United Nations: 75th Session
The United Nations 75th Session saw more heads of state convene together than at any point in history. This pandemic has been cruel in many ways, and yet has also forced us to reimagine what leadership can look like.
Some leaders really took this to heart. Others chose to buy in to divisiveness and self serving policy. While I didn’t get to watch every address, here are the ones I took notes from.
*photo above does not belong to me
Secretary General Antonio Guterres
“It is time to recognize a simple truth: Solidarity is self-interest. If we fail to grasp that fact, everyone loses.” The secretary recognized that the global community has made major developments in international law, and have shown unanimous support for the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Climate Agreement.
“But there is still much to be done”. Geopolitical tensions and new advancements in technology has exposed new threats to the dangers our communities are facing. COVID-19 has laid bare the worlds fragility. We still have not reached gender equity, we are facing a climate calamity, biodiversity is collapsing, poverty is rising, and hatred is spreading.
Long story short- it is time to get to work. Watch his full address below.
2. The United States: President Donald J. Trump
Before President Trump gave his address, our Ambassador to the UN Kelly Craft introduced the ‘historic’ peace work Trump’s administration has brought globally. She first mentioned the Abraham Accords where Trump presided over the Prime Ministers of Israel, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates signing a general deceleration of principles. According to the New York Times, the deal includes: “how the three countries will open embassies and establish other new diplomatic and economic ties, including tourism, technology and energy. Israel and the Emirates are beginning commercial air travel between their countries for the first time, and Bahrain has opened its airspace for those flights. They make scant reference to the fate of the Palestinians, but include a call for “a just, comprehensive and enduring resolution of the Israeli- Palestinian conflict.”
There seemed to be mixed reviews about the actual severity of the deal. According to the same article: “It’s not conflict resolution and it’s not peace — this is a business deal,” said Jeremy Ben-Ami, the president of J Street, a liberal pro-Israel advocacy group sharply critical of Mr. Netanyahu. “It’s very, very clear that there are aligned interests between Israel and these countries — military, security, diplomatic, economic — and those interests have been there for two decades.This formalizes that, but it shouldn’t be overplayed as resolving a core conflict for Israel with its neighbors,” he added. Israel’s decades-old conflict with the Palestinians, he said, “remains unaddressed with this agreement.”
Kraft also mentioned his Serbia-Kosovo Deal (which has also been heavily scrutinized) and his efforts with North Korea citing him being the first American president to meet North Korea’s dictator.
By the time Trump gave his virtual address, it seemed to be about everything but peace or inclusion:
He first claimed that the U.S had 3 vaccines in final trial. He mentioned the lack of accountability on China in how they handled the virus and did not put in place a travel ban.
He also made clear that China’s carbon emission rates “are nearly twice what the US has, and it’s rising fast.” He added, “by contrast, after I withdrew from the one-sided Paris Climate Accord, last year America reduced its carbon emissions by more than any country in the agreement. Those who attack America's exceptional environmental record while ignoring China's rampant pollution are not interested in the environment. They only want to punish America and I will not stand for it.”
He also pointed out that China has a history of over-fishing and throwing trash in the ocean.
He attacked the World Health Organization
Despite what his record might show, he felt comfortable stating that America has always been a leader in human rights and that his administration is advancing “religious liberty, opportunity for women, the decriminalization of homosexuality, combating human trafficking, and protecting unborn children.”
Of course, it wouldn’t be a Trump speech without him bragging about the strength and the price tag of our military ($2.5 trillion within his administration to be exact).
His ending statement: “only when you take care of your own citizens will you find a true basis of cooperation We have rejected failed approaches of America’s past. We are proudly putting America first just as you should be putting your country first.”
You can watch his full address below.
3. Republic of Turkey: President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
“The world is bigger than the Five”. President Erdoğan made it clear that the fate of humanity can not be left at the mercy of a limited number of countries.” He noted that in order to prevent the loss of the reputation of international organizations, the international community must first review its mentality, institutions and rules. On Security Council reform, he said, “we must provide the Council with a more effective, democratic, transparent and accountable structure and functioning.”
