Leaders from around the world in New York United Nations have gathered for the annual session of the General Assembly and to reflect the situation there, suffice it to say that the atmosphere is quite ‘depressing’.
The leaders discussed the wars in Ukraine, Gaza and Sudan, environmental issues, lack of participation in UN decisions and food shortages in poor countries.
King Abdullah II of Jordan said: ‘I don’t remember a more dangerous time ever.’
A few speakers, including US President Joe Biden also included, tried to convey a message of hope for the future.
He said: ‘We are stronger than we think. We are stronger together than alone and what people say is impossible is just an illusion.’
The United States was criticized in veiled terms for its unilateral action in response to the Gaza war.
What happened at the United Nations?
Gaza aggression
Many delegates’ speeches focused on the Israeli aggression in Gaza.
King Abdullah of Jordan said Israel’s attacks were undermining an important part of the international human rights protection system.
He gave examples of the bombing of UN refugee camps and schools, the failure to help UN workers and the suppression of humanitarian workers in the conflict.
The Palestinians On the idea of finding new homes in Jordan, he said forced displacement is a war crime and “will never happen.”
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called the United Nations a “dysfunctional, irregular and slow structure,” saying that “international peace and security are so important that they cannot be left to the autonomy of the five permanent members of the Security Council.” .’
They demanded that the Security Council impose sanctions on Israel and that the General Assembly recommend the use of force for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, a prisoner exchange and the unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid.
Brazilian President Luiz Inicio Lula da Silva said the right to self-defense has been replaced by the right to revenge, which is preventing a deal to release prisoners and delaying a ceasefire.
President Joe Biden reiterated his calls for a ceasefire and the return of prisoners, saying that ‘all-out war is in nobody’s interest.’
Iran
In his first speech to the United Nations General Assembly, Iranian President Masoud al-Maghdijian took a somewhat more balanced tone than his predecessors.
He said: ‘I intend to lay a strong foundation for our country to enter a new era, Iran to enable it to play an effective and constructive role in the developing world system.’
Masoud Al-Mabikian, a heart surgeon, was elected as the reformist leader and took office in July.
Side Activities
Israel’s representative said his country did not want to send troops to Lebanon, but the military deployment would take “necessary measures” to stop Hezbollah’s rocket fire. Because of this rocket firing, thousands of Israelis have left the north of their country.
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Ambassador Danny Dannon said: ‘We prefer a diplomatic solution, but if that doesn’t solve the problem we are using other ways to show the other side that we are serious.’
White House deputy national security adviser John Feiner said Biden administration officials are in talks with their allies to find a solution to the escalating tensions between Israel and Hezbollah.
“We’re working on it in New York and in other capitals around the world,” John Finer said at an event hosted by the news site Axios.
He declined to answer a question about whether the fighting has already escalated into full-scale war, which the United States wants Israel to avoid fighting with Lebanon, especially after it has been in Gaza for nearly a year. Engaged in ongoing conflict.
He stressed that a ‘big war’ or ‘wide war’ is neither in Israel’s interest nor in Lebanon’s interest.
Environmental moment
While introducing her for Joe Biden’s environmental speech in New York, actress and activist Jane Fonda changed some words, some by mistake and some on purpose, to bring attention to climate change.
When talking about Biden’s ‘Inflation Reduction Act’, Fonda mistakenly called it the ‘Inflamed Reduction Act’ and then corrected to say that ‘inflamed’ is also correct given global temperatures.
Then when he talked about fossil fuels causing climate change, Fonda bluntly said, ‘Forget natural gas, there’s nothing natural about it and it’s extremely dangerous to people and the environment. .’
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas enters the headquarters of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on September 24, 2024 to attend a session of the United Nations General Assembly (AFP)
Sounds you might not have heard
Many African leaders are complaining again this year about the lack of permanent representation in the UN Security Council.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said that ‘Africa and its 1.4 billion people are excluded from its main decision-making structures. The UN Security Council urgently needs reform. It should involve more countries so that the voices of all countries can be heard and understood.’
El Salvador’s president, Nayeb Buckley, touted improvements in his country’s security, moving the small Central American country from one of the world’s most dangerous to one of the safest.
Buckley was unusually re-elected to a second term in February based on his strong security record.
They succeeded in eliminating the gangs that were considered powerful in the country.
Media-savvy youth leaders have imprisoned more than 81,000 people under a state of emergency that has lasted more than 2.5 years and has suspended some basic rights.
“Some people say we’ve imprisoned thousands, but the truth is we’ve freed millions,” Buckley said. Now good people are free, without fear and their rights and human rights are fully respected.
‘Security is not just about having strong armies and weapons of mass destruction. True security can only be achieved through trust, equality and the prosperity of all people.’
You may not know
Brazil was the first of the 193 UN countries to speak at the General Assembly’s major annual debate on Tuesday, as it has done since the UN’s earliest days.
This is happening because Brazil offered to speak first when no other country was doing so. A tradition began. The United States usually speaks second because the United Nations headquarters is located in New York.
Other countries’ speaking times are determined based on a variety of factors, including the speaker’s position (such as head of state or cabinet member), countries’ own preferences and geographic balance.
A remarkable number
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres used the word ‘audacity’ five times in his opening address on Tuesday.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni addresses the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on September 24, 2024 (AFP)
Quotations
The US president said: ‘My dear leaders, we must never forget that few things are more important than being in power. Your people matter most. Never forget, we are here to serve the people, not the other way around.’
Joe Biden reiterated his decision not to run for re-election, which drew a standing ovation from the crowd.
He took this opportunity to remind all leaders, especially those who are independent, that they should focus on democracy rather than personal power.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, speaking of countries that he says unthinkingly support Israel, said: ‘It’s not just children dying in Gaza, the UN system is dying too, the truth. are dying, the values that the West claims to protect are dying, one by one the hopes that humanity wants to live in a more just world are dying.’
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will address the General Assembly on Wednesday while the Security Council will also hold a meeting on the situation in Lebanon.
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2024-09-26 01:56:03
