Foreign Minister at opening of 79th session of United Nations General Assembly
Oman's Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Albusaidi participated in the opening of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly, in New York. The event was attended by heads of state, heads of government, heads of delegations and representatives from governmental and non-governmental organisations.
UN Secretary General António Guterres delivered a wide ranging opening speech in which he outlined the key challenges and issues on the current agenda of the organisation.
The Palestinian cause topped these concerns, with Guterres highlighting the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza, describing it as a “continuing nightmare.” He called for an immediate ceasefire, the unconditional release of hostages and the adoption of a two-state solution as the path to sustainable peace.
Mr Guterres warned that the escalation in Lebanon could lead to a situation similar to Gaza, urging the international community to intensify efforts to prevent the crisis from worsening.
The Secretary General also addressed the crisis in Sudan, expressing concern over the escalating violence and calling for peaceful solutions free from external interference.
Mr Guterres praised the ongoing role of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in providing support to the Palestinian people, emphasising the need for increased international support for the agency.
On other global challenges, the Secretary General addressed the issue of climate change, warning that we are witnessing a “climate breakdown” with the rise in natural disasters such as wildfires and floods. He called for strengthened efforts to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement.
The Secretary-General also highlighted the issue of artificial intelligence, stressing the need to manage the development of this technology to ensure it is not used to deepen global divisions.
Mr Guterres concluded his speech by underlining the importance of promoting human rights and ensuring that international law is applied to all without exception. He said that the future requires greater international cooperation to face challenges and guarantee justice and peace for all.
This is an unofficial English version of an Arabic report. To view the official Arabic text, click here.