2026 United Nations General Assembly Day 4

and passionately committed to multilateralism. At the core of all we do must be the code and conscience of the founding charter of this United Nations. But the implementation of those values, the way we turn those fine words into fine actions must always be a process of constant evolution. We can never stand still if we are to keep cooperation alive. So Malta remains thoroughly committed to the implementation of the pact for the future and all of its associated actions. Reforms must, yes, remain member- state-driven and firmly anchored in the inter-government-

Robert Abela (02:16:00):

Members stay driven and firmly anchored in the intergovernmental process. And efficiency must not come at the expense of effectiveness on the ground. Malta solidly backs a strong and effective resident coordinator system as the key anchor of UN action at a country level. And I can't reiterate often enough or restate strongly enough, that the only effective antidote to the cancer of cynicism and suspicion is effective and concerted action to tackle the greatest threat to our people and our planet. And alongside spreading conflict and the dangers of uncontrolled technology, the greatest threat to us all and especially island nations like Malta, is manmade climate change. I say, and I express this to all of you, just look at the weather extremes we have been experiencing in Europe, particularly during these last weeks. To do nothing, to stand by and just wash our hands off it, would be immoral and practical betrayal of the citizens, of the millions of citizens, who put their faith in us, that we won't flinch from the biggest problems and the toughest solutions and decisions needed to tackle them.

(02:17:39)
So, we must not stand by. We must stand firm. Stand firm against the torrent of disinformation that fuels the deniers. Stand firm against the vested interests that seek to block effective actions. Stand firm against the naysayers who say, that because all don't choose to act, nobody should. To those cynics, I want to point out an instance that shows how hope can triumph over defeatism. And I go back to 1967. When representing the then geographically smallest member state of the United Nations, a member state that had been a member of the United Nations for less than three years, Arvid Pardo spoke up in this general assembly. In a stirring speech, Malta's permanent representative made a passionate plea to the world's common humanity. He may have been speaking on behalf of a very small nation, but he had a very ambitious vision. Pardo called for the world to treat the resources of the oceans beyond their own borders as the common heritage of mankind.

(02:19:06)
His demand for a law of the sea was prescient, but to achieve it took persistence. In fact, it took 27 years before UNCLOS came into being. What motivated Malta's action then, is what motivates Malta's demands now. Doing nothing but leaving the world's oceans to the mercy of the world's biggest, strongest and richest nations. Taking action showed that, and I quote, "They belonged to all of humanity, those living and those who still had to be born." That spirit was evident when in 1988, right at the start of the concern about global warming, Malta proposed the United Nations General Assembly Resolution that recognized climate change as a global problem requiring collective and global solutions. Suspicion of collective action won't be counteracted by retreat, it will only be overcome by the strength to turn convictions into action. The phrase, dare to dream, has become perhaps the world's most common motivational phrase, imploring us that all we have to do is, have the courage to dream and those dreams will almost automatically become reality.

(02:20:47)
And yes, we should all indeed dare to dream, to inspire ourselves, to turn hope into achievement. But to turn initial aspirations into sustainable attainment, takes something more than just dreams. It takes trust. Trust that by working together, we achieve more than we could ever achieve alone. It is that belief in the power of trust, which underpins the values that brought me into public life. It is that belief and the power of trust, even now when it can seem a commodity in all too short supply, that convinces me that ultimately it, trust, will prevail. That ultimately, we as a world will find the courage to dial down the disbelief and crank up the confidence. If we don't, if we don't realize that mutual suspicion can only lead to mutual destruction, if we don't realize that closing our minds to those who don't share our worldview limits, our chances of solving the world's biggest problems, if we don't realize that limiting dialogue only to those who are like-minded, in reality can only drive us further apart, we face a very bleak future indeed.

(02:22:19)
I refuse. Malta refuses to believe that such a future is any more inevitable than it is desirable. There is only one simple antidote to the destructive power of suspicion. It is one that may not as of yet have appeared on many motivational bumper stickers, but it is one that must be our lodestar. So I say to my fellow leaders, as much as I say to my fellow citizens of this planet, let us dare to trust. Dare to realize that even those who we disagree with the most, must become a part of the solution and not a prolonger of pain. Thank you very much.

Speaker 1 (02:23:30):

On behalf of the assembly, I wish to thank the Prime Minister of the Republic of Malta. The assembly will hear an address by His Excellency, Samuel Ntsokoane Matekane, Prime Minister and Minister of Defense and National Security of the Kingdom of Lesotho. I request protocol to escort His Excellency and invite him to address the assembly.

Samuel Ntsokoane Matekane (02:24:20):

Mr. President, Excellencies. At the outset, allow me to extend my warm and heartfelt congratulations to you on your election as president of the 81st session of the General Assembly. Your election reflects the confidence of member states in your steadfast commitment to multilateral system and your vision for a United Nations that is responsive, effective and capable of delivering for humanity. As you embark on this important journey, my delegation reaffirms its unwavering commitment to working closely with you and all member states to ensure a productive and successful session. I also pay tribute to your predecessor, Her Excellency, Ms. Baerbock, president of the 80th session of the General Assembly, with whom my delegation had the honor to serve as vice president. Her dedicated leadership, skill and tenacity of purpose in strengthening multilateral cooperation during a period of profound global uncertainty, gave us hope that the future of this organization can be secured when all nations work together for the common goal of leaving no one behind.

(02:26:06)
To the Secretary General, Mr. Antonio Guterres, whose tenure is approaching an end, my delegation commends his exemplary leadership and commitment to the ideals of the United Nations. During his term, the well-confronted, unprecedented challenges, from the COVID-19 pandemic to the eruption of new conflicts, the catastrophic effects of climate change and unstable trade regimes, throughout this crisis, he remained the moral force and steady anchor of the organization. We salute him for his distinguished service and will fondly cherish his historic visit to the mountain kingdom in December 2024, during which he witnessed firsthand of the dividends of the UN's contribution to Lesotho.

(02:27:13)
Mr. President, the theme for this session, restoring trust, managing transformation, a United Nations that delivers for all, resonate deeply with Lesotho's aspirations for a more inclusive, transparent and result orientated multilateral system, capable of advancing respect for international law, maintaining global peace and security, accelerating sustainable development, protecting human rights, driving climate action and implementing long overdue institutional reforms. Lesotho has restored national peace and security following successive episodes of political and security unrest. With the support of the United Nations, the African Union, SAARC and other friendly nations, we have reclaimed our rightful place among the comity of nations as a stable and peaceful country. We therefore attest that preventative diplomacy remains the most effective means of abating conflict and ensuring sustainable peace.

(02:28:38)
To create an environment conducive to inclusive growth and development, we continue to advance constitutional reforms aimed at strengthening democratic governance and the rule of law. We remain committed to accountability, professionalism and respect for human rights for all sectors of society. We recognize that culture of peace requires strong institutions that negate violence in all its forms, an independent judiciary capable of delivering justice impartially and efficiently to restore public trust. Mr. President, we must acknowledge that climate change is no longer a future threat, but the present reality. Lesotho is increasingly experiencing severe floods and droughts resulting in unparalleled land degradation and extensive damage to critical infrastructure.

(02:29:50)
Despite contributing minimally to global greenhouse gas emissions, least developed countries like Lesotho bear a heavy brand of climate impact. Global warming and rising sea levels pose terrible threats, particularly to small islands developing states. We stand in solidarity with these nations and call for greater global action. To cope with these climate related challenges, we call upon developed countries to honor their commitments by providing new, adequate, predictable and accessible climate finance. Further, we urge developed countries to transfer environmentally sound technology and to strengthen capacity of developing countries to effectively mitigate and adapt to the adverse effects of climate change.

(02:30:52)
Climate justice demands nothing less. Just energy transition is therefore an imperative if humanity is to be spared from the terrible threat of climate change. Under the visionary leadership of His Majesty, King Letsie III, Lesotho has launched the His Majesty King Letsie III Just Energy Transition Fund, designed not only to decarbonize our economy, but to transform it from one historically reliant on migrant labor to one rooted in renewable energy exports. The fund seeks to attract investment to build new energy generation capacity, unlock energy independence and lay a new foundation for national prosperity that benefits every Mosotho. We therefore call for partnerships to mobilize the requisite resources for clean energy projects, which can create significant employment opportunities for our youth and women.

(02:32:08)
As the first member state to pilot the UN blueprint for national AI and data strategies from design into national implementation, Lesotho stands ready to share the lessons of that journey with fellow developing countries, particularly across Africa and among least developed and landlocked developing countries. Charting similar paths towards digital sovereignty, central to that experience has been the value of the United Nations system acting as one, coordinated around priorities that we ourselves defined, rather than delivered through separate and coordinated channels. This is what the United Nations that delivers for all looks like in practice and we commend this model to the organization as it advances the UN80 initiative. We further stand ready to contribute our experience to emerging instruments such as the proposed global fund for AI capacity building, so that the compromise of artificial intelligence may be governed responsibly and shared equitably among all nations. We are grateful for the UN's continued support in this digital transformation journey.

(02:33:42)
Mr. President, the Kingdom of Lesotho remains committed to the 2030 agenda. We have accelerated reforms in business development, trade facilitation, public financial management, youth empowerment and renewable energy. Yet challenges persist. Economic diversification remains limited. Youth unemployment stands at 38% and climate related shocks and equality continue to constrain inclusive transformation. With only three years remaining until 2030, we appeal to the international community to honor their official development assistance commitments, which is an essential step in restoring trust.

(02:34:38)
We further call for reform of the international financial architecture to make it more equitable, fit for purpose and responsive to the needs of developing countries, as agreed at the Fourth summit for Financing for Development, FfD4, held in Seville, Spain last year. We also ask full implementation of the outcomes of the Fed Summit of landlocked developing countries held in Awaza, Turkmenistan in August 2025. The implementation of these outcomes without further delay, together with the pact of the future, will undoubtedly help restore eroded trust. Mr. President, universal health coverage remains central to our development agenda. While investment have been made, we continue to face serious public health challenges, including a high burden of communicable and non-commutable disease and equalities in access to health. Lesotho is undertaking reforms to strengthen our healthcare system and invite partnerships to ensure universal access to quality, primary health medicines, vaccines, diagnostics and robust disease surveillance and pandemic preparedness.

(02:36:16)
The social and economic cost of cancer are profound. With support from the International Atomic Energy Agency, Lesotho is developing its first radiotherapy and nuclear medicine facility to provide domestic oncology services. We therefore call for enhanced cooperation in technology sharing, capacity building and sustainable health financing to build resilient health systems capable of responding to current and emerging challenges. Mr. President, migration is not an abstract concept for the people of Lesotho. It is a daily lived reality. It is woven into our social fabric, as human ambition rooted dignity, opportunity and aspiration. Migration benefits countries of origin, transit countries and destination countries contributing to skills development, cultural exchange and shared economic growth. We must therefore strengthen international cooperation to ensure migration contributes meaningfully to deeper human understanding and sustainable development. Guided by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, we must guarantee the full enjoyment of human rights by migrants regardless of status.

(02:37:49)
Protecting their dignity and fundamental freedoms is not only a legal obligation, it is a moral imperative. Mr. President, we welcome progress under the UN80 initiative and appreciate efforts to enhance efficiency, effectiveness and coherence within the UN system. As deliberations continue, reforms must remain guided by intergovernmental agreed mandates and member states priorities. Any missions undertaken should preserve the UN's capacity to deliver across all pillars of its work and maintain meaningful impact on the ground. Mr. President, as we contemplate the future of community of nations, we must renew our collective commitment to a United Nations that is more inclusive, effective and responsive to modern times' global challenges and one in which developing countries, particularly African nations, have a stronger voice in global decision making. We reiterate our support for comprehensive reform of the Security Council in line with the Ezulwini Consensus to make it more representative, equitable and reflective of our current geopolitical realities.

(02:39:26)
The Kingdom of Lesotho reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the charter of the United Nations multilateral system and the rule of law. International law remains the cornerstone of sovereign equality, peace, coexistence and sustainable development. Mr. President, the rise in regional conflict is cause for deep concern. We call for effective diplomatic solutions to secure lasting peace in Ukraine, the Middle East, Sudan and Eastern DRC. We welcome the ceasefire framework and stabilization arrangement in Gaza and call for sustained engagement to achieve a lasting solution based on the 1967 borders, where Israelis and Palestinians coexist in peace and harmony. Regarding the broader conflict in the Gulf, we urge all parties to intensify efforts towards a speedy resolution as its economic impact is dire and devastating, for humanity cannot continue to bear the high cost of these wars.

(02:40:47)
We should draw inspiration from the wisdom of Chief Mohlomi, one of our renowned diplomats who advised Morena Moshoeshoe I, the founding father of the Basotho nation, that "It is better to thrash corn than sharpen the spear." As the United Nation, we must continue investing in conflict prevention and building strong democratic institutions grounded in good governance, peace and respect for international law. Mr. President, my delegation continues to call for the lifting of longstanding sanctions on Cuba and Zimbabwe. These missions deprive innocent civilians of their right to development.

