Ladies and Gentlemen,
Let’s candidly acknowledge the year we’ve had. We were witnesses to a time of unease and discord, both in our respective homelands and in our shared homes: the global community and Mother Earth. But the reason we are all gathered here is not just to acknowledge the turbulence but to rectify it. So, instead of dwelling on tales of strife, I wish to present a narrative of hope and shared responsibility, paving a path towards the kind of world we all want to see, and leave as a legacy.
We are not mere nations divided by boundaries; we are one humanity shaped by the same history, sharing the same planet, battling the same enemies. Engulfed in the deadliest pandemic in over a century, fighting multiple humanitarian crises and living at the precipice of an environmental catastrophe, we have never experienced a more profound realization of this collective identity. This collective vulnerability brings collective responsibility.
The pandemic – cruel as it might be – is an opportunity to rethink, reform and revive. It has revealed inequities within and across our societies, cracks that were ignored for far too long are now wide open to mend. Let us rise above the geopolitical conflicts and cooperate on a scale unseen in human history. In confronting COVID-19, no one is safe until everyone is safe. A fair and equal distribution of vaccines and sharing the burden of economic recovery is not merely ethical; it is realistic.
On an environmental note, our planet is not just an inheritance from our ancestors but a loan from our children. Climate change is not a projection anymore; it’s a reality manifest in wildfires, cyclones, droughts with dire consequences for many. It demands swift and commensurate action with the Paris Agreement as the state of the art framework; This is a key to pacify and possibly reverse the ongoing harm. For this, can we not agree on unanimous support for clean energy, reducing our carbon footprint and making our economies green?
Simultaneously, let’s not forget the humanitarian crises brewing in every corner of our world- be it war-stricken Yemen or political turmoil in Myanmar, the demographic nightmare in our Southern border or the refugees across Europe. Let us stand united to relieve the oppressed, guard human rights and pave a path for justice, equality, and freedom.
In the realm of digital frontier, we must ensure that the marvels of technology benefit each and remain within the bounds of democracy, transparency, and respect for privacy. Together, we can shape a digital environment that reflects our shared standards and values.
Along with the UN’s indispensable role, let’s bear in mind the multiplier effect of regional cooperation. Collaborative efforts like the African Union, ASEAN, or even NATO not only set precedents for continental peace and development but provide meaningful building blocks for a harmonized world order.
Ladies and Gentlemen, the issues are vast and time, undeniably short. However, if there’s one quintessential quality that defines us as a species, it is the power of choice. Let us choose to cooperate, to share and stand together. Let our time be remembered as a checkpoint, a juncture where amid circumstances pushed to the brink, we rose as nations united, rectifying what went wrong and revitalizing what is right. History and future generations shall remember us for our choices today.
Thank you.