He called for a strengthening of the general assembly so that it reflects the common consciousness of the international community, and that international solidarity is essential for long term solutions. “A sure friend is known in unsure times”. President Erdoğan called for aid and vaccines to be made readily available to all.
You can watch his full address below:
4. Federative Republic of Brazil: President Jair Messias Bolsonaro
President Bolsonaro reminded us that “the world needs truth to over come it’s challenges”. Because of this he went in on the media, claiming that it has spread panic and politicized COVID-19 creating social chaos.
He also stated that Brazil is open for the development for state of the art technology and innovation efforts of AI and 5G technology “with all partners who respect our sovereignty, cherish freedom, and data protection.”
“The pandemic teaches us a major lesson, which is that we cannot possibly depend on just a few nations for the production of essential inputs and means for our survival.”
President Bolsonaro, talked a lot about the clean and diversified energy mix Brazil has. He claimed that only 3% of the world’s carbon emissions come from Brazil, the country brings food security to 1/6 of the global population, and 27% of Brazil’s land is used for agriculture and husbandry while the majority has been retained of its native vegetation.
He also claimed that there has been a lot of misinformation being spread regarding environmentalism. He claimed that many of the fires we’ve seen, were from indigenous practices and criminals starting the outbreak.
President Bolsonaro took time to talk about his support for Venezuelan refugees under Operation Welcome. You can learn about it here and here.
His full address below:
5. The People’s Republic of China: President Xi Jinping
Of course, the president of China opened by rejecting the “baseless accusations” from the United States. He opened by claiming his support for multilateralism, and gave a little hope: “the virus will be defeated, humanity will win this battle.”
In terms of coming together during the pandemic: “we should enhance solidarity and get this through together. We should follow the guidance of science, give full play to the leading role of the World Health Organization, and launch a joint international response to beat this pandemic. Any attempt of politicizing the issue or stigmatization must be rejected.” He also stated that China has a few vaccines in phase 3 of clinical trials and stated that once it is completed and available for use, that it would be made a global public good and will be provided to developing countries on a priority basis.
The President shared China’s conservation/preservation efforts and claimed that they will scale up their contributions to meet the Paris Climate Accord by 2030 and to reach carbon neutrality by 2060.
You can listen to his full address here:
6. The Republic of South Africa: President Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa
President Ramaphosa made it clear that there should be a suspension of interest payments on Africa’s external public debts citing the extreme financial damage COVID-19 has caused around the world.
He also affirmed the dignity of all lives throughout this time, and unapologetically stated that Black Lives Matter.
You can read his full address here:
7. Republic of Chile: President Sebastián Piñera Echeñique
The president of Chile discussed the country’s health protection plan which has been the topic of major conversations as to why the country has such a high number of cases (social inequity), which you can read about here and here.
He also spoke on solidarity (a common theme among most leaders): “Only collaboration and multilateral solutions strengthen international cooperation.”
A final note from President Echeñique: “there can be no social justice absent growth and development just as there can be no growth without social justice.”
Watch his full address below:
8. Republic of Cuba: President Miguel Díaz Canel Bermúdez
The president opened strongly. Declaring that the US Government is “not hiding its intention” to enforce new and harsher aggressive measures against Cuba in the next few months, and that the Cuban peoples, who take pride in their history and are committed to the ideals and achievements of the Revolution, “shall resist and overcome.”
He mentioned that like finding a solution to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is already urgent to democratize the United Nations so that it effectively meets the needs and aspirations of all peoples. The sought-after right of humanity to live in peace and security, with justice and freedom, the basis for unity among nations, is constantly under threat.