(02:41:41)
In conclusion, Lesotho firmly believes that cooperation, solidarity and shared responsibility are the only viable path towards a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable future. Let us recommit ourselves to a multilateral system that delivers tangible results for humanity, protects our planet, promote peace and international security and ensures that no one is left behind. I thank you.

Speaker 1 (02:42:23):

On behalf of the assembly, I wish to thank the Prime Minister and Minister of Defense and National Security of the Kingdom of Lesotho. The assembly will hear an address by His Excellency Feleti Teo, Prime Minister of Tuvalu. I request protocol to escort His Excellency and invite him to address the assembly.

Feleti Teo (02:43:19):

Mr. President, Excellencies, distinguished delegates. It is an honor once again to address this August assembly on behalf of the government and people of Tuvalu. I congratulate His Excellency Khalilur Rahman of Bangladesh on assuming the role of the president of the 81st session. President Rahman, you can count on the full support of Tuvalu. I also congratulate the outgoing president, Excellency Annalena Baerbock of Germany, for exceptional and exemplary leadership. Mr. President, Tuvalu extends its deepest sympathy and condolences to all communities worldwide that are affected by ongoing armed conflicts and recent natural disasters, including the devastating floods in Nepal and Myanmar, the earthquake in Colombia, and the tragic loss of lives at sea in Vanuatu. Tuvalu reiterates its hope for peace, stability, and the unimpeded humanitarian relief and reaffirms its solidarity with all those facing violence, insecurity and lost.

(02:44:49)
Mr. President, in less than a week, Tuvalu will celebrate its 48th anniversary of independence, a significant milestone as Tuvalu approaches its golden jubilee of independence. On this month, Tuvalu also celebrates its 26th anniversary of UN membership. Tuvalu reaffirms its strong commitment to the values and the principle of the UN charter and to international law and to a multilateral system that protects the dignity and security of all people. This year also marks the historical and first deployment of Tuvalu police officers to serve in the UN mission in South Sudan, a deployment that confirms that even the smallest member of the UN can contribute meaningfully to international peace and security. Mr. President, the theme for this session, restoring trust, managing transformation, a United Nations that delivers for all, resonates well with the moment of time we find ourself in right now. There is no denying that the architecture of multilateralism and international law founded on the UN charter is under enormous stress. And restoring that trust in that architecture is critical, particularly for small island developing states like Tuvalu, whose sovereignty and future are anchored in that very architecture.

(02:46:37)
Tuvalu therefore stands in solidarity with fellow member states in contributing to the restoration of their trust and advancing the necessary reforms and transformation that will enable the United Nation to deliver for all. Mr. President, Tuvalu, like other countries, is being challenged by various enforced transformations that threaten our land, values, knowledge, and cultures. Climate change is transforming our physical environment. Technology is transforming how we communicate, govern, and preserve knowledge. Artificial intelligence is changing the way economies and society function. The challenge is not to stop transformation, rather the challenge is to manage transformation in a manner that protect people, preserve what is valuable, and give every country the capacity to determine its own future. In response to the transformation to Tuvalu's physical environment caused by rising seas, the Tuvalu Coastal Adaptation Project, TCAP, has already reclaimed on the capital island of Funafuti, 15.3 hectares of elevated and flood-free land as part of the reinforcement of the island's coastal areas.

(02:48:14)
A further 10 hectares is being reclaimed, which is significant adjustment for a country with only 26 square kilometers of land area. While we work to protect our physical territory, we are also contemplating preserving the intangible foundations of our nation, our traditional values, knowledge, and cultures. In that regard, we have two digital initiatives. The first is the Tuvalu Digital Nation Initiative that utilizes digital technologies to sustain our sovereignty, institutions, and our capacity to deliver services, to enhance, to ensure that our national identity is not lost in the transformation. The second is the Tuvalu Digital Ark Initiative, which seeks to preserve Tuvalu's culture and historical heritage in digital form.

(02:49:17)
Mr. President, less than 24 hours ago, member states endorsed in this very building, the landmark United Nation Political Declaration on sea level rise, a monumental and gratifying achievement for Tuvalu, because Tuvalu was at the forefront of global efforts demanding such a declaration. For Tuvalu, sea level rise is not a future threat, it is a present reality. Tuvalu is therefore overwhelmed with joy and warmly welcome the commitments that declaration entails. Namely, firstly, it affirms the continuity of statehood and sovereignty...

Feleti Teo (02:50:00):

Firstly, it affirms the continuity of statehood and sovereignty despite sea level rise. Secondly, it safeguards the permanence of maritime zones and rights established under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. Thirdly, it recognizes and protects the right, dignity, culture, identity, and heritage of affected people. Fourthly, it commits to strengthened adaptation and resilience. Fifthly, it calls for accessible, predictable, and needs-based climate finance. And sixthly, and it supports science, technology, data, and knowledge systems that enable informed decision-making and long-term planning for vulnerable countries. The declaration affirms that Tuvalu's nationhood is not negotiable, that our maritime rights are not erasable, and that our people should never be forced to choose between their homeland and their future.

(02:51:11)
Mr. President, for the sustainable development goals, SDG, Tuvalu is seriously concerned that the world is not on track to achieve them because the consequences of such shortfall will be acutely felt by a small island developing state. Of the SDGs, Tuvalu underscores the urgent need to accelerate progress on SDG 14, Life Below Water, which is the least funded and least progressed, yet it is the most fundamental to the survival and prosperity of small island developing state. Tuvalu calls on member state to expedite implementation of the commitments of the third United Nation Ocean Conference and to build momentum towards the fourth conference in the Republic of Korea in 2028.

(02:52:11)
Mr. President, climate change is and remains the single greatest existential threat to Tuvalu survival, security and sustainable development. Tuvalu acknowledges the efforts of the international community to address the climate crisis, but the pace and scale of global actions remain insufficient. With a temporary overshoot of the 1.5 degree Celsius target now inevitable, a fast, fair, just and orderly transition away from fossil fuel is even more urgent and require serious attention. Although the science may be clear that methane mitigation is the only scalable near-term solution capable of rapidly slowing global temperature rise and buying time for long-term CO2 decarbonization strategies to take effect, Tuvalu will insist that CO2 mitigation must also remain a top priority and that both methane mitigation and CO2 mitigation should be vigorously pursued simultaneously. Therefore, the [inaudible 02:53:32] call for a fossil fuel-free Pacific and the Funafuti call for climate justice and climate actions are critical Pacific-led instrument championing Pacific regional survival and global climate actions.

(02:53:49)
Towards that objective, Tuvalu is determined to play its part in driving greater ambition, including the hosting of the leader segment event of the Pre-COP 31 next month and co-hosting with ILN and Tuvalu next year, the second conference on transitioning away from fossil fuel. Tuvalu reminds states of their legal obligation to take appropriate action to protect the climate system from greenhouse gas emissions as failure to do so constitute an internationally wrongful act as confirmed by the ICJ Advisory Opinion. Tuvalu welcomes the operationalization of the loss and damage fund and call on countries to honor their pledges and commitment. Adequate, predictable and timely financing is essential to ensure the fund can fully deliver on its mandate and provide meaningful support to those most vulnerable to climate-related loss and damage, including non-economic loss and damage. Finance therefore must be provided as grant at the scale required to address the climate impacts already unavoidable and the increasing loss and damage cost by further warming.

(02:55:20)
Tuvalu stands ready to work with all nations to advance climate ambitions, strengthen resilience and ensure that no country is left behind. Tuvalu's message is clear. The world must act now and decisively, collectively and with urgency to protect the future for generations to come. Mr. President, the ocean is central to Tuvalu's identity and sustainable development. The ocean has sustained Tuvalu for generations and remains at the heart of our existence, our future and our resilience. Tuvalu may have only 26 square kilometers of land, but we are custodians of some 750,000 square kilometers of ocean, which makes Tuvalu a large ocean state. This year, Tuvalu soft launched its first ever National Ocean Policy, a comprehensive framework to strengthen our stewardship of marine resources, affirm the permanence of our maritime zones, protect biodiversity and place the ocean at the center of our resilience and sustainable development. We thank all of our partners whose invaluable support helped turn this national vision into reality.

(02:56:53)
For Tuvalu, ocean governance is not simply an environmental policy. It is also an issue of economic security, food security and climate security. Tuvalu has ratified the BBNJ agreement and look forward to contributing to the first conference of the parties of the agreement next year. Tuvalu's objective towards the implementation of the BBNJ is simple in that the ocean areas beyond national jurisdictions belong to our shared future and must be governed responsibly based on science, equity, the precautionary approach and effective international cooperation. Mr. President, Tuvalu, like other small island developing states, is highly vulnerable to climate and economic shocks, but the international financing architecture is ill-equipped to respond effectively to those shocks. Earlier this year, Tuvalu declared a national state of emergency due to prolonged electrical power disruptions caused by fuel shortages, escalating energy costs and infrastructural deficiency.

(02:58:11)
Although Tuvalu did receive with gratitude external assistance, the timing and scale of those responses were slow and inefficient, and this is why access to rapid disbursement and crisis response financing is essential for the stability and resilience of small island developing state. Tuvalu therefore continues to urge the international community to adopt financial approaches that match the urgency of the crisis with simpler and faster access to climate finance, scaled up adaptation funding, accessible loss and damage finance and rapid disbursement crisis mechanism. Mr. President in the Pacific, Pacific leaders have adopted the Pacific Resilience Facility, a regional financing mechanism to help our communities respond effectively to the growing impact of climate change. Tuvalu calls on the international community and our development partners to support the full capitalization of the Pacific Resilience Facility to enable Pacific-led and Pacific-owned solutions to build resilience where it matters most.

(02:59:32)
Mr. President, adaptation and building resilience against the impact of climate change will reduce the severity of climate change but will not eliminate all consequences of climate change. One of those consequences is people deciding to migrate and set up home elsewhere. Although relocation is not part of Tuvalu's climate change strategy, it is inevitable that some Tuvaluan may decide to migrate and it is incumbent on the government to ensure that they do so with dignity. Tuvalu has therefore endorse the global principle for climate mobility, which are rights based, people centered and grounded in international law. We invite all member state and partner to join us in advancing this framework of cooperation and common ambition.

(03:00:33)
Mr. President, as we call for a multilateral system that delivers for all nations, we must also uphold the principles of dignity, inclusion and equality for all the people. Yet too many communities remain outside the structures designed to serve all humanity. Tuvalu therefore calls for arrangements that enable the meaningful participation of the 23.3 million people of Taiwan in the United Nation and its specialized agencies and mechanism. Taiwan has consistently demonstrated that it is an able, trustworthy and a constructive partner in addressing global challenges and its exclusion undermines both the spirit and effectiveness of multilateral cooperation.

(03:01:31)
Tuvalu is also gravely concerned by the escalating military activities around Taiwan, which threatens ability across the Taiwan strait, disrupt international transportation and trade and jeopardize peace and security in the Pacific and beyond. We commend Taiwan for its calm and principled adherence to the values of the UN charter, and we urge all member state to uphold the same principles. At the same time, Tuvalu remains troubled by the longstanding unilateral economic measures imposed on Cuba. These restrictions continue to inflict hardship on the Cuban people, contravene the human rights commitment of the UN and run counter to the cooperative spirit of the 2030 agenda for sustainable development. The continuation of those economic sanctions deprive Cuba of essential development partnership and support needed for recovery and future progress and we call for the lifting of those sanctions. Tuvalu also support the call for necessary reform of the UN Security Council to ensure that it is more representative, inclusive, transparent and accountable and better aligned with the reality of the 21st geopolitical landscape.

(03:03:03)
Mr. President, to conclude, I wish to assure this assembly that Tuvalu stands in solidarity with the rest of the member state to play its part in restoring trust and managing transformation to ensure the United Nation delivers for all. Tuvalu has shown that small nations can lead in climate adaptation and resilience, ocean stewardship, digital innovation, mobility with dignity and the advancement of international law. Tuvalu's ability to lead is not determined by the extent of our vulnerability, but national leadership cannot substitute for global responsibility. The United Nation and its charter are the bedrock of international cooperation and multilationalism and they must be guarded with all seriousness and integrity. Tuvalu will continue to stand firm in its effort to safeguard its sovereignty, the health of the ocean and the integrity of its people despite climate change and other global transformation because they are worth fighting for. And Tuvalu invite this assembly to stand with us in that fight. Tuvalu thanks the outgoing secretary general for his exceptional and exemplary leadership and wish him well in his retirement and other future endeavors. I thank you and [foreign language 03:04:32] Tuvalu for God. Thank you.

Speaker 1 (03:04:44):

On behalf of the assembly, I wish to thank the prime minister of Tuvalu. The assembly will hear an address by His Excellency, Hristijan Mickoski, president of the government of the Republic of North Macedonia. I request protocol to escort his excellency and invite him to address the assembly.

