Speaking at the opening of the annual high-level meeting of the General Assembly, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was careful to emphasize that hope remains. But his comments reflected a tense and anxious world. He cited the war in Ukraine and proliferating conflicts around the world, the climate emergency, the plight of developing countries and setbacks to the UN’s 2030 goals, including ending extreme poverty and quality education for all. children. He also warned of what he called “a forest of red flags” around new technologies, despite promising advances in treating disease and connecting people. Guterres said social media platforms are based on a model “that monetizes outrage, anger and negativity.” Artificial intelligence, he said, “compromises the integrity of information systems, the media, and indeed democracy itself.” The world lacks even the beginning of a “global architecture” to deal with the ripples caused by these new technologies due to “geopolitical tensions,” Guterres said.
1st full New York meeting since 2019
His opening remarks came as leaders from around the globe reconvened at UN headquarters in New York after three years of pandemic hiatus, including a completely virtual meeting in 2020 and a hybrid meeting last year. This week, the halls of the United Nations are once again filled with representatives who reflect the cultures of the world. Many faces were visible, although all representatives must wear masks except when speaking to ward off the coronavirus. Guterres made sure to start by sounding a note of hope. He showed a video of the first UN-chartered ship carrying grain from Ukraine – part of a deal between Ukraine and Russia helped by the United Nations and Turkey – to the Horn of Africa, where millions of people are on the brink of starvation. It is, he said, an example of promise and hope “in a world teeming with turmoil.” He emphasized that cooperation and dialogue are the only way forward — two fundamental principles of the UN since its inception after the Second World War. And he warned that “no force or group alone can call the shots.” “Let us work as one, as a coalition of the world, as united nations,” he urged the leaders gathered in the vast General Assembly hall. Geopolitical divisions undermine the work of the UN Security Council, international law, citizens’ trust in democratic institutions and most forms of international cooperation, Guterres said. “The divergence between developed and developing countries, between North and South, between the privileged and the rest, is becoming more and more dangerous day by day,” said Mr. “It is at the root of the geopolitical tensions and mistrust that poisons every area of global cooperation, from vaccines to sanctions and trade.
Nearly 150 leaders to speak
Nearly 150 heads of state and government are on the list of latest speakers, a high number that reflects the United Nations remains the only place, not just to express their views, but to meet privately to discuss challenges on the global agenda — and hopefully make some progress. At a meeting on Monday to promote the UN’s 2030 goals – including ending extreme poverty, ensuring quality education for all children and gender equality – Guterres said the world’s many pressing risks make ” tempting to put our long-term development priorities to one side. “ But the UN chief said some things cannot wait – among them education, decent jobs, full equality for women and girls, comprehensive health care and action to tackle the climate crisis. He called for public and private funding and investment, and above all for peace. After two years of holding the session virtually or in a hybrid format, 157 heads of state and government representatives are expected to attend the UN General Assembly in person. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) Queen Elizabeth’s death and funeral in London on Monday, attended by many world leaders, created last-minute headaches for the high-level meeting. Diplomats and UN staff have struggled to cope with changes in travel plans, the timing of events and the logistically complex speech schedule for world leaders. The global gathering, known as the General Discussion, was entirely virtual in 2020 due to the pandemic and hybrid in 2021. This year, the 193-member General Assembly is returning to face-to-face talks only, with one exception – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Over objections from Russia and some allies, the assembly voted last Friday to allow the Ukrainian leader to pre-record his speech for reasons beyond his control – the “ongoing foreign invasion” and military hostilities that require him to carry out the “its national defense and security duties”. The US president, representing the host country of the United Nations, is traditionally the second speaker. But Joe Biden attended the Queen’s funeral, so his speech was rescheduled for Wednesday morning.