“Over 1.9 trillion dollars are being squandered today in a senseless arms race promoted by the aggressive and war-mongering policies of imperialism, whose leader is the present government of the US, which accounts for 38 percent of the global military expenditure. We are referring to a markedly aggressive and morally corrupt regime that despises and attacks multilateralism, uses financial blackmailing in its relations with UN system agencies and that, in a show of unprecedented overbearance, has withdrawn from the World Health Organization, UNESCO and the Human Rights Council.”
Colonial domination was a term he used to describe Trump’s actions.
He also stressed that it is urgent to reform the UN. He said, “today´s world needs the UN just as the one where it came into being did. Something that is very special and profound has failed, as evidenced by the daily and permanent violation of the UN Charter principles, and by the ever-increasing use or threat of use of force in international relations.”
He continued, “there is no way to sustain any longer, as if it were natural and unshakable, an unequal, unjust and anti-democratic International order where selfishness prevails over solidarity and the mean interests of a powerful minority over the legitimate aspirations of millions of people.”
In solidarity with other nations and the humanistic vocation of its people, Cuba will be sending over 3,700 cooperation workers, distributed in 46 medical brigades, to 39 countries and territories hit by COVID-19, he said.
He also made clear that Cuba rejects the interference into the internal affairs of China and Belarus.
Watch his full address below:
9. Russian Federation: President Vladimir Putin
While many countries called for the reformation of the Security Council, President Putin was clear that it should “continue to serve as the cornerstone of global governance, which cannot be achieved unless the permanent members of the Security Council retain their veto power.”
His reasoning: “such a right pertaining to the five nuclear powers, to the victors of the Second World War, remains indicative of the actual military and political balance to this day.”
In terms of COVID-19, he discussed the economic consequences of the pandemic and where Russia was in getting a vaccine prepared.
Listen to his full address below:
10. Republic of Korea: President Moon Jae-in
The president of South Korea started his address by giving his sympathies to those who have lost loved ones during this time and expressed his gratitude to front line workers and medical professionals who have been working tirelessly during the pandemic.
He was also in favor of multilateral action and inclusiveness, and stated that we should be striving to achieve shared prosperity. Domestically we should reduce inequality to ensure sustainable development while internationally being considerate of our neighbors. He also shared his commitment to the Korean Green New Deal and the Digital New Deal.
His full address is below:
11. Republic of the Philippines: President Rodrigo Roa Duterte
“If we cannot be friendly to each other just yet, let us not hate each other too much.” President Duterte among many things mentioned climate change and nuclear weapons.
You can watch his full address below:
12. The Islamic Republic of Iran: President Hassan Rouhani.
President Rouhani reminded us that despite our progress as human beings, our ignorance outweighs our knowledge- we need humility.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said, “The footage broadcast to the world concerning the treatment of an African American by the US police is reminiscent of our own experience. We instantly recognize the feet kneeling on the neck as the feet of arrogance on the neck of independent nations.”
He claimed that while the entire world was experiencing hard times during COVID-19, Iran was experiencing the harshest sanctions in blatant violation of the UN Charter, international agreements and Security Council Resolution 2231.
Rouhani said Iran stood against foreign occupations in the region, fought Al Qaeda and Da’esh extremists, offered a non-aggression act with its gulf neighbors, achieved the JCPOA as one of the biggest accomplishments of the history of diplomacy and remained faithful to it despite persistent violations by the United States.
The Iranian President said, “Such a nation does not deserve sanctions. The response to peace is not war. The reward for combatting extremism is not assassination. The reaction to the choice of people through the ballot box in Iran, Iraq and Lebanon is not outside agitation and support for non-democratic processes and street riots.”
Rouhani stressed that the United States “can impose neither negotiations, nor war on” Iran. He added, “Life is hard under sanctions. However, harder, is life without independence.”
The Iranian President said political freedom at home is important to his country. He added that, the oldest democracy in the Middle East, Iran is proud of its people determining their destiny and will not trade domestic freedom with foreign interference. Rouhani underscored that Iran is not a bargaining chip in US elections and domestic policy, adding that any US administration after the upcoming elections will have no choice but to surrender to the resilience of the Iranian nation.
