UN Photo Annalena Berbock hands over the gavel of the GA Chairman to Khalilur Rahman. The 81st session of the UN General Assembly opened at the UN headquarters in New York UN
Restoring trust in the multilateral system has become a key challenge of our time. Without this, it is impossible to cope with growing global problems, including the threat of nuclear escalation, conflicts, poverty and inequality, as well as climate chaos.
UN Head Antonio Guterres announced this on Tuesday at the opening ceremony of the new, 81st session of the General Assembly. Its chairman is a diplomat from Bangladesh, who previously served as the country’s foreign minister, Khalilur Rahman.
Berbock: The UN is still needed
The chair of the closed 80th session, Annalena Burbock, said she was “proud” of the work done. She noted that she is more convinced than ever of the importance and necessity of the United Nations.
“To those who argue that the UN has lost its importance or is not up to the task – especially in the current geopolitical realities – I would simply invite them to think for a moment about the alternative: a world without the UN,” Burbock said.
“Think of the millions of children who would not be able to attend school without UNICEF. Think of the women who can leave the house without fear of rape, only because of the presence of UN peacekeepers. Think of the thousands of families around the world receiving humanitarian assistance – including right now in Nepal and China,” she added.
Berbock also spoke of the “resolve” of the General Assembly, which took the lead in cases where the Security Council was “unable to act.” In particular, the General Assembly convened two meetings on the use of the veto power in the Security Council – on issues of war in the Middle East and in the Gaza Strip. from September to September. The closing and opening ceremonies of the GA sessions take place at the UN headquarters in New York on the same day.
Summing up the results of the completed session, Burbock emphasized: “Serious difficulties were encountered at the 80th session, and, most likely, they will only worsen during the 81st session.” She wished good luck to her successor, Khalilur Rahman.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who is stepping down from his post at the end of this year, said it would be his last time attending today’s ceremonies. The new President of the General Assembly, in particular, will have to continue the work of Boerbock related to the election of a new UN Secretary-General.
“Since the beginning of this process in October last year, we have made efforts to address the persistent calls of members for transparency and inclusiveness, in particular through the holding of eight interactive dialogues and a general meeting with the participation of candidates,” she said Burbock.
“It’s not 1945”
The theme of the 81st GA session is “Restoring Confidence, Managing Transformation: A United Nations Working for the Common Good.”
Khalilur Rahman, who leads session started, spoke of the need to prepare the United Nations for the challenges of the future.
“We are faced with a trust deficit. It’s not 1945. The 81st session of the [General Assembly] is underway. The world has moved forward. The organization must also move forward, and I will facilitate this process,” he said.