Hristijan Mickoski (03:05:41):

Mr. President, Mr. Secretary General, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, a child who will sit at a school desk for the first time this autumn will in 2040 be a young person just entering adulthood. We do not know exactly what the world in which that young person will live will look like, but we already know that it will be a different from our own. Artificial Intelligence will transform professions, industries, and the ways in which decisions are made. Energy will be governed by a new configuration and a new logic of operation. Climate change will affect economies, agriculture, cities and the movement of people. Demographic change will reshape labor markets and social protection systems. Security will no longer depend on armies and borders, but also on power grids, data centers, cables, satellites, algorithms, and trust in the information we receive every day.

(03:07:03)
And yet today, as we prepare for the future, millions of people are living through war or under the threat of war. More than 100 million people have been displaced by force. More than 270 million children and young people are not in the school. This is the paradox of our time. Humanity has never possessed such immense scientific and technological capabilities, and yet it has never been more evident that technological capability does not automatically produce political wisdom. That is why the real question before this assembly is not simply how we will manage the crisis of 2026. The real question is this, what kind of international order we'll leave to the generations that is entering school today?

(03:08:03)
For a small size country like mine, this is not an academic question. It is a question of survival. 33 years ago, since we become a part of the United Nations, the world looked very different. The Cold War had ended. There was hope that a new era was beginning, an era in which cooperation would gradually replace confrontation. Our region, however, was living through a very different reality. Yugoslavia was disintegrating in bloodshed. Wars were being fought just beyond our borders. The fear that the violence might spread was real, and yet my country choose peace. It choose stability. It was in those circumstances in our territory that the United Nations did something it had never done before. It established the first preventive peacekeeping mission in the history of the organization. That experience left a profound lesson in our national memory, a lesson to which I will return towards the end of my speech. Peace does not begin when war ends. Peace begins when politics is wise enough to prevent war from beginning. Perhaps that is why small countries sometimes see international politics differently. Great powers have room for strategic shifts that small size states simply do not have.

(03:09:39)
For a great power, a mistaken geopolitical calculation may mean a change of a strategy. For a small size country, the same mistake can mean a lost decade. That is why we cannot afford to be indifferent to the rules, nor can we afford to believe that the rules will defend themselves. The world taking shape before us is a world of sharper competition. Power is being redistributed. Relations among the major power increasingly shaped rate, technology, energy, critical raw minerals, transport routes and digital infrastructure. What we called economic interdependence yesterday, we increasingly see today as a matter of national security. Globalization is not disappearing, it is being reshaped. Supply chains are changing. Production is once again becoming a geopolitical question. States are asking not only where something can be produced most cheaply, but who can be trusted, not only where energy comes from, but whether it will be available when crisis strikes, not only who develops the next generation of technology, but who will set the rules under which it will operate.

(03:11:09)
Alliances too are changing under the pressure of this same world. Macedonian citizens know where they belong. We are a NATO ally. The United States are our strategical partner. Full membership in the European Union is our strategic commitment. These are not three separate policies. They are one, geopolitical orientation and orientation grounded in democracy, collective security, the rule of law, and an open economy. In a time of uncertainty, our response is not strategic ambiguity. Our response is clarity, but clarity in our alliances does not mean turning away from the world. Quite the opposite. It is a precisely state that is confident in its democratic and strategic choices that can engage and cooperate with greater confidence with countries that have different histories, different interests and different political perspectives. The world does not need yet another division into permanent camps. It needs competition with limits and rules that all must respect, alliances that take responsibility and international institutions that remain a space for a dialogue precisely when dialogue is most difficult.

(03:12:39)
That is why the United Nations matters, not because they can resolve every conflict, clearly they cannot, not because every resolution is given effect. Clearly that is not always the case and that should not discourage us. It should strengthen our determination to protect this United Nations and the rules upon which they are founded and to stand for multilateralism grounded in values, mutual respect and rules because a world without a place where all states, regardless of their size, can sit under the same roof and invoke the same principles would be even more dangerous than the world we see today. In 1954, Dag Hammarskjöld reminded us of a thought, "The United Nations were not created to take us to heaven, but to save us from hell." Seven decades later, it is worth understanding the essence of that statement. We should not demand perfection from United Nations. We should demand relevance, the capacity to prevent and to mediate, the capacity to protect human dignity, and ultimately the capacity to uphold principles even when applying them is politically inconvenient.

(03:14:07)
Today, trust in the international system in being jeopardized precisely because too many people have a justified sense that the rules do not apply equally, that power sometimes take precedence over principle, that commitments are conditional, that agreements last only as long as interests remain unchanged. For small size states, this is an especially dangerous world. Our own history has taught us that international compromises are very difficult and that peace, stability and integration require political courage and hard sacrifices. And without wishing to sound patronizing, if anyone wants to see an example of a country that has repeatedly given up something that naturally belongs to it as a fundamental right, something that many take for granted, all they need is to look at the recent history of my nation, a history marked by challenges, by security risks of regional proportions, by constant compromises and concessions made in the name of peace and cooperation and the higher goal of integration, often at the expense of most basic understanding of dignity and justice.

(03:15:36)
We have taken truly difficult decisions. We have continued forward even when processes lasted longer than one generation of citizens could reasonably have expected. But precisely for that reason, with the benefit of distance from those decisions and with a clear awareness of reality, I can responsibly say today that trust cannot be a one way obligation indefinitely. If small size states are expected to comply with the rules, then the rules must also provide them with predictability. If candidates for membership in an organization are required to meet certain criteria, then meeting those criteria must let to progress. If we ask citizen to trust institutions, then institutions must demonstrate that their word has value and that their commitments endure. The rule that applies today cannot be different tomorrow simply because the balance of powers has changed and a commitment undertaken cannot be a temporary political convenience. It must be a foundation on which people can plan their future.

(03:16:56)
We ask our citizens to believe in cooperation, in good neighborly relations, in compromises and in mutual respect. We tell them that lasting peace is worth more than a short term political victory, that respecting agreements is a sign of strength and wisdom and that it is the right thing to do, not a sign of weakness. The European and Euro-Atlantic integration means accepting rules that apply equally to all, but that argument becomes much harder to sustain when citizens see that in international relations. Principle sometimes gives way to power. That criteria can change while the process is already underway or that some are expected to demonstrate consistency that others do not always demand of themselves. We cannot tell people trust the rules when they can see that the rules do not apply equally. We cannot convince them that compromise is a virtue if every compromise produces a new demand and we cannot expect trust international institutions if citizens come to believe that their faith is created more often by the political weight of their state than by the strength of an agreed principle.

(03:18:21)
This is a question of legitimacy because our authority as elected leaders does not derive from the office itself. It derives from the people who elect us, who hold us to account and who every day compare what we tell them with what they see. And today, they see more than ever before. We live in a age in which transformation travels around the world in a seconds. Never before has humanity had access to so much knowledge, but never before has it been exposed to so much manipulation, half-truths, fabricated images, propaganda and organized disinformation. That is precisely why politics is entering a new, more difficult and more complex era.

(03:19:15)
Our task is not longer simply to inform our citizens, we must earn their trust. It is not enough to tell them what is true. We must build institutions they can trust when the truth is uncomfortable for everyone. It is not enough to speak to them about values. We must show that those values have meaning and carry cost even when defending them requires patience, political capital, or choosing the more difficult path. We are called upon to convince our societies that cooperation is better than isolation, that rule of law is better than unilateral behavior, that compromise is better than conflict. And that institutions are better than rule of sheer force. But for the convention to carry weight, we ourselves must be consistent. Values are not sustained by speeches. They are sustained when they are upheld precisely at the moment when it is easiest to abandon them. And many may be greatest challenges of our time. The world is changing at extraordinary speed. The centers of power are shifting. Technology is changing. Economic relations are changing. Security doctrines are changing. Alliances are changing. Histories accelerating once again.

(03:20:42)
In such periods, there is always a temptation to declare that all principles are no longer practical, that the law must adapt to power, that values are a luxury that can wait until the crisis has passed. But that is precisely when we need them most. Because if in times of change we abandoned the rules that protected us in times of stability, we will not gain greater freedom. We will inherit a world in which every subsequent decision depends on who has more power at that particular moment. And such a world is especially dangerous for small size states. That is why our duty as leaders is not to promise our people a world without injustice, without disappointment, and without conflict interests. Such a world does not exist. Our duty is far more demanding, to preserve faith in the rules, even when it is clear that the rules are being broken, to defend cooperation, even when confrontation appears more popular, to sustain trust in institutions, not by asking people to look less closely and ask fewer questions, but by making institutions more worthy of their trust and not to allow disappointment with the imperfections of the international order to lead us towards something far worse, a world in which there is no order at all.

(03:22:27)
That, in my view, is one of the greatest political and moral responsibilities of our generation. It applies to the international system and it applies to Europe. We will not abandon the European idea because the European path has been difficult. The European Union remains for us our natural political, economical and institutional home. And we have to work to do at home. We must strengthen the rule of law, build more effective institutions, build a more competitive economy and strengthen our citizens' confidence in their own state. That is our responsibility and we will not shift it to Brussels.

(03:23:08)
At the same time, we expect European integration to remain a merit-based process based on measurable criteria, not a process in which bilateral issues can continually move the goalposts. We are not asking for an easier path. We are asking for a path governed by rules. We are not asking for lower standards. We are asking for standards to remain standards. This is equally important for Europe's credibility at a time when its geopolitical weight will increasingly depend on its ability to translate its commitments into the tangible political outcome and on its resolve to uphold the values it exposes and to remain steadfast in advancing them despite the many challenges it face. Excellencies, the...

Hristijan Mickoski (03:24:02):

Excellencies, the future international order will not be shaped only on battlefields or in diplomatic halls. It will be also shaped in laboratories, in schools, in factories, in energy grids, in data centers, and in the ability of societies to make sense of the changes that technology is bringing. Artificial intelligence is not longer a subject of the future. It is infrastructure for today, for the present. Today, the world is once again recognizing the values of resilience, of reliable energy, of infrastructure, of diversified transport routes, of nearby and trusted supply chains. For us, the intensified development of Corridor Eight and Corridor 10 is a part of broader European vision to better connect the Adriatic, Union, the Black Sea, the Asian, and Central Europe, to provide goods, energy, and people with more roots and greater connectivity, and to ensure that the region becomes interconnected in the infrastructure rather than remaining on the political, geopolitical periphery.

(03:25:15)
Our geography does not have to be our destiny. It can be our advantage if we build the institutions and infrastructure that transform our geographical position into connectivity. At the same time, we must also approach migration definitely. Migration begins where there is no security, no employment, no education, no access to water, no prospects, or no confidence that tomorrow will be better than today. It is not simply a matter of borders. Responsibly, policy must bring together security, human dignity development, and the real needs of labor markets. Climate policy, too, we will have to become more grounded in reality.

(03:26:03)
The green transition is essential, but if we make it social unsustainable, we will lose the political support that is necessary to implement it. If we make it technologically dependent on a handful of sources, we will create new challenges while addressing old ones. If we expect poorer countries to move at the same pace without providing them with equal access to capital and technology, we will create injustice instead of a transition. That is why future climate policy must at the same time be environmental policy, economic policy, and social policy.

(03:26:44)
Mr. President, all of these bring us back to the central theme of this session, trust. Trust is not a sentiment that can be created by adopting a resolution. It is an outcome. It is built when an institution delivers on the purpose for which was established. That is why reform of United Nations is necessary, so that the organization can become more capable, so that it can deliver greater results. And certainly not to replace the responsibility of national states, but to act where collective action is needed. Multilateralism does not begin in New York. It begins when the quality of the states that came to New York. Excellencies, we are a small size country, but we refuse to let the smallness of our territory define the scale of our ambition.

(03:27:43)
Our ambition is to become a serious state, a state that its allies can trust, a state in which young people can plan their future, a state that respects the diversity and multicultural character of its society, a state confident enough to defend its own identity without denying the identity of the others, a state that knows its history but is not imprisoned by it, and a state that does not expect others to build it in its place. That, to me, is more than sovereignty. Not isolation, capability. This year, Secretary General António Guterres reminded us that the Charter begins with the words, "We the peoples," and he added, not we powerful, not we the victors. In those words lies the reason why a small sized European country continues to believe in this organization even when it is disappointed by it.

