made to bridge the gap in vaccine distribution. As the President of the General Assembly has noted, the COVID-19 Vaccine Global Access (COVAX) Facility has delivered 989 million doses to 144 participant countries, which is an important step in the right direction. Our world is moving at an accelerated pace and our system of international relations is complex. The rules that govern international relations are not static and we can no longer do things as we have in the past. We need to shift the paradigm of global governance to achieve viable solutions to the major challenges we face. To that end, it will be crucial to review our current multilateral frameworks so as to align them with the demands of the moment. In that regard, we noted with interest the Secretary-General’s call for a revival of multilateralism, which is an important prerequisite for defining a new paradigm. I was pleased to see previous speakers echo that call. In conclusion, I would like to take this opportunity to reiterate Haiti’s commitment to the various international legal instruments with which it is aligned, in particular the Charter of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Those are sacrosanct principles to which we are committed. Despite its weaknesses, how can we imagine today’s world without an international superstructure such as the United Nations? Since its creation, our Organization’s contributions to maintaining international peace and security and humankind’s socioeconomic progress are considerable and need no further proof. I also want to reiterate the commitment of the Government of Haiti to work in common agreement with all the States Members of the United Nations to achieve realistic solutions to the various problems raised by the Secretary-General in his report. They are common challenges that we must collectively address for the welfare of humankind.

I would like to congratulate the Secretary-General on his appointment to a second term and to assure him of Turkmenistan’s full support in his work. We also thank him for presenting his priorities for the work of the Organization for 2022. The Secretary-General cited the recovery from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic as a primary goal for this year. Turkmenistan welcomes his report (A/76/1), which reminds us of the importance of fostering international cooperation through multilateralism so as to ensure a coordinated response to our urgent global challenges. We are grateful to the Secretary-General and the United Nations personnel all over the world for their untiring efforts to carry out the work of the Organization in these unprecedented times. My country greatly values the report’s innovative ideas and recommendations, as well as the Secretary-General’s leading role in developing the work of the Organization, including his efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic and mitigate its consequences for countries. The grave consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic have had negative effects on people’s standards of living and on their societies and economies. That demands our collective efforts to protect people’s lives, deal with the social and economic effects and act on the principle of building back better so as to construct equal and sustainable societies. We fully support multilateralism and stress that the World Health Organization should be the main forum for multilateral dialogue on developing consolidated and mutually acceptable responses to common global health challenges. Turkmenistan will continue to promote initiatives proposed by the President of Turkmenistan aimed at activating multilateral cooperation based on science diplomacy. In the context of minimizing the negative economic effects of the pandemic, Turkmenistan believes it is crucial to ramp up United Nations efforts in specific areas. In particular, we should work actively to rebuild and strengthen the reliability of international transport systems in emergency situations. A good basis for that is General Assembly resolution 75/313, on “Strengthening the links between all modes of transport to ensure stable and reliable international transport for sustainable development during and after the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic”, which was adopted on the initiative of Turkmenistan. In that context, the Government of Turkmenistan and the Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States, in cooperation with the Department of Economic and Social Affairs, plan to hold a conference for ministers of transport in Turkmenistan for landlocked developing countries under the theme “Ashgabat Process: Financing for Communication.” Turkmenistan is a neutral country with a foreign policy based on peace, cooperation and active dialogue. In that regard, on the initiative of Turkmenistan, the General Assembly declared 2021 the International Year of Peace and Trust. As the initiators of resolution 73/338, Turkmenistan did significant international work aimed at fostering a culture of peace and respectful dialogue and reducing the lack of trust in intergovernmental relations that has emerged in recent years. We believe that such efforts should continue in future, since the theme of trust and a culture of dialogue should be at the centre of the attention of the whole world and should become a permanent part of the strategic agenda of the United Nations. We also welcome the Secretary- General’s attention to youth and future generations, and his use of his views and influence on young people to solve many global problems. We also support the policies on gender and the protection of the environment. In conclusion, I would like to reiterate my country’s support for the leading role of the United Nations and the Secretary-General António Guterres. We fully support him and his efforts to ensure further reforms for development.

The Philippines aligns itself with the statement delivered on Friday by the representative of Cambodia on behalf of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (see A/76/PV.56). We commend the Secretary-General for his comprehensive report on the work of the Organization (A/76/1) and for outlining his priorities for 2022. Since presenting his first set of priorities on peace and security, sustainable development and United Nations reform six years ago, the Secretary-General has remained focused on the human dignity at the core of our work at the United Nations. On his platform of restoring trust and inspiring hope, we were pleased to hear that the Secretary- General’s priorities for this year clearly demonstrate the importance of policy continuity, institutional coherence and collaborative action. On Wednesday, during the informal meeting on the President of the General Assembly’s priorities for 2022, Ambassador Manalo outlined the Philippines’ priorities under the five rays of hope, including recovering from the coronavirus disease and responding to the needs of the planet. We would like to make three points for today’s meeting. First, the Philippines supports the convening of the five informal thematic debates on Our Common Agenda (A/75/982), starting next month. We reiterate our position on the need to allow time to discuss thoroughly not only the modalities and mechanisms for the follow-up process, but also, and more importantly, to reach a consensus on the priority issues, based on the 90 specific proposals outlined in the report. Secondly, we support the President’s call for holding frank and constructive discussions on the revitalization agenda in order to truly empower the General Assembly as the pre-eminent deliberative and policymaking organ in the United Nations system. Thirdly and finally, the Philippines looks forward to continuing its support for the President and the Secretary-General’s initiatives, and to participating in the mandated events of the United Nations this year. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte of the Philippines said in his address in the general debate in September that the United Nations must empower itself by reforming itself (see A/76/PV.4).

