3 October 2022
[ As delivered]
Excellencies,
Dear Colleagues,
Dear Friends,
أود أن أتقدم بالتهنئة لسعادة السفير الحسن، الممثل الدائم لسلطنة عُمان وأعضاء
المكتب لانتخابهم لقيادة هذه الدورة من اللجنة الرابعة.
(Arabic translation: Let me congratulate H.E. Ambassador Al Hassan of Oman and the members of the Bureau on their election to lead this session of the Fourth Committee.)
I look forward to working with you all.
Esteemed Delegates,
As pointed out during the General Debate by almost all leaders that spoke from the rostrum, we are living in times of an unprecedented, multifaceted and interlocked system of crises.
Many people are starving. Inflation is skyrocketing. Nature is doing its job: not accepting our unsustainable lifestyle, and making that painfully evident in many ways.
And there is a deplorable recurrence to the use of force in international relations. Some 30 armed conflicts within and among countries are going on with little signs of improvement. Including, first and foremost, the bloody war unleashed upon Ukraine.
The leadership of the United Nations, the most universal vehicle of multilateralism, is committed to action, to reform, to having a UN ready to respond to the challenges we are currently, and we will be, facing.
Dear Delegates,
You have elected me to help you finding solutions through solidarity, sustainability and science. Your leaders a short while ago, have urged for changes, crisis management and transformation. So, it is the time to deliver. Jointly and responsibly.
How could we have an impact on the course of events?
My first request to you is that you focus on solutions. First may be not on texts, not on words, but on the shared understanding whether the proposal under discussion could be helpful for humanity as a whole.
Second, that you never forget: science, irrefutable scientific evidence always enlightens our, your discussions and helps turning them to the solution-oriented direction.
Third, that through showing solidarity, you always build consensus, too.
And fourth, that the outcomes of your discussions should always be in line with the expectations of the peoples we serve, reflecting our two-pronged priorities of crisis management and transformation. As your leaders have also indicated.
Dear Friends,
The Fourth Committee is now called into action.
Les systèmes coloniaux ont laissé de douloureux passés derrière eux. C’est à nous de nous assurer que cette Quatrième Décennie pour l’éradication du colonialisme est la dernière en son genre.
(French translation : To start with, we need to ensure that this Fourth Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism is the last of its kind. Colonial systems have left painful legacies behind.)
شهدت السنوات السبع والسبعون التي قضيناها معًا في الأمم المتحدة تقدمًا كبيرًا نحو
الإنهاء الكامل للإستعمار وتحقيق السيادة.
ومع ذلك، لا يزال سبعة عشر إقليماً حتى يومنا هذا، في طي النسيان والحرمان من
التمتع بالحكم الذاتي.
(Arabic translation: The 77 years we spent together at the United Nations have seen much progress towards full decolonisation and self-sovereignty. However, 17 territories remain, to this day, relegated to the limbo of non-self-governance.)
Будущее этих территорий должно определяться международным правом, включая цели и принципы Устава Организации Объединенных Наций и постулат о мирном урегулировании споров.
(Russian translation: The future of these territories must be guided by international law, including the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and the peaceful settlement of disputes.)
We are in a new era.
A new chapter of human history. It might be more challenging than what we wished for, but it can be stated with certainty, that there should no longer be room for colonialism.
Your decisions in this Committee should be taken with a view not only to end it, but also to prevent that the atrocities of those hard times repeat themselves.
Distinguished Delegates,
If we are struggling to decolonise land, we should certainly not start colonising space.
Our responsibility towards future generations requires a peaceful atmosphere.
A peaceful spatial atmosphere.
Though, technologies to expand our capabilities to the outer space were partially linked to defence considerations, weaponizing space, even the slightest suspicion of an arms race there, should be unthinkable and will be condemned.
Spatial research should be harnessed to achieve our 2030 Agenda, not to threaten each other.
Let us look to the skies for solutions, not for military leverage.
And speaking of peace, let me turn to those who bear the burden of it.
I am grateful to the peacekeeping forces for their work preventing crises, if possible, and calming them, if necessary.
Sadly, in recent years we have seen a rise in targeted attacks, threats and misinformation against UN peacekeepers.
The consequences of those insidious actions are unacceptable.
This year so far, 72 people have paid the ultimate price while serving under our UN flag.
I extend my sincere condolences to their families and loved ones.
Let us honor their legacy by overcoming our differences in order to foster a more united action for peacekeeping, including in the C-34, the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations.
The blue helmet is the most recognisable representation of the UN to the vast majority of our constituents.
The 8 billion people we serve do not see the everyday work of the UN here in New York, but peacekeeping missions are an on-the-ground example of multilateralism in action.
This is a main pillar of our work here that is directly and immediately affecting peoples’ lives.
And speaking about impacting the life of people, let me express my gratitude to the UN Relief and Work Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East.
Their work is vital and admirable.
UNRWA provides half a million children with education; 3 million refugees with health services; and 6 million people with social protection.
This agency is the lifeline of millions. A lifeline of a significant part of a nation.
I therefore implore you, Member States, to urgently redress the 732-million-dollar gap in UNRWA’s funding.
While progress towards a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is critical, our duty also lies in supporting UNRWA in its mission.
Your duty is to help creating the conditions for peace to flourish.
Dear Friends,
The Fourth Committee can achieve progress and rebuild mutual trust between Member States.
I urge you to make compromises and forge consensus on this constellation of crucial issues.
I wish you a successful session.
Don’t forget that the world is watching you. I thank you.