(03:28:49)
Because the alternative to a world governed by rules is not a world in which everyone is free. It is a world in which the strongest are the freest and everyone else depends on their goodwill. Such a world may appear effective for a moment, but it is never stable. Some decades ago, the United Nations came to our country with a new idea, that the international community does not have to wait for a violence to begin before it acts. Today, we once again need the same political wisdom. We must not wait for a technology to create new inequalities before we establish rules. We must not wait for young people to live before we build societies in which they see a future worth staying for. We must not wait for institutions to lose all public trust before we reform them. And we must not wait for the world to become fully divided into opposing blocks before we rediscover the values of a dialogue. That child with whom I began will be 14 years old when the world enters in 2040. None of us today can promise that child a peaceful world, nor a world without crisis nor a world without competition, but we can leave the child something else, a world in which power is not the only argument, a world in which knowledge is not the privilege of few, a world in which alliances create security rather than new lines of fear, a world in which technology serves humanity, a world in which a small state has the right to the same dignity, to the same rules at the same voice as the great powers. That is the promise worth renewing. Not because we are naive about the world as it is, but because we are realistic enough to understand what happens when the world is left to power alone. Macedonians and the Macedonian citizens will share their burden of responsibility. Thank you so much for your attention.

Speaker 1 (03:31:19):

On behalf of the assembly, I wish to thank the President of the government of the Republic of North Macedonia. The assembly will hear an address by His Excellency, Matthew Cooper Wale, Prime Minister of Solomon Islands. I request protocol to escort His Excellency and invite him to address the assembly.

Samuel Ntsokoane Matekane (03:32:11):

Mr. President, Secretary General of the United Nations, Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates, I stand before this assembly conscious that I speak on behalf of a nation and the people whose future is being shaped in halls like this one. I bring warm greetings from the people and government of Solomon Islands, a nation of nearly 1,000 islands stretching across as many miles of the Blue Pacific. Our people hold the same hopes as people in every land, to live in peace and to raise their children in dignity. Mr. President, I congratulate you on your election and assure you of the full support of Solomon Islands. I also commend your predecessor for her determined leadership of the 80th session. I pay special tribute to Secretary General António Guterres as he takes part in his final debate in office.

(03:33:14)
Mr. Secretary General, you have been a true champion of multilateralism and of small island developing states. Your unwavering advocacy on climate action and your repeated visits to our region told the world a simple truth, that the Pacific matters and that our challenges and how the world responds to them remain a litmus test for this organization and for us all. We meet at a time when multilateralism is under serious strain and when the notion that "might is right" appears to be making a return. Yet we continue to gather in forums and dialogues around the world and here in the General Assembly, the pinnacle of multilateralism. That in itself is cause for hope.

(03:34:06)
Mr. President, for my people, what is said in this hall is measured not in declarations, but in results, classrooms with teachers and books, clinics with medicines, roads that reach markets, and villages that thrive. That is the lens through which Solomon Islands engages with the world. My government is delivering a program of national transformation. We are providing universal free education so that no child is turned away from school because their family cannot afford the fees. We are strengthening our health system with a renewed focus on tackling the scourge of non-communicable diseases, eradicating malaria, and building a new national referral hospital. We are prioritizing energy and other transformative infrastructure, expanding roads, ports, airports and telecommunications to connect our scattered islands into one national economy. We are reforming our public finance systems so that every dollar delivers for our people, and we are pursuing constitutional amendments to strengthen and stabilize our democracy. This is the agenda by which our people will judge my government. Mr. President, over the past year, the international community has faced many challenges, protracted armed conflicts, and energy crisis and disruptions to global trade have been compounded by destabilization orchestrated by those who pursue their own selfish ambitions. For small island economies, these are not distant events. Every rise in the price of fuel is felt in the cost of shipping, electricity, food and essential services, placing a heavy burden on communities that have no buffer against external shocks. These tensions confirm what Solomon Islands has long understood. Peace and security are inseparable from development. Neither can be secured without the other. There are no winners in war, only graves, orphans, and the long labor of rebuilding what conflict has torn down.

(03:36:38)
There is no substitute for dialogue, diplomacy, and peaceful negotiation. Solomon Islands calls on all parties to armed conflicts to protect civilians and return to the negotiating table and act in full respect of international law. And it is why the world needs a stronger, more agile United Nations, one equipped to respond to the realities of today. Mr. President, the Pacific faces a grave and growing threat. Transnational criminal networks are using our ocean as a highway for illicit drugs, undermining our sovereignty and national security, destroying young lives and tearing at the fabric of our communities. Behind every statistic stands a family, a community, a young life robbed of its promise. We will not allow criminal networks to profit from the vulnerability of our people.

(03:37:42)
We are amending our Dangerous Drugs Act to introduce stiffer penalties as a deterrent and we are strengthening law enforcement to prevent and detect these crimes and to hold perpetrators accountable. In August this year, Solomon Islands exceeded to the UN Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime, a clear demonstration of our resolve to confront this threat. These are costly and demanding undertakings and no Pacific country can win this fight alone. We call for stronger international cooperation, greater information sharing, sustained investment in the capacity of our law enforcement agencies, and the support for prevention and rehabilitation. Our vision of a peaceful and secure Pacific extends beyond transnational crime. As enshrined in the Ocean of Peace Declaration, our region must remain free of nuclear weapons and free from destabilizing external influence. In keeping with that vision, my government has proposed a treaty that would bind Pacific Island countries and like-minded partners to a firm shared commitment to keep the Pacific an ocean of peace. Mr. President, artificial intelligence and emerging technologies present both unprecedented opportunities and serious risks. They can accelerate sustainable development, transform education and healthcare, strengthen disaster preparedness, and open new economic pathways for developing countries. But a widening digital divide threatens to leave developing countries further behind.

(03:39:33)
For my government, digital transformation is not about technology for its own sake. It's about connecting our scattered islands and opening the modern economy to every Solomon Islander. The completion of 161 telecommunication towers across the country will lift national broadband coverage from 56% to 86%, expanding access to information, education and digital financial services. The benefits of AI must be shared by all, Mr. President, not concentrated among a few. Its risks, including its use for non-peaceful purposes, must be governed by all, not left to a few. Solomon Islands, therefore, recognizes the need for an inclusive and transparent international governance framework on AI.

(03:40:27)
Mr. President, year after year, Pacific leaders have stood at this podium and urged the world to act on climate change, and yet global action continues to fall short of what the science demands. For every passing COP, the impacts grow more severe. Our islands are being lost to the sea. Disasters are more frequent and more devastating, food and water security is under threat, and communities are being forced from their ancestral lands. Solomon Islands knows this reality firsthand. This year, Tropical Cyclone Maila, a category five storm, tore through our communities, destroying homes, schools, infrastructure, and livelihoods. My government has just approved U.S. 9.38 million for shelter recovery. That is money our essential services urgently need now diverted to deal with the impacts of this climate extreme. Like many Pacific Island countries, we are trapped in a relentless cycle of response, recovery, and rebuilding.

(03:41:42)
This is not sustainable, nor is it just. My people did the least to cause this crisis, yet they pay its earliest and heaviest price. That is the moral ledger that lies before this assembly. Last year, the International Court of Justice confirmed in its landmark advisory opinion that states have legal obligations to protect the climate system. Major emitters must make deep emission cuts and transition away from fossil fuels. Climate finance, including support for loss and damage, must be grant based and channeled through our national budget systems. Project-based financing of climate action is unsustainable and out of step with the scale of a crisis we did the least to cause. Vulnerable countries should not have to choose between climate action and educating our children, caring for the sick or securing food and water, yet that is the choice we face with every dollar we spend.

(03:42:51)
We, therefore, call for the full capitalization of the Pacific Resilience Facility and an ambitious and timely third replenishment of the Green Climate Fund. Our region has long led on climate action and we will continue to lead. The pre-COP31 meeting to be hosted in the Pacific by Australia in partnership with Fiji and Tuvalu will bring the reality of climate change directly into the heart of the global process. I call on all parties and partners to come to that meeting and to COP31 with stronger commitments and concrete action. The communities on the front line of the climate crisis deserve nothing less.

(03:43:38)
Mr. President, Solomon Islands welcomes the convening of the second high level meeting on sea level rise and the adoption of the first political declaration on sea level rise. Every day our people are defending their coastlines, strengthening their resilience, protecting their food and water security and their cultural heritage, and where there is no other choice, relocating. But we cannot do this alone. I call on this assembly to match the courage of our Pacific communities with collective international resolve, to scale up adaptation and resilience finance, and to support communities facing climate mobility needs. Solomon Islands reaffirms that maritime boundaries once established and deposited in accordance with UNCLOS together with the rights and entitlements that flow from them shall continue to apply not withstanding any physical changes caused by climate change related sea level rise.

(03:44:50)
Sir, the ocean is not simply a resource. It is our identity, our heritage, and our future. It sustains our livelihoods, our culture, and our economy. We do not own the ocean. We belong to it. We hold it in solemn trust for generations yet to be born. Yet our ability to benefit fully from our own ocean is undermined by illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, which costs our region U.S. 300 million every year. Solomon Islands is fighting back, working with the Foreign Fisheries Agency and partners, including Australia, France, New Zealand and the U.S. to strengthen surveillance and enforcement across our waters. Mr. President, the SDG 14 remains among the least funded of all the sustainable development goals. With just four years left until 2030, the fourth UN Ocean Conference must raise the bar on ocean finance and secure the ocean's place in the development agenda beyond 2030.

(03:46:05)
Solomon Islands welcomes the entry into force of the BBNJ agreement and the preparations for the first conference of the parties in January. We look to that conference to establish without delay the Secretariat and the institutional arrangements to implement the agreement. Plastic pollution is poisoning our ocean and our food. As negotiations resume in Bangkok, Solomon Islands calls for an ambitious legally binding treaty that addresses the full cycle of plastics, from production to disposal. Mr. President, our people are our greatest asset. With more than half of our population under the age of 25, my government is prioritizing legal frameworks that empower young people, advance gender equality, and strengthen the protection of women and children against domestic violence. We welcome global progress in advancing the rights and full participation of women and persons with disabilities in the economy, and Solomon Islands is committed to accelerating that progress at home. There can be no sustainable development without equal opportunity for all.

(03:47:24)
Mr. President, our development partnerships play an indispensable role in expanding infrastructure, maritime connectivity, health and education, and in improving the lives of Solomon Islanders. I thank the governments and peoples of Australia, China, Japan, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, and the U.S., as well as the EU for their contributions to our national development. South-South cooperation remains an important compliment to ODA. Partnerships among developing countries have enabled us to share expertise, technology, innovation, and practical solutions suited to our circumstances. The support of Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, India, and our Pacific family embodies the true spirit of South-South solidarity, and we value it deeply.

(03:48:21)
We also acknowledge the partnership of multilateral organizations, NGOs, and the private sector in supporting development work in Solomon Islands. At home, my government is working hand in hand with churches to build stronger, more inclusive communities. Cooperation and partnership at every level and across borders are critical to nation building, and my government remains fully committed to them. Mr. President, as a small island developing state, our vulnerability remains a fundamental reality. A single natural disaster can erase years of investment and progress and push the nation backwards. The Multidimensional Vulnerability Index captures the special circumstances of SIDS in a way that income measures alone does not. We call on international financial institutions to integrate the MVI into their financing decisions for SIDS without further delay. Mr. President, last year the world spent more than $3 trillion on its militaries. That is more than 16 times all ODA. In less than 18 days, the world spends more on arms than developed countries provide in a full year of climate finance. In the same year that military spending reached its highest share of global output since 2009, development aid had its steepest fall on record. Bilateral aid to the least developed countries fell by a quarter. This imbalance must be corrected. Redirecting even a small share of this spending would fully capitalize the Pacific Resilience Facility and the Loss and Damage Fund, secure the Green Climate Fund's third replenishment, and meet ODA targets. The resources exist. What is missing is the will. And the time to act is now.

(03:50:37)
Sir, Solomon Islands is due to graduate from least developed country status in 2027. As part of our preparations, my government is pursuing an ambitious and proactive agenda that uses public private partnerships to unlock investments in transformative projects, special economic zones, and key sectors. A second tuna cannery at Bina Harbor, upgraded airports, agricultural treatment facilities to support trade, and expanded road networks and maritime ports will shift the trajectory of our economy. At the same time, my government is strengthening our financial institutions and frameworks to improve revenue collection and accountability so that we can sustain our development priorities. These reforms reflect our commitment to a strong and resilient economy that delivers decentralized people-centered development across the country. Our ambition is clear, to graduate from LDC status with confidence, to strengthen the foundations of our economy, and to ensure that development delivers lasting opportunities for every Solomon Islander.

(03:51:57)
Mr. President, as the UN marks its 81st anniversary, it must continue to evolve to meet today's challenges while remaining faithful to its founding principles. The UN-80 reform process must strengthen the organization's effectiveness and relevance without diminishing its presence, services, or support in the most vulnerable regions where assistance is needed most. Reform must enhance delivery, not reduce it. The UN is not perfect, but it remains the cornerstone of multilateral diplomacy and the indispensable platform through which nations preserve peace, advance sustainable development, uphold international law, and protect human rights. Solomon Islands looks to the next Secretary General to lead with vision and to ensure that the Secretariat is accountable to all member states, serving the interests of small and large states on an equal footing.