We thank Secretary-General António Guterres for his comprehensive report on the work of the Organization (A/76/1) and for his briefing to the General Assembly on his priorities going forward. The report presents us with a sobering account of a complex global landscape in constant flux, and highlights the unfinished agenda of development and reform. We share the Secretary-General’s belief that a vibrant, credible and effective United Nations is a critical defence against the pressures facing the global order. We welcome his continuing initiative to modernize and reform the Secretariat and make the United Nations fit for purpose, including streamlining the peace and security architecture, achieving gender parity and addressing the Organization’s financial sustainability. India will continue to support the Secretary-General in the implementation of these initiatives, including through voluntary contributions, as appropriate. We commend the Secretary-General’s stewardship of the United Nations response to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. While the world witnessed significant gains in the eradication of poverty in the past decade, the catastrophic COVID-19 pandemic is threatening to reverse those gains, pushing millions into poverty again. Designing effective strategies to eradicate poverty will continue to be a persistent challenge for humankind in the Decade of Action. We also welcome the efforts to strengthen the United Nations partnership with troop- and police-contributing countries through the Action for Peacekeeping initiative. As one of the leading troop contributors, India appreciates the prioritizing of efforts to increase the number of female uniformed personnel and promote women’s meaningful inclusion in peace processes. We honour the peacekeepers and humanitarian workers who have given their lives serving the United Nations and trying to better the lives of others. India is doing its part to foster global solidarity in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. As the pandemic has raged across the world, India has not allowed it to reduce its engagement with the rest of the world in the areas of peacebuilding and COVID-19 response. In the past year, India joined the global efforts to mitigate the impact of the pandemic. My Prime Minister’s call for a one Earth, one health approach underlines our continuing commitment, already evident in our supply of medicines to more than 150 countries and vaccines to many nations in the developing world. India is gearing up to produce more vaccines for the world and we have pledged to make our production and delivery capacity available for the greater good of humankind. The enormous power of digital and information technology has been a key component in the global response to COVID-19. Utilizing its strength in the digital space, India has decided to share the Indian-developed CoWIN application with the world in order to provide digital support and better organization for vaccination drives. We cannot afford a vaccine divide. Our inability to seriously address terrorism, the most dangerous scourge faced by States and societies since the Second World War, casts doubt on the relevance of the Organization for the very people whom the Charter of the United Nations obliges us to protect. The United Nations has yet to agree on a common definition of the problem, let alone craft a coherent, well-coordinated policy for tackling terrorism and dismantling its enabling networks. We have failed ourselves by continuing to procrastinate on concluding a comprehensive convention against international terrorism. India is a leader in the area of climate action. We now rank fourth in the world in installed renewable energy capacity. India’s non-fossil-fuel energy production has increased by more than 25 per cent in the last seven years and has reached 40 per cent of its energy mix. Along with that, we have also provided institutional solutions for building cooperation at the international level. We initiated the International Solar Alliance and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, both noteworthy initiatives that will make a real difference. The world is also developing the awareness that lifestyle change plays a critical role in this area. At the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Glasgow my Prime Minister called for Life — that is, lifestyle for environment — as a mass movement. Lastly, the effectiveness, relevance and longevity of any institution lie in its dynamic character and ability to adapt itself to the changing times. As long as the key organs of the Organization remain anchored in a governance structure frozen in the past, the crisis of legitimacy and performance will persist. Four decades have passed since the item on reform of the Security Council was introduced into the agenda of the General Assembly. As we start work in the new year, let us strive to ensure that this year is the one that finally delivers some concrete progress with regard to a Security Council and a United Nations that reflect the realities of the contemporary world.

Before giving the floor to speakers in exercise of the right of reply, I would like to remind delegations that statements are limited to 10 minutes for the first intervention and five minutes for the second. I now give the floor to the representative of India.

We have been forced to take the floor to respond to Pakistan’s continued abuse of the forum of the General Assembly. We have yet again had to listen to a Pavlovian response and falsehoods that are not only figments of Pakistan’s imagination but also completely irrelevant to the agenda item under discussion. That is not surprising or new, however. Pakistan has habitually misused the Assembly and other multilateral forums to peddle its campaign of disinformation against my country. Its futile and unsubstantiated allegations cannot obscure the globally known and accepted fact that Pakistan is the epicentre of global terrorism. I want to reiterate here that we reject every word of Pakistan’s statement (see A/76/PV.56). It does not merit a response, since it pertains to matters that are internal to India. I will conclude by stating that the entire territory of Jammu and Kashmir was, is and always will be an integral part of India. That includes the areas that are illegally occupied by Pakistan. We call on Pakistan to immediately vacate all of the areas under its illegal occupation.

We have heard the last speaker in the general debate on the item 112. May I take it that the General Assembly takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the work of the Organization contained in document A/76/1? It was so decided (decision 76/553 B). May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 112?