PM PT UN75th

 

 

Mister President of the General Assembly,

Mister Secretary-General,

Your Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

 

This anniversary gives us an opportunity to remind ourselves why we are together and to recommit to the purposes and principles of the Charter.

We have travelled a long way together since 1945, but the journey is far from over. We need the UN more than ever.

Every age faces its own challenges. Some are new, others recurrent and persistent. For all our efforts to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, conflict is still pervasive in different parts of the world. The corrosive effects of economic inequality, corruption, populism, nationalism, extremism, racism and gender bias are weakening the foundations of our democracies and threatening regional and global stability.  

Thousands lose their lives trying to reach new shores, searching for safety, opportunity and dignity.

There are no borders for climate change and pandemics.

Our economies and societies are increasingly interconnected and only through cooperation will we be able to address digital transformation, regulate markets and reduce poverty. Covid-19 made us more aware than ever that we are but one humanity sharing the same planet, leading the world to face its worst crisis in decades.

We must build back better using our agreed blueprint, the 2030 Agenda and the Paris Agreement, to create a more equitable and sustainable world. Climate change is real, it is an existential threat to us all. A special word about our Oceans, which are the new frontier of human development and are under unprecedented pressure, from rising temperature to deoxygenation and acidification.

The UN must continue to adapt to new challenges - that is why we support the Secretary-General’s reforms.

In 1945, the international community planted the seed. 75 years later, we are protected by the shade of a tree whose vitality depends on our political will. But recent times have showed us how fragile we all are. We therefore must keep the spirit of 1945, while facing the challenges of our era, with a common sense of purpose and shared hope.

Thank you.

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