(03:53:08)
Mr. President, Solomon Islands reiterates its support for comprehensive reform of the Security Council to make it more representative, transparent, accountable, and reflective of today's realities. A council with a dedicated seat for small island developing states would strengthen the legitimacy and effectiveness of the entire multilateral system. The veto is a relic of 1945. Too often it has been used to shield violations of international law and to entrench the double standards that fuel conflict. At a minimum, the veto must never again be used in situations of genocide, crimes against humanity, or war crimes. Ultimately, it should be abolished. Mr. President, it is with great pride that Solomon Islands is again contributing personnel to UN peacekeeping in South Sudan. Despite our small size, our participation reaffirms our enduring commitment to the Charter, to international peace and security, and to the noble work of peacekeepers serving communities affected by conflict. I thank our partners, including Australia and the UN police, for their support. Solomon Islands looks forward to increasing its peacekeeping contribution in the coming year.

(03:54:36)
Mr. President, leaving no one behind demands that we complete the unfinished work of decolonization. Solomon Islands reaffirms its longstanding support for the right to self-determination of the Kanak people of New Caledonia and the Māʻohi people of French Polynesia. The UN decolonization process must offer more than hope. It must provide practical pathways to the full emancipation of peoples in non-self-governing territories and to their freedom to determine their own political future and development aspirations. In the same spirit, I turn to West Papua, whose people are our Melanesian brothers and sisters.

(03:55:23)
Solomon Islands respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Indonesia, and we value our friendship with its government and people. Yet it is precisely because of that friendship that we speak with candor. Reports of human rights violations in West Papua have persisted for far too long. They must be independently verified, not left in dispute. We, therefore, renew the call of Pacific Islands Forum leaders for the government of Indonesia to facilitate without further delay the long awaited visit of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to West Papua. Such a visit is an act of confidence between friends and an affirmation that there is nothing to hide and there is nothing to fear from the light.

(03:56:20)
Mr. President, in closing, the challenges of our time demand renewed solidarity, stronger multilateralism, and genuine commitment to the principles of the UN Charter. But institutions do not have hearts, people do. Charters do not keep the peace. The men and women who honor them do. Beyond every declaration and commitment, each of us carries a profound responsibility to be agents of peace, champions of goodwill, and keepers of the fragile bonds of friendship among nations. The world has never needed that spirit more than it does today. Mr. President, permit me a word from the Christian faith that has shaped my people.

(03:57:09)
Our constitution was established under the guiding hand of God by a people conscious of our common destiny. We believe that is true not only of Solomon Islands, but of this whole family of nations. We live in a time when division has become the calling card of the day. Nations are sorted into camps. Neighbors are asked to choose sides. Small states are too often treated as prizes to be won rather than partners to be heard. But the destiny of nations does not finally rest in this General Assembly nor in any capital, however powerful. King Solomon, among the wisest rulers of antiquity wrote, "There are many devices in a man's heart. Nevertheless, the council of the Lord shall stand." The truth...

Samuel Ntsokoane Matekane (03:58:00):

The Lord shall stand. That truth does not make us passive. It makes us humble and it makes us accountable. So I call on my fellow leaders to do three things. First, let us ask for wisdom before we ask for advantage. When Solomon was offered anything he wished, he did not ask for riches or long life or the defeat of his enemies. He asked for an understanding heart so that he might judge his people well. I can think of no better prayer for every leader in this room. Second, let us stay at the table. The same king taught that in the multitude of counselors, there is safety. That is the oldest case I know for what this organization is meant to be. Many nations, large and small sitting together because none of us sees far enough alone. Third, let us measure greatness rightly. Righteousness exalts the nation, not its arsenal, not its alliances, but its justice, how it treats the poor, the displaced and the small. Powers rise and powers fall, the purposes of God endure. Let us choose cooperation over division, dialogue over confrontation, peace over hostility and action over inaction. And let us lead as people who know we will answer for it one day. Our national motto teaches us that to lead is to serve. In that spirit of service, Solomon Islands stands ready to do its part as a willing partner and a committed member of this Assembly. May God bless our shared family of nations. Thank you.

Speaker 2 (04:00:10):

On behalf of the Assembly, I wish to thank the Prime Minister of Solomon Islands. The Assembly will hear an address by His Excellency, Philip Pierre, Prime Minister, Minister for Finance, Constituency Development, People Development, Justice and National Security of St. Lucia. I request a protocol to escort his excellency and invite him to address the Assembly.

Philip Pierre (04:01:13):

Mr. President, Mr. Secretary General, excellencies distinguished delegates. In 1979, 34 years after the creation of these United Nations, my country, St. Lucia, though small in geography, but large in courage, dignity and conviction, took its seat among the community of nations, bringing hope, optimism and trust in the promise and goals of this body. Today, we meet at a moment of profound international uncertainty. Conflict is spreading, trust is eroding, developmental gains are being reversed, and the rules intended to protect humanity are too often applied selectively. For small island developing states, these crises are not abstract. They are lived realities. Climate change threatens our homes, livelihoods, and very existence. Debt limits our ability to invest in people. Digital technologies are transforming our societies without safeguards. They can reproduce all patterns of domination in a new form. And in our own Caribbean neighborhood, people of Haiti continue to endure a humanitarian and security crisis that demands more than statements of concern.

(04:02:49)
The theme before us, restoring trust, managing transformation, a United Nations that delivers for all must not remain a slogan. Trust will be restored only when promises are matched by action, when commitments are honored, and when the United Nations delivers meaningful results for every nation, and when there is due regard for multilateral principles, not only for the most powerful, but for the weakest of us as well.

(04:03:22)
This Assembly should not be a place where the world expresses sympathy without accepting responsibility. We need action, we need justice, and we need a renewed international combat based not on power, but on principle. We need multilateralism, not unilateralism. And in the words of the former UN Secretary General, the United Nations was not created in order to bring us to heaven, but in order to save us from hell.

(04:03:57)
For St. Lucia, climate change is not a distant environmental issue. It is a direct threat to national security, economic stability, food and water security, and human survival. While the world focuses on headline grabbing events like monster hurricanes, melting glaciers and tidal waves, climate change is affecting St. Lucia daily in small but significant ways, such as the unusual bouts of drought in the rainy season, unprecedented floods in the dry season and stifling of our beaches and coastlines by [inaudible 04:04:36].

(04:04:36)
Our people contribute little to these global emissions, yet these events constantly set back our people's development and livelihoods and demand that we find the resources to reverse the damage. St. Lucia calls for climate finance that matches the scale of the crisis, expanded grants and concessional funding, fast and simple access, full support for loss and damage, meaningful debt relief, and financing that reaches vulnerable people directly.

(04:05:20)
Climate finance is not charity. It's about justice, responsibility and survival. We must stop confusing loans with solidarity. A loan is not justice when a small, vulnerable nation is forced to borrow to repair damage it did not cause. A United Nations that delivers for all must deliver for those on the front lines of climate change for accessible finance, concrete support and measurable results, not merely through declarations.

(04:05:54)
St. Lucia [inaudible 04:05:56] the continued conflicts and human sufferings across the globe, including Ukraine, Sudan and the wider Middle East, including Gaza, and calls for renewed efforts towards peace, stability and respect for international law. In accordance with the right to self-determination and UN resolutions, in particular resolution 236 of 1974, the people of Palestine should be allowed their own state and full membership of the UN alongside the state of Israel.

(04:06:31)
We also speak today about Haiti. Member states of this organization must act in a manner that will restore the trust of the people of Haiti in the United Nations. Some member states have failed to meet the commitments and pledges to the gang suppression force in Haiti whose one year mandate ends this month.

(04:06:53)
The Security Council is urged to renew the force's mandates and member states to provide the necessary resources to operate effectively and successfully. While gang violence is the main factor to be resolved in Haiti, the crisis in this country is multidimensional. The international response must include long-term social and economic assistance that will help restore an acceptable quality of life for the people of Haiti. This is why the Caribbean community has been actively engaged in Haiti. Haiti is a Caribbean country, is a Caribbean community member state to assist with a solution to the political and governance dimensions of the crisis. So its Eminent Persons Group comprising three prime ministers will continue to facilitate dialogue amongst Haiti's political and civil society stakeholders as they work towards holding the first round of January elections this year. Trust in the United Nations will be restored if the daily lives of the people of Haiti are transformed and enhanced.

(04:08:03)
It is a similar quest for trust and transformation that St. Lucia believes there should be dialogue and the removal of all obstacles that hinder the true development of the people of Cuba. Cuba has long been celebrated for its continued contribution to health, education and development across our region and beyond. St. Lucia stands with the Cuban people in their hope for better future supported by the friendship and solidarity of the international community. In the same spirit of transformation and consistent with our commitment to the right of all people to self-determination, St. Lucia supports Taiwan's full membership in the United Nations. St. Lucia believes that a truly inclusive United Nations must ensure that its decision making bodies reflect the world that they serve. St. Lucia advocates for comprehensive reform of the Security Council to enhance its legitimacy and effectiveness in addressing global challenges, thereby restoring trust in a more inclusive multilateral system.

(04:09:16)
Mr. President, a 21st Century United Nations Security Council could have been more successful in its responsibility for international peace and security had it not been anchored in the world of 1945. The prolonged reform process must be concluded quickly and include expanded permanent and non-permanent membership for Africa, the Asia Pacific and Latin America and the Caribbean regions. This reform is essential to restore trust in the United Nations and ensure it delivers peace and security for all. St. Lucia pledges its commitment and dedication to work with like-minded nations to achieve the stated reforms.

(04:10:10)
I wish to take this opportunity, Mr. President, to thank the outgoing Secretary General Antonio Guterres for [inaudible 04:10:24] service, especially his steadfast solidarity with the Caribbean through the many challenges and disasters our region has faced. We commend and thank him for his sincere and positive leadership of this organization. In the same vein, St. Lucia wishes to express its endorsement of the candidate of the Republic of Ghana, Ms. Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett for the post of Secretary General. Her distinguished record of public and international service speaks directly to the kind of leadership this movement demands. On the 24th of March 2026, the General Assembly approved one of its most historic and consequential resolutions that declared the trafficking of enslaved Africans and [inaudible 04:11:15] enslavement of Africans as the greatest crime against humanity. This resolution and the subsequent establishment of the high level Global Advisory Council on Reparatory Justice is a very significant step in the search for reparations for the transatlantic slave trade and the enslavement of Africans in the Americas and the Caribbean.

(04:11:38)
I want to thank the president of Ghana for spearheading and championing this resolution. St. Lucia congratulates the government of Jamaica on a successful petition to the British Monarch for him to refer three questions to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council over the legality of the enslavement of Africans in Jamaica. Mr. President, reparations are not about vengeance. They're about truth, acknowledgement, repair and transformation. Reparations are not about seeking charity or revisiting history for its own sake. History is not behind us when its consequences remain embedded in wealth, power, institutions and opportunity. Reparations are about addressing the continuing effects of slavery and colonial exploitation, restoring dignity, advancing development and building more equitable relationships with the states and institutions that benefited from these systems.

(04:12:52)
Mr. President, technology is the new form of power that is rapidly transforming the world. And while it offers enormous opportunities for mankind, it can also create a new hierarchy in which a small number of corporations and powerful states control the systems on which the rest of humanity depends. We must ensure that artificial intelligence does not widen the gap between the powerful and the vulnerable. Technology must strengthen aspirations, not quietly erode them. St. Lucia therefore calls for strong global standards on data protection, privacy and artificial intelligence, equitable access to digital infrastructure, cyber security and affordable connectivity, fair technology transfer, transparent protection from surveillance, disinformation and cyber exploitation and meaningful participation for small states in shaping global digital rules. The digital future must not be owned by a few. It must be governed for the benefit of all. Managing transformation means ensuring that no nation is left powerless in the face of technological change.

(04:14:15)
Mr. President, my country St. Lucia is a small, open and vulnerable state, but our people refuse to impose limits on the aspirations. History has blessed us with unimaginable natural beauty, ambitious, friendly people and two Nobel Laureates. However, an unfair international financial system threatens the very existence of small states like St. Lucia. The rules governing global finance affect our development and our attempt at economic diversification is hindered by unfair and unequally applied rules. Oceans of water separate us from the global powers, but our challenges are mainly connected to decisions made in the capitals. Emissions released from these countries affect our climate. Weapons and drugs trafficked for international networks instigate violence and gang warfare in our region. Lack of access to affordable technology slows our development.

(04:15:28)
Mr. President, St. Lucia refuses to give up. We are educating our people to ensure that their skills are relevant. We are modernizing agriculture to ensure our food security. We are dealing with the scarcity of water due to climate change by exploring new sources of groundwater supply and encouraging harvesting of rain water. We are reducing youth unemployment through the creation of a successful youth economy agency. We are encouraging the spirit of entrepreneurship by supporting small and micro enterprises, especially women owned businesses. We are promoting healthy lifestyles and universal healthcare for the provision of equitable, accessible and affordable healthcare for our citizens.