You can watch his full address below:
13. The French Republic: President Emmanuel Macron
In President Macron’s near hour address, he spoke on the inequality that still persist for women, the fraction in our means of collective action, and the epidemic of misinformation.
If you have the time, you can listen below:
14. The United Mexican States: President Andrés Manuel López Obrador
“You cannot have a rich government when the people are poor.” President Obrador spent a lot of his address speaking on equality and the climate crisis, like mentioning that his officailas and civil servants don’t use private airfare.
Hear him speak here:
15. Republic of Rwanda: President Paul Kagame
President Kagame addressed the empowerment of women, citing that it is has made us safer and wealthier as a global community, and that true empowerment has not been met by any country thus far. He also warned us that although 10 years remain before 2030, we should not be deceived about how much work is on the line to reach the targets for the Sustainable Development Goals.
Listen to his address below:
16. Democratic Republic of Congo: President Félix Antoine Tshilombo Tshisekedi
The president of the DRC adamantly expressed his concern for climate change and global warming, and talked about the ways in which the DRC is preserving it’s forests/school gardens. They have a plan to plant a substantial amount of trees by 2023 and to stabilize it’s forest cover. He marked this as a major community project for ecological preservation that will also provide socioeconomic benefits for both rural and urban populations.
He also solidified his expectations in international partners to comply with financial commitments when it comes to the Green Climate Fund.
His full address below:
17. Republic of Ghana: President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo
“It would have been impossible to suggest, but we have learned not to shake hands or not to hug our loved ones.”
The president of Ghana reminded us that we can have arguments about the UN and it’s varying agencies, but “they should be like the arguments we have with our families and not with their very existence.”
He also criticized the Security Council saying that it does not reflect the 21st century and that Africa must be represented in building a “modern UN fit for purpose in our time”.
He also mentioned the political situation in Mali, saying that “most often through bitter experience, we have learned that terrorism and violent extremism are not restricted to particular geographical locations or jurisdiction. The impact of a single terrorist incident in one part of the world resonates throughout the world.”
The president took time to address that technology is the future and he welcomes and endorses the Secretary General’s recommendation on the Roadmap for Digital Cooperation.
He also took time to talk about the historic 1619 time mark for West Africa and Ghana’s commitment to welcoming those from African Diaspora back to the homeland.
You can listen to his full address below:
18. Republic of Iraq: President Barham Salih
President Salih addressed how COVID-19 has further weakened the country’s health infrastructure making it harder to fight the pandemic.
He also spent some time discussing terrorism and corruption. He said “we cannot eradicate terrorism if we do not dry up its financing. We need to eradicate corruption which is the very basis of corrupt policies and terrorism. Corruption destroys our economies and hinder the will of our people to achieve progress and prosperity.”
He called for the international community to “stand shoulder to shoulder with Iraq” in persecuting “the crimes of genocide and of massacres of the Yazidis people in Iraq.”
You can listen to full address below:
19. Ukraine: President Volodymyr Zelensky
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said, the United Nations “should play an important role in restoring sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, along with respect of the international law.” He noted that over the last year, Ukraine strived for peace. And the next steps should become the withdrawal of unlawful military formations and armaments from the occupied territories, return of control over the state border, and, finally, restoring territorial integrity of Ukraine within the internationally recognized borders.
He said, “it is unacceptable when sovereignty of the independent state is violated by one of the permanent members of the UN Security Council.”
The Ukrainian President continued, “it ultimately proves - mechanisms of the 1945 do not work today to the full extent. All this can bring about further depreciation of the Security Council. Ukraine will actively participate in its reform.”
He continued, “this body should become more representative, balanced, transparent and efficient. It is in the United Nations’ vested interest to have an effective instrument if somebody is violating and abusing the veto right and the status of the permanent member.”
