President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon at the General Assembly. President of Tajikistan: through dialogue and cooperation, the world community will be able to achieve common goals UN
Contradictory geopolitical processes, rapid rearmament, conflicts and the consequences of climate change will have long-term negative consequences. It is necessary to consolidate the joint efforts of the international community in order to protect security and stability and ensure sustainable development. This statement was made by President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon at the general debate of the General Assembly.
Development under threat
He noted that the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals is under threat. According to the UN Secretary-General, by 2030 the world community will be able to achieve only 17 percent of the goals set within the development agenda.
“We are seeing that in many developing countries the gains made under the Sustainable Development Goals are being lost. In this regard, we need to intensify our efforts for the timely implementation of the 2030 Agenda, paying particular attention to the issue of financing for sustainable development,” he said.
“It is necessary for the activities of the international financial and economic system to meet the needs of developing countries so that it can facilitate the timely response of Member States to modern threats and dangers,” Rahmon added.
He stressed the importance of financing countries in need by international institutions, including through the International Development Association.
Digital technologies and artificial intelligence
Digital technologies and artificial intelligence are an appropriate basis for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals development, the president believes.
“Tajikistan is taking the necessary measures by adopting a strategy and other conceptual acts for a gradual transition to a digitalization system,” Rahmon said.
“In this regard, I propose that the General Assembly at its next session adopt a special resolution on the role of artificial intelligence in creating new opportunities for the development of socio-economic spheres,” he added.
The fight against terrorism and the rise of Islamophobia
The President said that the world community must take joint effective action in the face of the threats of terrorism and extremism, radicalism, cybercrime, illegal arms trafficking and drugs.
“Along with this, in recent years the growth of ideas of Islamophobia, as well as the practice of using the policy of “double standards” in international relations, has caused concern,” Rakhmon said.
Tajikistan, in cooperation with the UN and other partners, is constantly making efforts to counter security risks and threats, he noted. To this end, Tajikistan and Kuwait, together with the UN Office on Counter-Terrorism, will hold another conference in Kuwait City in November this year as part of the Dushanbe Process on Combating Terrorism, the President recalled.
Afghanistan
The President spoke in favor of establishing peace and stability in neighboring Afghanistan and expressed his readiness to promote the development of peaceful life in this country.
“At the same time, in order to prevent a humanitarian crisis in this country, I once again call on the international community to make efforts to provide assistance to the long-suffering people of Afghanistan, including areas affected by natural disasters,” he said.
Climate Change and Melting Glaciers
Climate change is causing rapid melting of glaciers and a decrease in the volume of river water in various regions of the world, including Central Asia, Rahmon recalled.
“To date, out of 14 thousand glaciers in Tajikistan, which are the main source of drinking water in the region, more than a thousand have completely melted, and the rate of their melting is increasing. At the same time, precipitation and glaciers in Tajikistan make up to 60 percent of the source of water resources in Central Asia,” he said.
At the initiative of Tajikistan, the UN declared 2025 the “International Year of Glacier Conservation.” This creates a “favorable basis” for developing cooperation between stakeholders in this area, Rahmon believes.
He noted that Tajikistan has adopted the Green Economy Development Strategy for 2023-2037. 98 percent of the country’s electricity is produced from hydropower resources. Tajikistan ranks sixth in the world in terms of the share of green energy production from renewable sources.
Rahmon called adaptation to climate change and the fight against its negative consequences one of the priority tasks of the world community.
“We are confident that the world community will be able to achieve the implementation of its common methods and goals by developing a trusting dialogue, mutual understanding and constructive cooperation,” he said.