(04:16:17)
Mr. President, St. Lucia continues to insist that governance must be about the improvement of the lives of the people. We have maintained fiscal discipline, reduced unemployment as we continue to create new opportunities and an enabling environment for investment in tourism and other productive sectors.

(04:16:39)
St. Lucia believes that a better world is within our reach if we choose cooperation over collusion and ensure that justice and fairness prevail for all. The 81st session of the UN General Assembly must be remembered for turning its laudable theme into actionable commitments and those commitments into meaningful change. As Mahatma Gandhi says, "In a gentle way, you can shape the world." The people of St. Lucia remain confident in our collective capacity to shape that better world, even as St. Lucian Nobel Laureate, Sir Derek Walcott reminds us that the future happens no matter how much we scream. Our task is to meet that future with courage and purpose. Our other Nobel Laureate, Sir Arthur Lewis said, "Economic development requires taking risk and embracing change." And with the speed of Julian Alfred, let us embrace that responsibility together and act with the resolve this movement demands. I thank you.

Speaker 2 (04:18:00):

On behalf of the Assembly, I wish to thank the Prime Minister, Minister for Finance, Constituency Development, People Empowerment, Justice and National Security of St. Lucia. The Assembly will now hear and addressed by his excellency, Edi Rama, Prime Minister of the Republic of Albania. I request a protocol to escort his excellency and invite him to address the Assembly.

Edi Rama (04:18:58):

Well, it seems that my turn to preach in this desert where we gather every year came and I take that as a privilege of a few. Mr. President, dear representatives of the peoples of the United Nations, I've been very positively surprised that a lot of friends wanted to know about what's going on in our country with artificial intelligence, and I thought it's a good idea to share with you my thoughts. Gunpowder changed the battlefield. Nuclear fission changed the meaning of human survival. Artificial intelligence is changing something even more intimate. Who can enter the minds of a citizen, imitate a trusted voice, manufacture a reality calibrated to one person's fears and do so millions and millions of times at once.

(04:20:28)
Albania is not a developer of frontier models, but we are a nation that has already lived the future others are still debating. And I think a simple message is what we owe to all of you. The greatest immediate danger is not that artificial intelligence will stop obeying humanity. The greatest danger is that it will obey the wrong human beings perfectly. The challenge comes in three layers, what artificial intelligence does instead of us, what it does to us and who gains the power to reach us.

(04:21:25)
First, what it does instead of us. The public debate imagines machines that awaken, acquire ambitions and turn against their creators. But the systems confronting us today do not wake up with hatred in their hearts. They multiply hours. They have no ambition of their own. They serve the ambition of others. They carry no flag, but they can be deployed by a state. They tell no lie for their own benefit, but they can tell a billion lies on others' behalf. The machine has no conscience, but it can borrow the reach of a government, the precision of a weapon and the intimacy of a friend. At the same time, the economic incentives surrounding artificial intelligence increasingly reward the replacement of human effort rather than the enlargement of human capacity. Write the code so that I do not have to understand it. Draft the report so that I do not have to think through it. Make the judgment so that I do not have to assume responsibility for it.

(04:22:47)
When success is measured only by how much work the machine removes from the human being, we may create more efficient institutions, but we'll have less capable people. A civilization that outsources effort may eventually outsource knowledge, a civilization that outsources knowledge may eventually outsource judgment, and the civilization that outsources judgment may discover that this also outsources responsibility.

(04:23:20)
This is not inevitable. It is a choice. We can build artificial intelligence that teaches rather than merely answers, guides rather than commands and strengthens the human being instead of making the human being dependent upon it. The question cannot be only how quick did the machine complete the task? We must also ask what did the human being learn? Who understood the decision? Who can challenge the decision and who answers for the decision when it is wrong?

(04:24:05)
Albania became the first country to bring an artificial intelligence instrument into the architecture of government through Diella, our worldwide-known artificial intelligence minister. We did not do this to transfer sovereignty from people to machine. We did it to make public services more accessible, procedures more transparent, and the state more accountable. No machine possesses democratic legitimacy. No algorithm inherits constitutional responsibility. Behind every consequential public decision, there must remain a legal mandate, a human institution and the name that can be called to give answers.

(04:24:54)
The second layer is what artificial intelligence can do to us. Artificial intelligence inside an accountable state can reduce the distance between citizens and public services. Artificial intelligence outside accountability can eliminate the distance between a lie and the human mind. Albania experienced this directly. I'm sure you must have followed or just known the so-called Flamingo Revolution, a fabricated narrative of an Israeli invasion of the Albanian coast, an invasion that never occurred, was manufactured, was personalized and delivered through voices, pages and channels citizens already trusted. One citizen received a story of national betrayal, another received a story of religious provocation. Another received a conspiracy of foreign occupation. Different fabrications entered different emotional worlds, all serving the same strategic lie. The consequences were real. Citizens had their own reasons to protest, don't take me wrong, but suddenly they started to protest also against a phantom enemy. Antisemitic tropes entered our public discourse for first time ever. Don't forget, Albania is the only country in Europe that ended World War II with more Jews than it started it. Fear became anger. Anger became mobilization and fabrication became political reality and was not a laboratory experiment. I'm not talking to you about a science fiction movie. It was a Tuesday in Tirana, our capital city. The algorithm did not invent the objective. A human actor did. The algorithm did not develop hatred. It discovered how to activate ours. This is systematic fraud as a service.

(04:27:28)
Election interference no longer requires one television station or one piece of propaganda repeated to an entire population. It can now operate at the resolution of each and every one voter. Two neighbors may stand in the same street, vote in the same election and inhabit entirely different realities, each manufactured specifically for each of them. When that happens, democracy does not merely lose a debate or just an election turn. It loses the common ground on which debate is possible, and it loses the turn to have it.

(04:28:25)
Sovereignty no longer erodes only at the border. It erodes in the [inaudible 04:28:32]. In the 20th century, sovereignty meant control over land, territory waters and national airspace. Today in Europe, we are running like crazy to add more and more and more from the money we don't have to protect our land and to protect our skies for a potential future war. But somehow we are forgetting that in the century we are living, it must also mean the capacity of a free society to defend the conditions under which its citizens form their own judgment. Without that capacity, sovereignty over the land, over the sky becomes just an illusion.

(04:29:35)
And then comes the third layer, reach. For centuries, the great threat to freedom of speech was censorship. Today, freedom of speech is threatened by the weaponization of the freedom of reach. Speech is the right to express an idea. Reach is the power to place that idea before millions of people. Speech belongs to human beings. Reach can be purchased, automated, manipulated, and secretly assigned by platforms, corporations, criminal networks, and foreign states. The right to speak is universal, but there is no universal right to anonymous, unlimited, and artificially amplified reach. When one lie can be multiplied a billion times, truth does not need to be censored anymore because it is simply buried. The citizen remains formally free to speak, but speaks into a storm that no human voice can match. Freedom of speech can therefore be defeated without banning a single book, without imprisoning a single journalist, without deleting a single post. The answer to bad speech remains more speech, but the answer to covert industrial amplification must come and must come sooner more than it will be too late.

(04:31:21)
And it's called exposure. Who created the message? Who paid for it? Was it spread by people or by machines? Why was the citizen targeted? Was the appearance public reaction authentic, coordinated or foreign-directed? Defending democracy and defending a way of life and defending the freedom of each and every nation to live in its own way does not mean controlling what people are allowed to think. It means revealing the hidden powers seeking to control what people are made to see if we protect-

Edi Rama (04:32:00):

... are made to see. If we protect freedom of speech while leaving the control of reach completely opaque, we defend the door while surrendering the whole room. Some respond by demanding that artificial intelligence be slowed or stopped. We are too small, but we respectfully have to disagree. A pause by democracies will not produce a pause by dictatorships. A moratorium observed by responsible state will not restrain hostile powers, criminal international networks, or industries of manipulation. We cannot regulate ourselves into helplessness. On this essential strategic question, the President of the United States is right. We cannot stop. We must accelerate, but acceleration must have a direction. We need artificial intelligence that is verifiable, transparent, and accountable, built by free society, shared among allies, and placed in the service of citizens.

(04:33:19)
The answer to weaponized automation is not technological surrender. It is democratic capacity. It is sovereign capability. It is better artificial intelligence in the hands of those who remain accountable under the law of the land. Sovereign artificial intelligence does not mean isolation. It means that no nation should be helpless before systems it cannot understand, it cannot inspect, and forget about challenging them.

(04:33:53)
Every country must be able to protect its language, authenticate public communications, detect coordinated manipulation, preserve evidence, and inform its citizens without depending entirely on the commercial priorities of a very distant operation. This is why Albania in its own microscopic scale compared to this gigantic challenge is building an artificial intelligence based digital mirror. The mirror will identify manipulation in real- time, will test claims against authoritative information, will reveal coordinated patterns and help citizens understand not only what they are seeing, but also how and why it has reached them. It will not tell citizens what they must think. Truth cannot be decreed by any government. It must be evidenced, sourced, tested, challenged, and defended out in the open.

(04:35:03)
Our mirror is not intended to become an arbiter of opinion. It is intended to become an infrastructure of transparency. It does not seek to create a ministry of truth, God forbid. It seeks to defend society against an industry of lies. Albania therefore calls for international compact for sovereign and democratic artificial intelligence. First, citizens must know when politically consequential content has been artificially generated or materially manipulated. Second, the architecture of reach should become transparent. Citizens and states must be able to know who created, who financed, who targeted, and who artificially amplified consequential political content. Third, every consequential use of artificial intelligence by a public institution must preserve a clear chain of human and legal accountability. Fourth, democracies must create a shared early warning system so that evidence of artificial intelligence-driven manipulation can travel between all like-minded nations as quickly as the manipulation itself. And smaller nations and smaller languages must not be abandoned outside this protective architecture. Digital sovereignty cannot become a privilege, again, reserved for the richest states. Lies travel without visas. Lies do not care about walls, about border controls. Algorithms cross borders without need of any passport and without fear of any type of government. Those attacking our countries already cooperate across jurisdictions. Our countries, our democracies first and foremost must learn to do the same. This is not ultimately a contest between humanity and machines. It is a contest between different human purposes, each amplified by machines, between those who use artificial intelligence to enlighten and those who use it to obscure, between those who use it to empower their own people and those who use it to manipulate them, between those who accept responsibility and those who hide behind automation. We should not fear that machines will become too human. We should fear that human beings will become invisible behind machines.

(04:38:04)
Dear friends, every generation is called upon to defend freedom in the territory where freedom is most threatened. For one generation, that territory was the battlefield. For another, it was the ballot box. For ours, it's very clear. It is the human mind. Let us ensure that no citizen is left alone before an increasingly terrifying algorithmic army. Let us ensure that no small nation is forced to rent its understanding of reality from beyond its borders. Let us ensure that no democracy wakes up after an election to discover these people exercise their freedom of choice inside the world secretly designed for them by someone they could not see and they are not even aware that is the force behind their choice. Artificial intelligence will not decide whether this century belongs to liberty or to manipulation. We will. The machine will obey. The question is whom it will obey, under what law, and the service of what purpose. Albania has made its own modest choice. We choose acceleration, no surrender. We choose innovation, no abdication. We choose augmentation, no atrophy of human capacity. We choose freedom of speech. We know what it is to live without it. And precisely because we choose it, we refuse to confuse it with the unchecked freedom of machines, money, and foreign powers to reach everyone everywhere without disclosure. We choose the truth, not because truth is always easy or comfortable, but because without a shared commitment to reality, there cannot be a shared public life. And without that commitment of all of us to the reality of world we live in, we are engaged in the most horrendous betrayal that parents of this world in the history of humanity have done to their own children. And without a shared world, there cannot be United Nations. And well, my preaching in the desert ends here and my hope is the last resort I rely on. Thank you very much.

Speaker 2 (04:41:11):

On behalf of the assembly, I wish to thank the Prime Minister of the Republic of Albania. The assembly will now hear another by His Excellency Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, Prime Minister of Islamic Republic of Pakistan. [inaudible 04:41:45] His Excellency, and I invite him to address the assembly.

Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif (04:42:00):

[foreign language 04:42:17].

Speaker 3 (04:42:30):

All believers do not get into your homes without saluting the residents. This is better for you. Please all remember.

Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif (04:42:44):

Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, I am honored to address this August Assembly for the fourth time on behalf of the 240 million resilient and peace-loving people of Pakistan. I congratulate Mr. Khalilur Rahman on his election as President of the 81st General Assembly session and I assure him of Pakistan's full support. I thank Her Excellency Ms. Annalena Baerbock, for her able stewardship of the 80th session. I also convey Pakistan's sincere appreciation to UN Secretary General, Mr. António Guterres, for his dynamic leadership and a strong advocacy for the UN and the Global South, particularly for the downtrodden and the poor.