You can watch it all below:
20. The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela: President Nicolás Maduro Moros
In his address President Maduro stated that traditionally, Venezuela has been a host country for many refugees and migrants, but that migrants from Venezuela have not been met with the same compassion. He said that that migration has occurred due to a direct consequence of criminal unilateral cohesive measures and the economic regression imposed by the United States. He stated the country has been experiencing voluntary returns because of COVID-19 and violations of human rights against Venezuelans.
He claimed that migrants have faced discrimination, mistreatment, trafficking, and indignities. He asked: “who is concerned for Venezuelans facing such reprehensible acts? Silence is complicity. Peace deserves every effort.”
He also talked about the upcoming elections. The 25th democratic election in 20 years on December 6th of this year.
Listen in full below:
21. Republic of Yemen: President Abdrabuh Mansour Hadi Mansour
In his address, the Yemeni President called on the international community to support his government’s efforts in “addressing the economic challenges to support policies for a strong national currency, to ensure household can see some stability.”
He said, “the international community should reject all the attempts by the Houthis to manipulate humanitarian aid and blackmail the Government to use funds reserved for paying salaries and the insist of undermining the UN’s effort in this connection.”
President Hadi also expressed, “we are grateful for all the efforts and support that has been provided by our siblings and friends, as well as donor organizations and states, which were also unable to escape the blackmail and constraints while trying to mitigate the human suffering of the Yemeni people.”
He said, “the suffering is taking different forms as the war continues and the economic challenges multiply, as well as the hurdles faced by the Government and state institutions in trying to carry out their duties in providing services to citizens, resuming services, and normalizing the situation in the liberated areas."
22. Canada: Justin Trudeau
Out of all the statements I sat through, this was the most inspiring to me. Trudeau reminded us of some important truths.
“The world is in crisis- because of the last few decades and because of us. History has shown us time and time again that the price for failing to act is much to high.”
He spoke boldly: “We do not do enough for the most vulnerable.”
In terms of our climate reckoning: “We share a collective inability over the past decades to make the tough decisions and sacrifices needed to fight climate change for future generations, and our citizens are paying the price. We need a new way of thinking- on climate, on inequity, on health. Because the way we are doing things just isn’t working well enough.”
He continues: “We are in deadlock. The international approach we’ve relied on since the second half of the 20th century was built on an understanding that countries would work together. But now those same countries are looking inward and are divided. We need to recognize where we are. The system is broken. The world is in crisis. Things are about to get much worse. Unless we change. Right now we have a chance to shift course. The only way through this is together. Putting some people ahead of others does not work.”
Listen to his full address here:
23. Denmark: Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen
“The inequality of today, leads to the conflict of tomorrow.” PM Frederiksen made it clear that we need to invest more in conflict prevention and to support global ceasefire in the midst of COVID-19.
She also mentioned that we need to reduce the danger of the journey migrants/asylum seekers take when arriving to countries for safety an to offer resources to the country of orgin and envision other alternatives to manage the migration numbers we are seeing around the world.
She also called for full gender inequality for the life, body, and futures of all women and girls.
You can listen to her full address below:
24. The Republic of Italy: President Giuseppe Conte
President Conte addressed the assembly by reminding us something fundamental: “Health is a common inalienable good and as such must be guaranteed for woman and every man on the planet. Health care risks becoming a luxury in too many parts of the world.”
He reminded us that we can “imagine together a new humanism that puts people first and center”.
He also talked about Italy’s 3 P’s: People, Planet, and Prosperity and how particular attention will be given to the empowerment of women, small and medium enterprises, and to front-line workers. He also expressed that access to digital technology, (which for too long has been a source of inequity) should become a driver for growth offering opportunities to all.
He mentioned the European Green Deal, and the importance of safeguarding biodiversity, protecting the oceans, and reversing soil erosion which represent essential variables in combating climate change. He also stated that he he would make a considerable effort in including youth voices in discussions on the climate crisis.
Listen to the full address here.
I didn’t get to take notes on these, but I would also listen to India, United Kingdom, and Belarus.