(04:43:56)
The pursuit of peace, Mr. President, is among the noblest of human endeavors. The Holy Quran commands, "[foreign language 04:44:07]. If the enemy is inclined towards peace, make peace with them." Surah Al-Anfal. Ladies and gentlemen, Pakistan's founding father, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, had famously declared, "We stand by the United Nations Charter and will gladly make our full contribution to the peace and prosperity of the world." These pearls of wisdom have shaped Pakistan's national ethos and guided our conduct at home and abroad.

(04:44:55)
The unanimous adoption of resolution 2788 on strengthening mechanisms for peaceful settlement of disputes under Pakistan's UN Security Council presidency demonstrated our unwavering commitment to global peace. Mr. President, unfortunately, in February this year, conflict engulfed Gulf along with wider Middle East. Precious lives were lost. Economies suffered. Critical maritime routes, particularly the Strait of Hormuz, came under severe pressure. At this critical moment, Pakistan chose to act swiftly. Through concerted efforts, Pakistan successfully brought Washington and Tehran under one roof in Islamabad. From the Islamabad talks to the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, many historic steps were taken to bring an end to this serious conflict. Here, I deeply appreciate Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Pakistan's Chief of Defense Forces and Chief of the Army Staff, whose relentless efforts helped create space for diplomacy under exceptionally difficult and challenging circumstances. I would also like to comment the efforts of our Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar, in this behalf.

(04:46:47)
Regrettably, Mr. President, recently, we have witnessed a dangerous surge of hostilities. Yet amid the roar of missiles, drones and guns, the voice for diplomacy must echo even louder and stronger. The Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab are arteries of the global economy. They must remain open, connecting nations, not becoming choke-points of confrontation. These waters must carry the promise of prosperity, not the perils of war.

(04:47:32)
Excellencies, we once again condemn in the strongest possible terms the recent deplorable attacks by the Houthis against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The attempted drone attack on the holy city of Makkah al-Mukarramah has outraged Muslims across the globe. Any threat to the safety and sanctity of the Haramain Sharifain is a red line that must never be crossed. No Muslim can even dare to think of committing such a heinous crime. Pakistan stands in complete solidarity with the brotherly people of Saudi Arabia as we always have throughout our history.

(04:48:23)
Ladies and gentlemen, our enduring commitment to peace is also reflected by the historic Makkah Joint Defence Agreement among the brotherly countries, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and Pakistan. This alliance is not directed against any country. It is a collective commitment for defense, stability, and peace in the region and nothing more.

(04:48:54)
Mr. President, a year ago, Pakistan faced external aggression from India under a false pretext. Pakistan exercised its inherent right of self-defense under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter. Our brave and valiant armed forces under the courageous leadership of Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir responded with precision and professionalism. They silenced the enemy, repulsed its attack, and taught it a lesson it shall never ever forget.

(04:49:39)
And, of course, thanks to President Donald Trump's resolute and visionary leadership that hundreds of millions of lives in South Asia were saved. His timely intervention came at a decisive juncture when two nuclear-armed neighbors stood at the brink of an all-out war. And who knows, Mr. President, the extent of devastation that could have taken place had President Trump not stepped in at this critical moment with clarity of thought and action.

(04:50:24)
Mr. President, we must therefore ensure that South Asia never reaches that precipice ever again. But this requires a just and fair solution of the Kashmir dispute. For eight decades, the Kashmiri people have waited for the United Nations to fulfill its solemn commitment of a free and impartial plebiscite under its auspices. Generations have endured illegal occupation, arbitrary detention, extra judicial killings, enforced disappearance, sexual violence, and collective punishment. More recently, there have been attempts to alter the legal status of German Kashmir through demographic re-engineering and other illegal measures.

(04:51:24)
Helpless Kashmiri mothers and fathers yearn for their sons and daughters who never return. Their homes lie silent under curfew and in deep grief. For many, there is no closure, only a lifetime spent searching for graves that bear no names. Mr. President, from this podium, I assure my Kashmiri brothers and sisters with fullest authority at my command that we shall continue to extend our full diplomatic, political, and moral support to them till they are granted their inalienable right to self-determination. Kashmir has and always will be Pakistan's jugular vein.

(04:52:21)
Excellencies, another foundation of stability in South Asia is now under strain. The shared waters of the Indus River system are the lifeblood, not only for the people of Pakistan, but for the entire region. India's unilateral decision to hold the existing Treaty in abeyance has no legal basis whatsoever. In fact, both its claimed and actions have been rejected by UN experts and more recently by the Court of Arbitration. Our legitimate stand that the Treaty remains valid, binding, and fully operative has been vindicated beyond any ray of doubt. Ladies and gentlemen, water must never be weaponized. Rivers should nourish nations, not divide them. Therefore, any attempt to stop, impede, or divert Pakistan's share of the waters will be treated as an act of war. India must make no mistake about it.

(04:53:53)
Ladies and gentlemen, for generations, Palestinians, particularly women, children, and the elderly, have been subjected to occupation, eviction, suffering, and death. Last year, Mr. President, I had shared with you the heart-wrenching story of Hind Rajab, an innocent Palestinian girl who was brutally shot by Israeli soldiers. This year, another tragedy weighs heavy on our hearts, your heart, and the world's heart. This time, it is the deafening cries of the sobbing mother of eight-year-old, Wafaa Akila, who embraced martyrdom in this senseless aggression. What should have been the first day of her school, alas, became the last day of her life. Does not a child born in Gaza deserve the same life and the same future and same dream as a child anywhere else in the world? The tragedies of Hind Rajab, Wafaa Akila, and countless others will echo through history as an indictment of our collective silence, failure, and inaction. Excellencies, it is deeply worrying that Israeli violence has now spread to the West Bank where the forcible eviction of Palestinians clearly reflects Israel's genocidal agenda, which continues unabated. Pakistan believes that the only just and lasting solution is the creation of an independent, sovereign, viable, and contiguous State of Palestine based on the pre-1967 borders with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital. Ladies and gentlemen, we also condemn continued Israeli aggression against Lebanon and Syria. This too must stop immediately. Ladies and gentlemen, terrorism remains one of the gravest threats to international peace and security. As a frontline state in combating the manners of terrorism, we have fought terrorists in our own cities, in our own mountains, and along our frontier. Pakistan sacrificed almost hundred thousand precious lives and suffered economic losses exceeding $150 billion. And let me say this in all humility. The world is safer today, thanks to the valuable sacrifices of our valiant armed forces and brave civilians who took on these terrorists and mercenaries. The peace-loving world must never forget this reality.

(04:57:28)
Afghan territory continues to be exploited by the TTP, Fitna-al-Khawarij and the BLA, Fitna-al-Hindustan. These foreign-funded groups operate from sanctuaries inside Afghanistan with the aim of destabilizing Pakistan. All such attacks, including incursions from the territory of Afghanistan, must come to a grinding halt. The Afghan authorities must fulfill their international commitment and take verifiable decisive action to ensure that Afghan soil is never again used against Pakistan or any other country. Fundamental rights of the Afghan people, especially women and girls, must be respected under all circumstances.

(04:58:25)
Mr. President, United Nations peacekeeping remains one of the strongest expressions of collective security. For decades, Pakistani men and women have served under the blue flag, protecting civilians, and helping countries emerge from conflict. We are proud of their valuable sacrifices.

(04:58:51)
Ladies and gentlemen, the alarming rise in Islamophobia is deeply worrying as Muslims face hate speech, discrimination, attacks on mosques, and desecration of the Holy Quran. Just across our border, RSS-driven Hind-dut-va ideology is fanning religious hatred, leading to lynching, communal violence, attacks on places of worship, and restrictions upon religious freedom. The demolition of the 150- year-old mosque in Saharanpur, India earlier this month is a case in point. Therefore, Mr. President, religious hatred must have no place in this world at all.

(04:59:47)
Mr. President, Pakistan's economic revival remains a defining responsibility of my government and a mission that is very close to my heart. Through difficult, long overdue structural reforms, and stringent fiscal discipline, we have restored macroeconomic stability and begun the journey towards sustainable and inclusive growth. We are modernizing agriculture and industry, developing mineral resources, digitizing our economy, and equipping our youth with modern AI and IT skills. We are opening new pathways with China through the China-Pakistan economic corridor, as well as with the Gulf, Central Asia, and beyond. Here, I pay tribute to the visionary leadership of President Xi Jinping for spearheading the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, the Global Civilization Initiative, and the Global Governance Initiative. On these pillars, we can surely build a shared future for mankind.

(05:01:07)
Mr. President, developing countries are in dire need of timely debt relief, affordable long-term financing, and a stronger voice in global financial institutions. Development must receive the same urgency as security. Ladies and gentlemen, is it not an irony of fate that Pakistan contributes less than 1% of global emissions, yet repeatedly bears the horrific consequences of climate change? Developed countries must therefore honor their climate-finance commitments without delay, fund loss and damage speedily, and ensure support for adaptation and resilience.

(05:01:58)
Excellencies, the theme of this session calls upon us to restore trust. But trust cannot be restored by simple words alone. It must be earned through action, through behavior. We will restore trust when rivers become lifelines of cooperation, not fault-lines of conflict. We will restore trust when those who fueled the climate crisis protect those who suffer most from its devastating consequences. And above all, trust will be restored when the guns are silenced and replaced by handshakes, embraces, and smiles.

(05:03:03)
Mr. President, the UN80 Initiative should make the United Nations stronger, more coherent, and more effective. The Security Council must become more representative, democratic, and accountable. Reform must reflect the interest and aspirations of the overwhelming majority of member states, not the ambitions of a select few. Our motto remains reform for all, privilege for none.

(05:03:44)
Ladies and gentlemen, we live at a dangerous moment, but our future is certainly not predetermined. Therefore, of course, war is a choice, but peace is also a far better choice. And sometimes the greater courage lies not in starting a war, but in preventing one. Pakistan has made its choice. We have chosen dialogue over confrontation. We have chosen cooperation over coercion. We have chosen peace over war. Mr. President, let this 81st Assembly make it a unanimous choice for ourselves, for our children, and for generation yet unborn. Let us therefore restore trust. Let us therefore preserve peace. And let us prove that even in a divided world, humanity can still choose to stand together. I thank you, Pakistan [inaudible 05:05:18].

Speaker 2 (05:05:40):

On behalf of the assembly, I wish to thank the Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. The assembly will now hear an address by His Excellency James Marape.

Speaker 2 (05:06:00):

... an address by His Excellency, James Marape, Prime Minister of the Independent State of Papua New Guinea. I request protocol to escort His Excellency and invite him to address the Assembly.

James Marape (05:06:27):

Mr. President, Secretary-General, Excellencies, distinguished Delegates, I bring to you greetings from Papua New Guinea, a nation of extraordinary diversity with more than 800 languages and cultures, but united under one flag. Mr. President, Papua New Guinea comes to this Assembly with profound respect for the Charter of the United Nations and for the principles and purposes upon which this great institution was founded. The United Nations reminds us that whether we are big or small nations, rich or poor nations, developed or developing, powerful or less powerful, we are all members of one international community. The challenges confronting humanity do not recognize the size of our economies, the strength of our militaries, or the boundaries on our map. No nation can address them alone. We must therefore continue to work together, respecting the sovereignty of all nations, upholding the international law and the United Nations Charter, resolving our differences peacefully and recognizing that every nation, regardless of its size or economic strength or military might, has a voice and a place in this Assembly.

(05:07:59)
For Papua New Guinea and all the nations of the Pacific, multilateralism matters. The United Nations plays, provides a place rather, where small nations can sit alongside the largest, where a voice can be heard and where we can work together on the common challenges facing humanity. And with this, I want to place on record, Papua New Guinea's fullest acknowledgement on all speakers from the Pacific who have spoken, all leaders who spoke, I fully on behalf of Papua New Guinea, affirm all their points, the points that was raised. I also wish to acknowledge the Secretary-General of United Nations, His Excellency, Antonio Guterres, as he approaches the completion of his tenure. On behalf of the government and people of Papua New Guinea, I want to thank the Secretary-General for his strong and consistent advocacy for humanity. At a time when our world has confronted war, displacement, poverty, inequality, climate change, and many other challenges, he has consistently called for peace, human dignity, international corporation and respect for the principles of United Nations.

(05:09:16)
He has demonstrated the qualities of a global statement. If there is anyone befitting of a Nobel Peace Award and label a global statement, His Excellency Guterres is perhaps the leading person at this time. He has used his office to speak for humanity, including those voices that are often too dim and seemingly unheard. Secretary-General Guterres, on behalf of my 11 million people, Papua New Guinea, thank you for your service to the United Nations and to humanity. We remember fondly your three nights you stayed with us in the mountains and islands of Papua New Guinea. Thank you for being a strong voice of not just Papua New Guinea, but small nations, especially my small Pacific Island nations. Your advocacy reminds us that beyond our national borders and political differences, cultures and beliefs, we belong to one human family and we serve one planet called the planet earth.

(05:10:21)
Mr. President, it is in the spirit of common humanity that I wish to speak about human rights, human freedoms, and particularly freedom of conscience, thought, belief and religion. At the heart of human rights is a simple truth. Every human being has inherent dignity and is entitled to fundamental freedoms. From a Christian perspective, these freedoms are not gifts bestowed upon humanity by governments or institutions or powerful nations. They are God-given rights inherent in every human life. And because this right belongs equally to every person, we have a responsibility to respect and protect the rights of others, including those who may not look like us or speak like us or worship like us or believe what we believe. The strength of a nation, a government or an economy or a technology or a religion should never be used to suppress the fundamental human rights of another human being. The might of military power must not suppress the weak. The might of economic power must not suppress the poor. The might of technology must not be used to diminish human dignity or freedom. And the might of a religious majority must never be used to suppress those who belong to religious minority. Human rights have the greatest meaning when they protect those with less power, minorities, the vulnerables, the vulnerable communities and individuals whose beliefs may differ from those of the majority. We must therefore learn to live together with mutual respect. We do not have to agree on everything. We do not have to share the same religion, same culture, same political system or worldview, but we must respect humanity and the fundamental freedoms of one another. Mr. President, this principle is especially important when we speak about religion. Papua New Guinea, for instance, is a Christian nation believing that Jesus Christ is our lord, savior and soon-coming king.

(05:12:37)
Christian principles profoundly have influenced our country, our communities and our institutions. But let me make one point clear. Our Christianity must and will never be an excuse to deny another human being the freedom of conscience. And we have embedded this, the fathers of my constitution, the fathers of my country's constituent in 1975. In fact, right from the foundation of our constituent, section 45 of our constitution guarantees every person freedom of conscience, thought and religion and that person can practice his or her beliefs and religion according to his own conscience or her own conscience. Our constitution also protects people against being compelled to participate in religious observance and against attempts to force religion or irreligion upon another person. Mr. President, faith that is forced is no longer faith. I believe freedom is a choice, a God-given right implanted in the conscience of every human beings. Our moral conscience comes from God.

(05:13:48)
God does not compel worship. He calls worship through love, allowing every person to exercise the freedom of choice he has given them. Through faith therefore cannot be imposed by force, fear, law or persecution. A person must be free to believe. A person must be free to worship. A person must be free to change his or her belief. Our person must be also free not to profess religion if he or her chooses so. The Universal Declaration of Human Right recognizes this principle in Article 18, the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. Mr. President, history teaches us what happens when government or institution or majority use religion to suppress those who believe differently. Human beings have been persecuted, expelled, imprisoned, killed because of their faith. Humanity must learn from this history. A Christian majority nation must protect people of other religion. A Muslim majority nation must protect people of other religion.

(05:14:55)
A Hindu majority nation must protect people of other religions. A Buddhist majority nation must protect people of other religions and every society must respect the rights of those who choose not to profess a religion. The size of our majority does not diminish the rights of a minority. The United States, for instance, this country where we stand on where the Assembly meets expressed a principle more than two centuries ago to its First Amendment, which prohibits loss, respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. Government should neither impose faith upon its people nor prevent people from practicing their faith. Papua New Guinea supports this principle. We are proudly Christian, but a strength of our Christianity should not be demonstrated by suppressing other person's beliefs. It should be demonstrated by having confidence in every human to allow their own exercise of free choice or free conscience.

(05:16:02)
Humanity can be diverse in culture, religion and thought just like Papua New Guinea is yet we must be united in respecting and tolerating differences we all have. Mr. President, Papua New Guinea knows something about diversity. We have more than 800 languages and many different cultures and tradition, yet for 51 years as an independent nation, we have remained together as one Papua New Guinea. We have disagreements and challenges. We do not claim perfection, but our own experience demonstrates something important. Diversity does not mean division. People can speak different languages and still belong to one nation. People can come from different cultures and live, but still live under one constitution and people can worship differently and still be neighbors, colleagues and fellow citizens. Mr. President, Papua New Guinea therefore calls upon all member states to defend freedom of conscience, thought, religion and belief. I respectfully extend this call to every nation that calls Papua New Guinea a friend.

(05:17:09)
Every nation which we have bilateral partnership and every nation that seeks friendship and engagement with us look within your borders. Ensure that religious minorities are not persecuted, suppressed, intimidated or discriminated because they practice a religion that is different from majority. Whether a country is predominantly Christian or Muslim or Hindu or Buddhist or follows other religious tradition, doesn't matter, the faith of the majority must never become an instrument for the persecution of minority. This message is not directed at one country or one religion or one region, it is a principle that must apply equally to all of us because human rights cannot be selective. We cannot demand respect for our own rights while denying those same rights to others. We cannot ask the world to respect our beliefs while refusing to respect the freedom of conscience of another human being. Mr. President, there is a wider principle here also.

(05:18:11)
This ultimately is also about human dignity. If we recognize the dignity of every human being, then we must consider the conditions in which people live and the earth which we will leave behind for our children. The United Nations General Assembly has recognized the human right to a clean, healthy, sustainable environment. We value, is freedom. What is ... I beg your pardon. What value is freedom if a child has no water to drink? What value is development if we destroy the environment that sustains life? And what inheritance are we leaving behind for our children if the forest disappears, our oceans become polluted and our climate becomes increasingly unstable? That is one reality that transcends every political, economic and religious differences between us. And that is we have one planet, one earth. There is no other known habitable planet presently within reach of humanity. You can be the most powerful capitalist or you can be the most powerful technocrat., you can reach out to the observable universe, billions and billions of light years into the observable universe, you'll find no planet like our planet earth. USA scientists, Russian scientists, big nations sets the world, big industrialist sets the world. You cannot bring your population to another planet. This earth is our common home. Whatever religion, nationality, political system, we breathe the same atmosphere. We share the same ocean. We depend upon the same global climate and ultimately we share a consequence of what humanity does to this planet. Mr. President, think about the children of the world. A child born today did not create climate change. The child did not choose the worst of this generation. That child did not create pollution or the environmental destructions. Yet the child will inherit the consequence of the decisions we make today. We must therefore be custodians not only of the present, but also of the future. Future generations cannot stand before this Assembly today and argue for themselves. We must consider them when we make decisions about war and peace, development, energy, forest, oceans, minerals and global economy.

(05:20:42)
Papua New Guinea understands this responsibility. We are custodians of great tropical forests, extraordinary biodiversity and vast ocean space. For us, environment is not an abstract for international discussion. It is where we live. It is where we grow our food. It is where we fish. It is the inheritance we will pass on to our children. Mr. President, in our interconnected world, decisions made in one country can affect people thousands of kilometers away. Greenhouse gas do not recognize national borders. Pollution carried by ocean does not stop at migration points. Wars can disrupt food, fuel, energy, trade, supply chains far from the battlefield. Economic decisions made in the world's largest economy can reach an ordinary family in a small developing country. Our mother buying food can feel the consequences. A farmer buying fuel can feel the consequences. A small business facing higher transport costs can feel the consequence, and the developing countries trying to build roads, schools and hospitals can feel the consequences.

(05:21:51)
This is why leadership in powerful nations carry responsibilities beyond your national borders. With greater power comes greater responsibility. Papua New Guinea respectfully asked leaders of the world's major powers to remember the ordinary people whose lives can be affected by decisions made far away from them.

Speaker 4 (05:22:12):

Well said.

James Marape (05:22:13):

When wars disrupt food, fuel and trade, families far from the battlefield can experience higher prices and economic uncertainty. When climate changes, communities that have contributed little to global greenhouse gas emissions can nevertheless face rising seas, extreme weather, threats of food security and damage to livelihoods. Mr. President, my appeal to leaders everywhere is really simple, put human welfare ahead of war. Put humanity out of narrow geopolitical interest.

Speaker 4 (05:22:49):

Yeah, yeah.

James Marape (05:22:49):

Choose dialogue and peaceful settlement wherever possible. Remember ordinary families when making major economic decisions, balance commercial interest with the welfare of people, use technology to advance human dignity and not diminish it. Protect our planet while pursuing development and place the interest of our children and future generations at the heart of decision we make today. Leadership is not measured only by the power of a nation. I beg your pardon. Again, leadership is not defined only by the power you possess as a leader of a powerful nation. Leadership is also measured by the responsibility that comes with how you exercise that power. Papua New Guinea does not claim to have all the answers. We still are a developing nation. Just a few years ago we became a middle-income nation. We have our own challenges, but perhaps our position as a Pacific nation allows us to remind the larger powers of a simple reality. No nation is so powerful that it can live apart from the earth. No nation is so small that its people should be forgotten when decisions affecting humanity are made.

Speaker 4 (05:24:03):

Yeah, yeah.

James Marape (05:24:03):

Military strength of a nation does not make the rights of another nation less important.

Speaker 4 (05:24:08):

Yeah, yeah.

James Marape (05:24:08):

The size of an economy does not make the dignity of a poorer person less important. Technological advancement does not diminish our obligation to protect human freedom. The size of a religious majority does not reduce the rights of a minority. Power in all forms must be exercised with responsibility and care. Mr. President, in PNG we are many tribes, we are many languages, we are many churches, we are many cultures, but we are one nation. Perhaps this lesson can be taught to everyone. Papua New Guinea puts this to the Assembly. You do not have to believe what I believe in for you to defend human rights of another person. Let governments govern for people. Let churches preach and preach love to each other. Let mosque pray faithfully. Let temples welcome the worshipers.

(05:24:59)
Let people set their own conscience. Let economies serve humanity. Let technology serve humanity. Let powerful nations exercise their power responsibly. Let nations resolve the differences peacefully wherever possible. And I pause here, especially all Christian nations, all Christian nations, our Lord and Savior Jesus talks about peace and not war. Those who are promoting peace are sons of God. You don't promote peace, you're not sons of God. And may this be known to every Christian nations. Let no state compel the human soul. Mr. President, we may have different religions, we may have different political systems, we may have different cultures and national interests, we may be big nations or small nations, we may be rich or poor, we may process different levels of military, economic and technological power, but beneath those differences, we say something greater. We say our humanity. We say one earth, this is our home. We must protect it. We must protect each other. We must leave our children a better world than the one we are presently living in. Papua New Guinea will remain proudly Christian, but we will also remain committed to the freedom of conscience, thought and religion for ultimately faith cannot be governed or commanded by government. Faith must come from the heart. God has given humanity the capacity to choose that freedom and that freedom must be respected. God has entrusted this earth through our generation for only a short time. Let us use it wisely and pass it to the next generation. Let us pursue peace. Let us uphold the Charter of United Nations. Let us respect the rights and dignity of every human being. Let us work together, big or small nations. Let us ensure that power, whether military, economic, technology or religious is never used to suppress the rights of others.

(05:26:52)
Let us protect our common home. Let us remember always the generation who will follow us, Mr. President. And on this note, I want to close by thanking United Nations and those who have studied Papua New Guinea the last 51 years of our nationhood. We have faced many challenges as a country growing, but we are growing economy. We are working to make sure enabling infrastructures reaches all people. We're making to make sure quality education and health services covers all people. We are moving towards a cleaner, green energy. We're conserving our forests and our oceans. We are strengthening our independent jurists to make our judiciary stronger, robust and independent. We're protecting our free market economy. We're opening doors for more foreign investments to grow, but all this comes at a backdrop of giving respect to every person in our country of so much diversity, the human right is respected. And I want to ask every one of us, let's respect human rights of every citizens of this planet. That is the least we can do.

(05:27:57)
I want to assure this Assembly that my government is working to the best of our ability to protect the rights of 11 million people of my country, giving them a better, an equal opportunity to progress their own life, a life that God has planned for the God-given homeland that I call and the 11 million of us call Papua New Guinea. I want to pray in conclusion. I want to thank every one of you who have supported Papua New Guinea in closing for those families right across the world who are facing issues in relation to climate change and natural calamities or to those who are facing issues and pain in relation to manmade crisis. May God give you all consolation, peace and comfort. And I pray for same blessing to not just my country, but every citizen of this planet as we work to protect our planet. Our planet must be protected. Until Jesus come, we must work to protect our planet. God bless everyone. Thank you for listening.

Speaker 2 (05:29:22):

On behalf of the Assembly, I wish to thank the Prime Minister of the Independent State of Papua New Guinea. The Assembly will hear an address by His Excellency, Lamine Zeine Ali Mahaman, Prime Minister of the Republic of Niger. I request protocol to escort His Excellency and invite him to address the Assembly.

Lamine Zeine Ali Mahaman (05:30:33):

[Arabic 05:30:18]. Mr. President of the General Assembly, Mr. Secretary-General, ladies and gentlemen, heads of state and government, ladies and gentlemen, heads of delegation, ladies and gentlemen, I am taking the floor before this august Assembly on behalf of my country, on behalf of His Excellency, the General of the Army, Abdourahamane Tiani, President of the

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